Top 5 flicks at the Adelaide Film Festival

Posted 8 October, 2020 Ellen Morgan

South Australia’s biennial film festival is back this month with a suite of flicks set to inspire, entertain, perplex and wow.   South Australia’s biennial film festival is back this month with a suite of flicks set to inspire, entertain, perplex and wow.   The internationally acclaimed festival boasts a stellar program of films, alongside a series of forums and special events. Even better, RAA members get 15% off tickets. To help you plan your date with the big screen, we’ve listed our top 5 films, picked fresh from this year’s line-up.  

1. The Truffle Hunters – 15, 18 & 24 October

We all know truffles are found by clever pooches putting in the hard yards, but watch this film and you’ll swear you can smell them yourself. The Truffle Hunters is set in Northern Italy and directed by Brooklyn-based directors Michael Dweck and Gregory Kershaw. It tells the tale of 2 dedicated Italian truffle hunters and their much-loved dogs, focussing on the search and trade of the very special Alba truffle. You don’t have to be a foodie or a dog lover to watch this one, the story pulling at the heartstrings of human persistence and connection.  

2. The Go-Go’s – 16, 17, 23 October

Aussie director Alison Ellwood tells the tale of 80s punk pop band The Go Go’s. Famous for their hit song Our Lips Are Sealed, they wrote a number of anthems of the decade and indeed the punk pop era. But what’s perhaps most poignant in this story – and reflected gloriously in this documentary – is their evolution as one of the first all-female bands in a largely male-dominated industry. A clever mashup of archival footage is combined with interviews with the band members about their prime time. The doco explores what it meant for them personally and within the industry more broadly – the good, the not-so-good and everything in between.  

3. Phil Liggett: The Voice of Cycling – 17, 18 & 25 October

For cycling fans out there, Phil Liggett is a household name. His exuberant voice is instantly recognisable, but as this flick explores, his life spans far wider than the commentary box. Directed by Aussie Eleanor Sharpe, this film explores the depth of Liggett’s passion as a previous amateur racer and now arguably the world’s most recognisable cycling commentator. With 47 Tour de Frances and 15 Olympic Games under his belt, it’s an impressive tale of a passion that remains unwavering.  

4. Blackbird – 17 & 24 October

With a stellar cast, Blackbird is a story of family, strength and heartache. British director Paul Michell, best known for Notting Hill, created the film as a remake of Danish hit Silent Heart. Lily, the mother in the film, must tell the family of her terminal illness, bringing them all together to deal with the news. You’ll experience all the realities of family drama – tears, mess and jealousy – alongside ever-present love. Performances are a joy to witness, from Susan Sarandon, Sam Neill, Kate Winslet, Mia Wasikowska (Alice in Wonderland) and Rainn Wilson (The Office).  

5. White Riot – 17, 21 & 24 October

Music buffs – this one’s for you. Set in 70s Britain, this film tells the story of Rock Against Racism, a movement started by music photographer Red Saunders. In the peak of the British punk era, Saunders teamed up with a collection of creatives to start the group. They also produced a fanzine called Temporary Hoarding, highlighting issues surrounding racism, immigration and conflict. While not reported in the media at the time, the stories spoke of issues that sorely required awareness and discussion. The group used their common passion for punk-rock music as a way to speak to like-minded youths. The film took out top documentary at the 2019 London Film Festival, a proud moment for young UK-based filmmaker Rubikah Shah.