The school holiday programme is in full swing at Daylesford’s offically open Phoenix Cinema.
The community owned and operated cinema was launched at a gala evening featuring the classic film about the only woman to win the Melbourne Cup, `Ride Like a Girl’. The evening was made extra specal by the presence of the champion jockey, Michelle Payne, and her brother Stevie. Both were in heavy demand for `selfies’.
Meanwhile, the holiday screenings will pause for one day to mark NAIDOC Week. Showing at 4.30pm on Friday,July 10,will be `Journey Home, David Gulpill’ the immensely moving story of a man who danced between two worlds, carried stories across continents and on his final journey went back to the land that made him.
Before dying in 2021 actor David Gulpill made a last request, that he be laid to rest in his ancestral home, deep in Arnhem Land. The journey of more than 4000 kilometres took almost 10 months by planes, boats and helcopters.
Film-makers Trisha Morton-Thomas and Magge Mies weave archival footage into the jurney home and the 10-day funeral rites.Two sacred ceremonies are captured in the film, which has been remarked upon for its sensitivity, awareness of protocol and the trust of the families involved.
The 1971 film `Walkabout’ launched Gulpill’s career, although his name was wrongly spelt in the final cut and on the poster. He also starred in `Storm Boy’, `The Last Wave’, `Crocodile Dundee’, `The Rabbit-Proof Fence’, and `The Tracker’.
The documentary is being brought to the Phoenix by the Hepburn Shre Council and there will be a smoking ceremony outside the Rex building.
In the holiday programme, today at 11am sees the start of the season of `Minions & Monsters’ with a new tribe of Minions finding fame in Hollywood in the silent days, only to be shown the door when “talkies” come along.
The story of their fight to survive is being seen daily until July 13.
The next big step in the `Star Wars’ story after a seven-year gap,`Star Wars: The Mandalorian and Grogu’ is the 7pm show at 4.30pm from 11-13 July.
`E.T.:The Extra Terrestrial’ drops in on Monday, 29 June, at 2pm Saturday, 4 July, at 4.30 and Wednesday 8 July at 11am.
`Toy Story 5′ shows that old toys can learn new tricks as these loveable characters keep winning hearts. It has 11 daily screenings from Thursday, 2 July,
Fittingly, all will be revealed in Steven Spielberg’s `Disclosure Day’. Seen as a breathless pursuit of optimism in an age of conspiracy, it is boosted by a sterling performance by Emily Blunt. It’s on at 7pm for 12 screenings from Thursday, 2 July.
`H is for Hawk’ is based on an award winning true-life book and has won critical praise for its raw imagery, bruising realism and thoughtful candour. It shows on Saturday, 27 June at 4.30pm.
Heartache, emotional conflict, plus authentic characters and original songs, `Power Ballad’ has it all. Best description: a funnier cousin to `A Star is Born’.
On at 2pm, Friday 26 June, 4.30pm on Sunday 28 June and 2pm Wednesday, 1 July.
The stuff of legends breezes in with Julie Andrews’s performance in `Mary Poppins’. Many generations have been enchanted by the nanny arriving in London to reconnect parents with their two children. 30 June and 2 July at 11am.
For bookings and details please see Phoenix Cinema.
