Cargo

 

Cargo 2017

• Director: Ben Howling and Yolanda Ramke
• Cast: Martin Freeman, Simone Landers, Susie Porter, Kris McQuade, Anthony Hayes, Caren Pistorious·       
• Why? Martin Freeman
• Seen: 7 November 2025      

       We don’t realise this is an Australian zombie film in until about half an hour in. Then we learn that it takes exactly 48 hours for one bitten to turn into a zombie. They even have wrist bands counting down the hours.

       Andy (Freeman) is bitten. He has 48 hours to get his baby Rosie to safety. His only hope is to get her to an aboriginal group who have so far succeeded in fending off the zombies.

       It’s more than a zombie film. It’s about racism, human values and love.

       Freeman is, as always, terrific. They all are. 

4 ½ * of 5   

 

 

 

 

 

The Fever

 

The Fever 2004

• Director: Carlo Gabriel Nero
• Cast: Vanessa Redgrave·       
• Why? Vanessa Redgrave
• Seen: 6 November 2025      

       Some viewers hate this film (1*) because it criticises capitalism, quotes Marx and blames the rich western world for the poverty in the third world.

       That’s what’s good about it.

       Redgrave plays an unnamed woman, wealthy and cultured, who eventually sees the reality of poverty and suffering in the world when visiting an unnamed country at war.

       It’s an unusual film because much of it is narrated directly by the woman into the camera.

       It works for me. 

4 * of 5   

 

 

 

 

 

Champion

 

Champion 2022

• Director: Mona Achache
• Cast: Kendij Girac·       
• Why? Possibly interesting
• Seen: 5 November 2025 

       Zack (Girac) has a loving girlfriend, a loving family, a good job as a carpenter with his dad, he’s an appreciated boxing trainer for both boys and girls.

       What most people don’t know, not even his mother, is that he can’t read or write.

       It’s a strong film about a real problem for millions in our literate world. 

4 * of 5   

 

 

 

December Boys

 

December Boys 2007

• Director: Rod Hardy
• Cast: Daniel Radcliffe       
• Why? Originally Daniel Radcliffe
• Once before. Now 3 November 2025 

       Again young Daniel Radcliffe is an orphan, this time in a Catholic orphanage in Australia. The four December boys, all with birthdays in December, are sent on holiday to a couple who live by the sea.

       It’s quite boring, really. It’s Radcliffe’s first film after Harry Potter and he does a decent job with what he’s given. 

2 ½ * of 5

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Så som i himlen/As It Is in Heaven

 

Så som i himlen 2004

• Director: Kay Pollak
• Cast: Michael Nyqvist, Frida Hallgren, Helen Sjöholm, Lennart Jähkel, Ingela Olsson, Niklas Falk·       
• Why? Recommended by LJ. Also Michael Nyqvist
• Seen: 2 November 2025      

Daniel (Nyqvist, a world renowned director, suffers a heart attack and must quit touring. He moves to his childhood village in northern Sweden and takes over the local amateur choir. He must face conservative Christians, a hostile vicar and wife abusers, but he teaches the choir the essence and necessity of music. A lovely film about music and life, and I love Michael Nyqvist.      

4* of 5

 

 

Temple Grandin

 

Temple Grandin 2010

• Director: Mick Jackson
• Cast: Claire Danes, David Strathairn, Catherine O’Hara·       
• Why? Recommended by LH
• 30 October 2025 

       A biopic about the brilliant autistic woman who humanises the slaughter industry by inventing devices to calm the cattle, fighting against general cruelty to animals, especially cows, and cruel male chauvinism.

       A terrific film, and the best Claire Danes I’ve seen. 

4* of 5

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

27 Nights

 

27 Nights 2025

• Director: Daniel Hendler
• Cast: Marilú Marini, Daniel Hendler·      
• Why? Mentioned by LJ
• Seen: 28 October 2025 

       Martha (Marini), 83 years old, has spent 27 nights in a mental hospital. Her daughters want to have her re-admitted because she is dement, because she has delusions, and because she likes to party with young men.

       An expert Leandro (Hendler) is called in to evaluate her mental health.

       Martha is rich and a very unpleasant person. But a mental hospital? 

2 ½ * of 5