Hotel Rwanda
Saturday 3 October, 8:30pm(UK, biography/drama/history/war, 2004)
M
Director: Terry George
Starring: Don Cheadle, Sophie Okonedo, Joaquin Phoenix
What's it about?
This powerful Oscar-nominated movie, which has often been described as the African Schindler's List, recounts atrocities which took place during the Rwandan genocide in 1994. In only three months, one million people were brutally murdered. In the face of this horror, an ordinary man, Paul Rusesabagina (Don Cheadle - you can also watch him at SBS On Demand in The Guard), summons extraordinary courage to save the lives of over a thousand refugees, by granting them shelter in the hotel he manages.
Watch original The Movie Show 4-star review
Dallas Buyers Club
Saturday 10 October, 8:30pmWATCH IT NOW
(USA, biography/drama, 2013)
MA15+
Director: Jean-Marc Vallée
Starring: Matthew McConaughey, Jennifer Garner, Jared Leto
What's it about?
Despite being more lately associated with the studios' crack down on online piracy, Dallas Buyers Club remains a fascinating biopic. It earned both Matthew McConaughey and Jared Leto Oscars for their incredible performances. Set in 1986 Texas, it follows homophobic womaniser Ron Woodruff (an emaciated McConaughey), who is completely oblivious of the danger posed by AIDS. When Ron contracts HIV and is given just 30 days to live, he tries to be included in the AZT drug trial. When this fails, Ron seeks out untested, alternative medications in Mexico, and establishes an underground network of drug supply for the growing number of people with HIV and AIDS.
Read interview with director and cast
Kon-Tiki
Saturday 17 October, 8:30pmWATCH IT NOW
(UK/Norway, action/adventure/biography, 2012)
MDirector: Joachim Ronning, Espen Sandberg
Starring: Pål Sverre Valheim Hagen, Gustaf Skarsgard, Anders Baasmo Christiansen
What's it about?Directors Joachim Ronning and Espen Sandberg's impressive epic adventure film led to them being approached to direct the fifth Pirates of the Carribean movie Dead Men Tell No Tales, due in 2017. Set in 1947, Kon-Tiki follows the Norwegian explorer Thor Heyerdahl, who decided to cross the Pacific ocean in a wooden raft in order to prove it was possible for South Americans to settle in Polynesia in pre-Columbian times. During the three months aboard the primitive vessel, named after Inca god of sun and storm Kon-Tiki, the crew is met with terrifying dangers.
[link title="Read Joachim Rønning interview" url="node/1468"]
[link title="Read review" url="node/6162"]
The Last King of Scotland
Saturday 24 October, 8:30pm
(UK/Germany, biography/drama/history, 2006)
MDirector: Kevin MacDonald
Starring: Forest Whitaker, James McAvoy, Gillian Anderson
What's it about?Director Kevin Mac Donald (Touching the Void, My Enemy's Enemy, both available at SBS On Demand) tells the story of Ugandan dictator Idi Amin through the eyes of fictional character Nicholas Garrigan, a young doctor from Scotland. He arrives as General Idi Amin comes to power and becomes his personal GP. But soon, Nicholas realises Amin's erratic behaviour is responsible for turning the country into a bloodbath. Forbidden to leave the country, he has to face a life or death decision. Forest Whitaker (Ghost Dog, Southpaw) won an well-deserved Oscar for his role as the brutal dictator.
