Joe's Palace

 

Joe’s Palace 2007

• Director: Stephen Poliakoff
• Cast: Danny Lee Wynter, Michael Gambon), Rupert Penry-Jones, Kelly Reilly, Rebecca Hall
• Why? Danny Lee Wynter
• 24 September 2026

 

      Aha, it’s a prequel to Capturing Mary. Joe (Wynter) has just been hired to be a doorman for the empty mansion that Mary (Maggie Smith) came to in the other film. The owner, Mr Graham (Gambon), a billionaire, lives in an equally lavish house across the street. He uses Joe as messenger boy, errand boy, dinner companion and…something else?

      Mr Graham allows a young politician Richard (Penry-Jones) and his lover Charlotte (Reilly) to use a room upstairs in Joe’s ‘palace’ as a love nest. Both Richard and Charlotte befriend Joe, liking his politeness and discretion.

      It’s an odd story that doesn’t work as well as Mary’s, probably because Maggie Smith isn’t in it. Still, young Danny does a good job and the story does draw me in gradually.

 

4* of 5

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Little Fish

 

Little Fish 2005

• Director: Rowan Woods
• Cast: Cate Blanchett, Hugo Weaving, Sam Neill, Martin Henderson, Noni Hazlehurst, Dustin Nguyen
• Why? I remember it as good
• Seen: once before. Now 21 September 2026   

 

          Tracy (Blanchett) is an ex-addict trying to start a new life. It’s not easy and it’s difficult not to fall back into using and dealing. Lionel (Weaving), an old friend, is still using. Sam Neill is a drug baron.

          It’s a tangle of family, friends, bad guys, losers, strugglers, old conflicts, liars, bad memories.

          I don’t remember why I liked this. The acting is strong but the story is confusing and depressing and a little boring.

 

3* of 5

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Harbour of Hope

 

Harbour of Hope 2011

• Director: Magnus Gertten
• Cast: documentary
• Why? The subject
• Seen: 20 September 2026           

 

          Sweden was officially neutral in WWII. In March 1945 the Swedish Red Cross were given permission to drive their white busses to some of the concentration camps to rescue the prisoners. They were brought to Sweden, 15,000 of them.

          Newsreels of the time and interviews with survivors and Red Cross volunteers still living give us the story in this important and gripping documentary.

 

 

4* of 5

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Apostle

 

Apostle 2018

• Director: Gareth Evans
• Cast: Dan Stevens, Martin Sheen, Paul Higgins, Bill Milner, Kristine Froseth, Mark Lewis Jones, Lucy Boynton
• Why? Possibly interesting
• Seen: 17 September 2026           

 

          Tom’s (Stevens) sister has been taken by a fanatic religious sect and isolated her on a Welsh island. Tom has a mysterious background but comes home, then leaves for the island to rescue her.  He is in immediate danger.

          It’s atmospheric, visually strong, suspenseful, creepy and entertaining with some strong acting.

 

3* of 5

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sea of Love

 

Sea of Love 1989

• Director: Harold Becker
• Cast: Al Pacino, Elin Barkin, John Goodman, Richard Jenkins
• Why? Al Pacino
• Seen twice before. Now 12 September 2026   

 

          Frank (Pacino) is a divorced alcoholic cop in Manhattan. He and Sherman (Goodman) are put on two similar murders where the 50’s hit ‘Sea of Love’ is playing on repeat. They suspect that the murderer is a woman. They set a trap.

          And Frank falls for Helen (Barkin). A suspect. So is she the killer or not?

          Not a bad thriller. Pacino is good.

 

3* of 5

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sisu

 

Sisu 2022

• Director: Jalmari Helander
• Cast: Jorma Tommila, Aksel Henning, Mimosa Willamo
• Why? Recommended by film nerd friend MP
• 10 September 2026

 

          The Finnish word ‘sisu’ has no single word translation into English. Nor Swedish for that matter but everyone knows what it means. We even use it ourselves. In English, according to Wikipedia, ‘extraordinary grit, stoic determination, and perseverance in the very face of extreme adversity.’ Other possibilities: gutsiness, ballsiness.

          It’s 1944 in northern Finland. The German occupiers (with the support of many right wing Finns, it must be said) are retreating, destroying everything as they leave.

          An ex-soldier Korpi (Tommila) discovers gold. On his way south he encounters nasty Nazis.

          Grim? Of course, but our hero turns out to be a superhero who can, and does, kill a dozen Nazis without even blinking.

          Unrealistic? Violent? Action-packed? Ridiculous? Gory? All of the above. But funny and entertaining, especially the women, But why are the Germans speaking English?

          Finnish films are weird. Usually. But cool.

 

3* of 5

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Farewell, Herr Haffman

 

Farewell Herr Haffman 2021

• Director: Fred Cavayé
• Cast: Daniel Auteuil, Gilles Lellouche, Sara Giraudeau, Nikolai Kinski
• Why? Recommended by EÖ
• 5 September 2026 

 

          Joseph Haffman (Auteuil), a Jewish jeweller in Paris, sends his wife and children to the Free Zone. He turns his shop and the flat upstairs over to his employee Francois (Lellouche) and his wife Blanche (Giraudeau). Unfortunately, Joseph doesn’t get away to join his family before the Nazis start arresting all the Jews. Francois and Blanche help him hide in the cellar. Then Francois asks him a very peculiar favour.

          An unusual picture of the Nazi occupation of Paris, with good actors.

 

4* of 5