Everyone loves animals. They’re pretty much the only reason the Internet exists. So to honour World Animal Day (Sun 4 Oct), we’ve whipped up a list of some of the ADLFF 2015 films that celebrate our feathered, furry and fanged friends.
Lamb
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Beloved by audiences at Cannes, Karlovy Vary and New Zealand Film Festival, Lamb tells the endearing tale of a young boy searching for his way home with his best friend, a lamb. It’s deeply personal, humorous and hopeful.
Neon Bull
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Hot from Venice Film Festival, we’ve snatched the Australian premiere of Neon Bull, and key creatives like director Gabriel Mascaro are coming along for the ride. Neon Bull sees a man torn between two worlds: rodeo circuits and fashion runways. Think #strictlybullroom.
Heart of a Dog
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This is the first feature film from eminent performance artist Laurie Anderson in 30 years. It’s a personal essay on joy, heartbreak, remembering and forgetting. Bittersweet reminiscence sparks memories of her late mother, of her husband Lou Reed, and their precious terrier Lolabelle. Drawings and monologue paint a profound tail of 9/11, Tibetan Buddhism, and the heart of piano-playing dog.
The Lobster
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The Cannes Jury can’t be wrong. This dystopian love story is a surrealist laugh-riot, buoyed by a high calibre cast of comedic geniuses. Basically, single people are arrested and given 45 days to find a mate before they’re turned into an animal, in this acerbic appraisal of modern love. The Lobster stars Colin Farrell, Rachel Weisz, John C. Reilly, Ben Wishaw and more.
A Pigeon Sat on A Branch Reflecting on Existence
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With A Pigeon… Roy Andersson cements his position as the most inventive comic filmmaker of our time. This loosely linked series of vignettes features a drunkard who dreams of the perfect barmaid, King Charles XII marching his army into a modern bar to use the toilet, and two sad clowns in the depths of depression. Winner of the Golden Lion at Venice Film Festival, this is a cheeky and facetious take on the drollness of human existence.
The Crow’s Egg
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Two brothers want to try a slice of the world’s best food: pizza. But in the slums of Chennai, a single slice costs more than their family’s monthly income. How far can hope take you when hope is all you have? Showcased in Toronto, Sydney and Dubai, The Crow’s Egg is a delight for all ages.
Approaching the Elephant
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At some point in our academic lives, we’ve all thought we could run the classroom better than the teacher. Director Amanda Wilder stalks around this common plight in her award-winning documentary Approaching the Elephant. In this deadpan depiction of ‘free schooling,’ the classroom is a kingdom where kids dominate the food chain. Democracy gone wild.
Howling III: The Marsupials
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Feast your eyes upon an Ozploitation classic from Philippe Mora, restored and returned to the big screen thanks to your mates at the NFSA. In this feral feature, a strange race of anthropomorphic marsupials suddenly appears, and a sociologist studying the creatures falls in love with a female specimen. Just when you thought it was safe to go down under…
See also: Buffalo Juggalos, Death of a Chook, Dog People, The Farmer’s Cinematheque, Oscar Wilde’s The Nightingale and the Rose, The Pack, The Russian Woodpecker, and Storm Boy.
Have a gander at the full program.
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