Over the last 25 years, critically acclaimed Nadia Tass has become one of Australia's most respected and versatile filmmakers. Born in Greece, Nadia started out as an actress on the TV series “Prisoner” before moving behind the camera for Malcolm. With husband and frequent collaborator David Parker providing the screenplay and cinematography, the acclaimed 1986 film introduced the mix of humor and humanity that has become Tass’ hallmark. Whether directing Aussie indies like Amy, Hollywood fare like Pure Luck, or theatrical productions in London and Australia, Tass creates works of emotional resonance that charm audiences all over the globe. Nadia Tass is honoured to have a retrospective of her films play at the American Cinematheque (Aero Theatre) in August. If you've never seen them but always wanted to, or if you've seen them and remember them fondly, then now is your chance to catch these classic Australian films (Malcolm, The Big Steal, Amy and Matching Jack) on the big screen in Santa Monica.
Aero Theatre, 1328 Montana Ave (at 14th Street), Santa Monica
Double Feature: Thursday, August 16 - 7.30pm
Malcolm, 1986, Lionsgate, 90 min. Dir. Nadia Tass.
Socially awkward but a mechanical genius, Malcolm loses his job as a Melbourne tramcar operator and takes in a couple of boarders to make ends meet. When he learns the pair are petty criminals, Malcolm uses his knack for gadgetry to help them pull off a series of dazzling robberies. Both warm and hilarious, Nadia Tass' debut feature won 8 Australian Film Institute awards including the Best Film award. Internationally, it won 21 awards.
Discussion between films with director Nadia Tass
The Big Steal, 1990, Cascade Films, 99 min. Dir. Nadia Tass
Young Danny (Ben Mendelsohn of "Animal Kingdom" fame) tries to impress the girl of his dreams with the promises of a ride in his new Jag; unfortunately, Danny drives his family's old Nissan Cedric. But there's a spiffy Jaguar XJ6 in a local used car lot, and the salesman (Steve Bisley) is offering him the deal of a lifetime - what could possibly go wrong? This delightful caper comedy took home 3 AFI awards including one for David Parker's screenplay.
Double Feature: Friday, August 17 - 7.30pm
Matching Jack, 2010, Cascade Films, 99 min. Dir. Nadia Tass
In the most recent film from noted Australian director Nadia Tass, a mother seeks a bone marrow match for her son, diagnosed with leukemia, and finds unlikely sources of hope in her husband's infidelity, and in another man with a sick child. With outstanding performances from stars Jacinda Barrett, James Nesbitt, Kodi Smit-McPhee and Tom Russell. It garnered the top awards at the Milan International Film Festival for Best Film, Best Director and Best Screenplay
Click to view trailer: www.matchingjack.com
Discussion between films with director Nadia Tass
Amy, 1998, Cascade Films, 104 min. Dir. Nadia Tass
Traumatized by the death of her rock star father, 8 year old Amy (a remarkable Alana De Roma) has become mute. When her mother (Academy Award nominee, Rachel Griffiths) brings her to Melbourne in search of treatment, they move in with some quirky locals, one of whom (Ben Mendelsohn) tries to use music to bring the little girl out of her world of silence. A touching mix of comedy, drama and son, Amy won 28 international awards, including the Grand Prix Cannes Junior at the Cannes Film Festival.
Series compiled by Grant Moninger. Program notes by John Hagelston. Retrospective facilitated by Joan Borsten of Films by Jove and Cida Goncalves of 8 Star Entertainment.
American Cinematheque - Aero Theatre
http://www.americancinemathequecalendar.com/aero_theatre_series
http://www.americancinemathequecalendar.com/aero_theatre_events?page=2
Thursday, August 16th - Malcolm and The Big Steal
http://www.americancinemathequecalendar.com/content/malcolm-the-big-steal
Friday, August 17th - Amy and Matching Jack
http://www.americancinemathequecalendar.com/content/matching-jack-amy
Tickets
www.fandango.com...
Aero Theatre, 1328 Montana Ave (at 14th Street), Santa Monica
Double Feature: Thursday, August 16 - 7.30pm
Malcolm, 1986, Lionsgate, 90 min. Dir. Nadia Tass.
Socially awkward but a mechanical genius, Malcolm loses his job as a Melbourne tramcar operator and takes in a couple of boarders to make ends meet. When he learns the pair are petty criminals, Malcolm uses his knack for gadgetry to help them pull off a series of dazzling robberies. Both warm and hilarious, Nadia Tass' debut feature won 8 Australian Film Institute awards including the Best Film award. Internationally, it won 21 awards.
Discussion between films with director Nadia Tass
The Big Steal, 1990, Cascade Films, 99 min. Dir. Nadia Tass
Young Danny (Ben Mendelsohn of "Animal Kingdom" fame) tries to impress the girl of his dreams with the promises of a ride in his new Jag; unfortunately, Danny drives his family's old Nissan Cedric. But there's a spiffy Jaguar XJ6 in a local used car lot, and the salesman (Steve Bisley) is offering him the deal of a lifetime - what could possibly go wrong? This delightful caper comedy took home 3 AFI awards including one for David Parker's screenplay.
Double Feature: Friday, August 17 - 7.30pm
Matching Jack, 2010, Cascade Films, 99 min. Dir. Nadia Tass
In the most recent film from noted Australian director Nadia Tass, a mother seeks a bone marrow match for her son, diagnosed with leukemia, and finds unlikely sources of hope in her husband's infidelity, and in another man with a sick child. With outstanding performances from stars Jacinda Barrett, James Nesbitt, Kodi Smit-McPhee and Tom Russell. It garnered the top awards at the Milan International Film Festival for Best Film, Best Director and Best Screenplay
Click to view trailer: www.matchingjack.com
Discussion between films with director Nadia Tass
Amy, 1998, Cascade Films, 104 min. Dir. Nadia Tass
Traumatized by the death of her rock star father, 8 year old Amy (a remarkable Alana De Roma) has become mute. When her mother (Academy Award nominee, Rachel Griffiths) brings her to Melbourne in search of treatment, they move in with some quirky locals, one of whom (Ben Mendelsohn) tries to use music to bring the little girl out of her world of silence. A touching mix of comedy, drama and son, Amy won 28 international awards, including the Grand Prix Cannes Junior at the Cannes Film Festival.
Series compiled by Grant Moninger. Program notes by John Hagelston. Retrospective facilitated by Joan Borsten of Films by Jove and Cida Goncalves of 8 Star Entertainment.
American Cinematheque - Aero Theatre
http://www.americancinemathequecalendar.com/aero_theatre_series
http://www.americancinemathequecalendar.com/aero_theatre_events?page=2
Thursday, August 16th - Malcolm and The Big Steal
http://www.americancinemathequecalendar.com/content/malcolm-the-big-steal
Friday, August 17th - Amy and Matching Jack
http://www.americancinemathequecalendar.com/content/matching-jack-amy
Tickets
www.fandango.com...
- 8/13/2012
- by Sydney Levine
- Sydney's Buzz
In yet another demonstration of the disparity between film festival kudos and cold, hard reality, this 3-year-old Australian film, now belatedly receiving a limited commercial release, boasts 21 awards won at international festivals from Cannes to Hong Kong.
The tale of a young girl struck deaf and dumb from witnessing the onstage electrocution of her rock musician dad, "Amy" is the sort of "child in emotional crisis" film that needs a dramatic hook. Here, it's not that she sees dead people; it's that, while she can't speak, she can sing and respond to music. Imagine "The Miracle Worker" as a musical, and you'll get the idea.
The latest effort from the husband and wife team of Nadia Tass (director) and David Parker (screenplay), who were responsible for far more entertaining and successful films such as "Malcolm" and "Rikky and Pete", "Amy" might be receiving a theatrical release now thanks to the prominence of its star, Rachel Griffiths.
She plays Tanya, the fiercely protective mother of Amy Alana De Roma), who has retreated into a world of silence. The pair live together in a well-kept home in the outback, but when some nosy social workers threaten to take Amy away, they flee to a rundown section of Melbourne.
There they are surrounded by a motley collection of neighbors -- drunks, streetwalkers, etc. -- at least one of whom turns out to be helpful. He's Robert Ben Mendelsohn), a musician who accidentally discovers that while Amy can't speak and won't respond to speech, she's more than willing to belt out a musical number. Eventually, this leads Amy on the road to recovery, a process furthered by a gentle therapist (Frank Gallacher).
Despite the fine performances by the leads -- Griffiths does her usual excellent work, and young De Roma is a real find, with a terrific voice to boot -- the film is ultimately undone by a less-than-credible, often cloying screenplay marked by underdeveloped characters and contrived situations. It isn't helped by heavy-handed direction that wallows in every cliche.
Watching this film may not be as traumatic an experience as the one its title character goes through, but it does induce a similar feeling of being struck dumb.
AMY
World Wide Motion Pictures Corp.
Director: Nadia Tass
Screenplay: David Parker
Producers: Nadia Tass, David Parker
Co-producer: Phil Jones
Director of photography: David Parker
Editor: Bill Murphy
Production designer: Jon Dowding
Composer: Phillip Judd
Color/stereo
Cast:
Tanya Rammus: Rachel Griffiths
Amy Enker: Alana De Roma
Robert Buchanan: Ben Mendelsohn
Will Enker: Nick Barber
Sarah Trendle: Kerry Armstrong
Zac Trendle: Jeremy Trigatti
Running time -- 103 minutes
No MPAA rating...
The tale of a young girl struck deaf and dumb from witnessing the onstage electrocution of her rock musician dad, "Amy" is the sort of "child in emotional crisis" film that needs a dramatic hook. Here, it's not that she sees dead people; it's that, while she can't speak, she can sing and respond to music. Imagine "The Miracle Worker" as a musical, and you'll get the idea.
The latest effort from the husband and wife team of Nadia Tass (director) and David Parker (screenplay), who were responsible for far more entertaining and successful films such as "Malcolm" and "Rikky and Pete", "Amy" might be receiving a theatrical release now thanks to the prominence of its star, Rachel Griffiths.
She plays Tanya, the fiercely protective mother of Amy Alana De Roma), who has retreated into a world of silence. The pair live together in a well-kept home in the outback, but when some nosy social workers threaten to take Amy away, they flee to a rundown section of Melbourne.
There they are surrounded by a motley collection of neighbors -- drunks, streetwalkers, etc. -- at least one of whom turns out to be helpful. He's Robert Ben Mendelsohn), a musician who accidentally discovers that while Amy can't speak and won't respond to speech, she's more than willing to belt out a musical number. Eventually, this leads Amy on the road to recovery, a process furthered by a gentle therapist (Frank Gallacher).
Despite the fine performances by the leads -- Griffiths does her usual excellent work, and young De Roma is a real find, with a terrific voice to boot -- the film is ultimately undone by a less-than-credible, often cloying screenplay marked by underdeveloped characters and contrived situations. It isn't helped by heavy-handed direction that wallows in every cliche.
Watching this film may not be as traumatic an experience as the one its title character goes through, but it does induce a similar feeling of being struck dumb.
AMY
World Wide Motion Pictures Corp.
Director: Nadia Tass
Screenplay: David Parker
Producers: Nadia Tass, David Parker
Co-producer: Phil Jones
Director of photography: David Parker
Editor: Bill Murphy
Production designer: Jon Dowding
Composer: Phillip Judd
Color/stereo
Cast:
Tanya Rammus: Rachel Griffiths
Amy Enker: Alana De Roma
Robert Buchanan: Ben Mendelsohn
Will Enker: Nick Barber
Sarah Trendle: Kerry Armstrong
Zac Trendle: Jeremy Trigatti
Running time -- 103 minutes
No MPAA rating...
- 5/24/2001
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
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