Director launches film season

By Kath Gannaway
WRITER-director Paul Cox will launch the Yarra Ranges Film Society’s 2008 season when his film Lonely Hearts screens on 12 February.
Hailed as one of the best known Australian filmmakers in the international arena, Cox has won numerous awards.
In 2006 he received the National Film and Sound Archive’s (NFSA) Award in recognition of his outstanding contribution to film making.
NFSA director Paolo Cherchi Usai described Cox as an uncompromising filmmaker with a unique personal style whose work created debate wherever it was screened.
His films include Man of Flowers (1983), My First Wife (1984), Vincent: The Life and Death of Vincent Van Gogh (1987), Island (1989), A Woman’s Tale (1991), Exile (1994) and Lust and Revenge (1996).
Lonely Hearts made in 1981 is a delightful, offbeat comedy about an unlikely romance between a middle aged piano tuner (Norman Kaye) and a painfully shy office worker (Wendy Hughes).
Society members have again put together a brilliant selection of Australian and international films, the majority made within the last four years.
They include Romulus, My Father (Australia), La Vie En Rose (France) the story of Edith Piaf, This is England (UK) and Autumn Sonata (Sweden) which was directed by Ingmar Bergman and features Liv Ullman and Ingrid Bergman in her last film appearance.
The society is again offering its free 16mm Saturday flicks, this year with a western theme starring John Wayne and Gary Cooper.
The program starts with Wayne in The Searchers on 15 March and Stagecoach on 17 May and continues with Cooper in High Noon on 17 August and Man of the West on 18 October.
An annual subscription starts at just $30 for the 11 films for members under 25 years of age, with full membership $60.
Films are screened at 7.30pm on the second Tuesday of the month at the Upper Yarra Arts Centre in Warburton and members are welcome, encouraged in fact, to take guests along.
To arrange a subscription phone Upper Yarra Arts Centre on 5966 5160 or YRFS president Dagmar Limp on 5966 9096.
The full 2008 program along with details of this year’s Warburton Film Fest – the 25th anniversary festival, is available on-line at www.yarrarangesfilmsociety.org.au.