Two iconic figures are at the centre of the films I’ve chosen to highlight this week. The critically acclaimed documentary Marley tells the definitive story of legendary Jamaican musician Bob Marley, and the controversial melodrama Diana tells the juicy story of Princess Diana’s relationship with Pakistan born cardiologist Dr. Hasnat Khan. Two quite different rebels, two quite different films!

Two iconic figures are at the centre of the films I’ve chosen to highlight this week. The critically acclaimed documentary Marley tells the definitive story of legendary Jamaican musician Bob Marley, and the controversial melodrama Diana tells the juicy story of Princess Diana’s relationship with Pakistan born cardiologist Dr. Hasnat Khan. Two quite different rebels, two quite different films!

Here are my highlights for the week.

Song for Marion (2013)
Starring: Terence Stamp, Vanessa Redgrave, Gemma Arterton & Christopher Eccleston
Directed by: Paul Andrew Williams
Screening: Rialto British, Sunday 31st August, 8.30pm

A tender family story is at the heart of this comical drama, written and directed by Paul Andrew Williams. Known for making crime movies such as London to Brighton, Williams changes direction and produces a tear-jerking, feel good film drawing on the spirit of the documentary Young@Heart. Vanessa Redgrave is Marion, an outgoing and vibrant member of local choir ‘OAPz’ who are conducted by a young music teacher (Gemma Arterton), who gives them a lesson in modern pop music. Terrance Stamp is Marion’s husband Arthur, a repressed and grumpy Englishman who refuses to have anything to do with Marion’s choir, until she become terminally ill and can no longer sing. Arthur not only joins the choir, he also reaches out to his estranged son (Christopher Eccleston) in this film’s gentler moments.




Marley (2012)
Starring: Bob Marley, Ziggy Marley, Jimmy Cliff
Directed by: Kevin Macdonald
Screening: Rialto Documentary, Thursday 28th August, 8.30pm

Wrapping up a ‘month of stories through music’ this week is one of the hits from the 2012 NZ International Film Festival, Marley. From the director of The Last King of Scotland and Touching the Void this is the definitive story on Jamaican legend Bob Marley. It’s everything you hope it will be, an even handed documentary that follows Marley from his childhood through to his death, examining his music, faith, family and career with interviews from the people who knew him best at different times in his life. Filled with revelations, fantastic archive footage and live performance footage, you don’t need to appreciate reggae music to appreciate this film.





Diana (2013)
Starring: Naomi Watts, Naveen Andrews & Cas Anvar
Directed by: Oliver Hirschbiegel
Screening: Rialto Selection, Saturday 30th August, 8.30pm

Let’s address the elephant in the room straight up – this selective biography of Princess Diana’s life was one of the worst reviewed films of 2013. And, for that reason alone it’s worth watching! But to be fair, Diana isn’t as bad as some critics have suggested, and Naomi Watts is fabulous. She’s mastered Diana’s lilting walk and shy head tilt, and wears well her immaculately blow-dried hair and lashings of mascara. But Watt’s is let down by a Mills and Boon inspired script that mostly focuses on her relationship with reclusive London based, Pakistan born cardiologist Dr. Hasnat Khan (Naveen Andrews).

Diana’s two-year romance with Dr. Khan makes for dull material – their relationship revolves around a repetitive conversation about whether Dr. Khan will give up his life’s work to live a life in the public eye with Diana. There are moments within this film when you get a sense of how moving this story could have been if it had concentrated on what Diana did best - being the Queen of Hearts and using her status for charity. However these fleeting moments are not enough to elevate this melodramatic drama above what we’d expect from a polished television mini-series. See what all the fuss is about on Saturday, 8.30pm on Rialto Channel.