THIS WEEK’S MOVIES ON SBS, SBS VICELAND, NITV & SBS On Demand
- Closed Captions (CC) available for Feel the Beat, Lost in Translation and Birdman
- Audio Description (AD) available for Then Came You, Lost in Translation, The Catcher is a Spy, Birdman and Anomalisa
MONDAY 19 JULY
Feel the Beat
7:50pm
M, CC
Sweden, 2018
Genre: Comedy, Drama, Music, Romance
Language: Swedish, English
Director: Rikard Svensson
Starring: Rikard Svensson, Anna Sise, Magnus Krepper, Piotr Giro, Hilderun Gorpe
What’s it about?
Due to his aversion to dancing, workaholic Adam (Svensson) stays home while his wife Lisa (Sise) enjoys herself in the swing dance clubs of Stockholm. When Lisa is hit by a car and falls into a coma, Adam finds out that she has been unfaithful. His only clue is that the lover is a dancer – and he becomes obsessed with finding him. There’s just one problem: he has to learn how to dance first.
The Host
9:30pm
M
South Korea, 2006
Genre: Sci-Fi, Thriller
Language: Korean
Director: Bong Joon-ho
Starring: Song Kang-ho, Byun Hee-Bong, Park Hae-il, Doona Bae
What’s it about?
An American military base of Yongson releases toxic chemicals in the drain to the Han River under the direct order of an arrogant coroner. Six years later, a mutant squid monster leaves the water and attacks people on the side of the river. The third feature from Bong Joon-ho (also starring his regular actor Song Kang-ho), director of 2020’s Best Picture Oscar-winner Parasite.
Streaming after broadcast at SBS On Demand:
TUESDAY 20 JULY
Just a Breath Away
7:50pm
M
France, 2018
Genre: Science Fiction
Language: French
Director: Daniel Roby
Starring: Romain Duris, Olga Kurylenko, Fantine Harduin, Michel Robin
What’s it about?
When Paris is submerged in a strange mortal fog, survivors take refuge on the city’s upper floors and rooftops. Without news, electricity, water or food, one small family struggles to survive the catastrophe. But as the hours pass, they are forced to face reality – rescue teams aren’t coming. If they hope to make it out alive, they will have to risk going out into the fog.
Spoor
9:30pm
M
Poland, 2017
Genre: Crime, Drama, Mystery, Thriller
Language: English, Polish
Director: Agnieszka Holland
Starring: Agnieszka Mandat-Grabka, Wiktor Zborowski, Jakub Gierszał
What’s it about?
A story about Janina Duszejko (Mandat-Grabka), an elderly woman, who lives alone in the Klodzko Valley where a series of mysterious crimes are committed. Duszejko is convinced that she knows who (or what) is the murderer, but nobody believes her. Directed by Agnieszka Holland (Europa Europa and Olivier, Olivier).
Streaming after broadcast at SBS On Demand:
WEDNESDAY 21 JULY
Lucky Grandma
7:55pm
M
USA, 2020
Language: English, Mandarin, Cantonese
Director: Sasie Sealy
Starring: Tsai Chin, Hisao-Yuan Ha, Michael Tow, Emma Hong, Yan Xi, Lyman Chen
What’s it about?
Set in New York City’s Chinatown, an ornery, chain-smoking Chinese grandma (Tsai Chin) goes all in at the casino, landing herself on the wrong side of luck – and in the middle of a gang war. Reviewing for The Hollywood Reporter, Harry Windsor noted that “the film features hardly any spoken English at all, and very amusingly captures a hermetic immigrant culture in which nobody so much as considers calling the police.”
By the Grace of God
9:30pm
M
Belgium, France, 2018
Genre: Drama
Language: French
Director: François Ozon
Starring: Melvil Poupaud, Denis Ménochet, Swann Arlaud, Eric Caravaca
What’s it about?
Alexandre (Poupaud) lives in Lyon with his wife and children. One day, he discovered by chance that the priest who abused him to scouts always officiates with children. He then starts a fight, quickly joined by François (Ménochet) and Emmanuel (Arlaud), also victims of the priest, to “release their word” on what they suffered. Winner of the Silver Bear at the 2018 Berlin Film Festival, and directed by François Ozon (In the House, Frantz).
THURSDAY 22 JULY
Then Came You
7:45pm
M, AD
USA, 2019
Genre: Comedy, Drama
Language: English
Director: Peter Hutchings
Starring: Asa Butterfield, Maisie Williams, Nina Dobrev, Tyler Hoechlin, David Koechner
What’s it about?
A funny and poignant coming-of-age story celebrating the desire for friendship, romance and life. An American hypochondriac (Butterfield) working as an airport baggage handler is forced to confront his fears when a British teenager (Williams) with a terminal illness enlists him to help her carry out her eccentric bucket list.
Lost in Translation
9:30pm
PG, AD, CC
USA, 2003
Genre: Drama
Language: English
Director: Sofia Coppola
Starring: Bill Murray, Scarlett Johansson, Giovanni Ribisi, Anna Faris
What’s it about?
Bob Harris (Murray) and Charlotte (Johansson) are two Americans in Tokyo. Bob is a movie star in town to shoot a whiskey commercial, while Charlotte is a young woman tagging along with her workaholic photographer husband (Ribisi). Unable to sleep, Bob and Charlotte cross paths one night in the luxury hotel bar, and this chance meeting soon becomes a surprising friendship. Nominated for four 2004 Academy Awards including Best Picture, and winner of the Oscar for Best Original Screenplay (Sofia Coppola).
NOTE: No catch-up at SBS On Demand
FRIDAY 23 JULY
The Catcher Was a Spy
7:40pm
M, AD
USA, 2018
Genre: Drama, War, Thriller
Language: English, French, German, Italian, Japanese
Director: Ben Lewin
Starring: Paul Rudd, Mark Strong, Sienna Miller, Jeff Daniels, Guy Pearce, Paul Giamatti
What’s it about?
This gripping, stranger-than-fiction espionage thriller from director Ben Lewin (The Sessions) brings to life the incredible true story of Moe Berg (Rudd), the professional baseball player who became a World War II spy. A Jewish, Princeton-educated, multilingual catcher for the Boston Red Sox, the enigmatic Berg was enlisted by the US government to go behind enemy lines and assassinate the Nazi’s chief nuclear scientist before the Germans could develop an atomic bomb.
Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance)
9:30pm
MA15+, AD, CC
USA, 2014
Genre: Drama, Comedy
Language: English
Director: Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu
Starring: Michael Keaton, Zach Galifianakis, Edward Norton, Emma Stone, Naomi Watts
What’s it about?
A fading actor (Keaton) best known for his portrayal of a popular superhero attempts to mount a comeback by appearing in a Broadway play. As opening night approaches, his attempts to become more altruistic, rebuild his career, and reconnect with friends and family prove more difficult than expected. Winner of Best Picture at the 2015 Academy Awards.
NOTE: No catch-up after broadcast at SBS On Demand
SATURDAY 24 JULY
Master Cheng
6:25pm
PG
China, Finland, 2019
Genre: Drama, Comedy
Language: Finnish
Director: Mika Kaurismäki
Starring: Pak Hon Chu, Anna-Maija Tuokko, Lucas Hsuan, Kari Väänänen, Vesa-Matti Loiri
What’s it about?
Cheng (Pak Hon Chu), 45, a restaurant owner from China, has travelled with his young son halfway around the world to a remote village in Finland. His wife died recently in an accident, and Cheng wanted to have a break from everything by traveling with his son to see an old Finnish friend who lives on a farm in the countryside of Finland. It’s the most remote place Cheng can imagine with endless forests, thousands of lakes, a country with entire population of one-fifth of Cheng’s home town, Shanghai.
Streaming after broadcast at SBS On Demand:
From the Land of the Moon
8:30pm
MA15+
France, 2016
Genre: Drama, Romance
Language: French, Spanish, German
Director: Nicole Garcia
Starring: Marion Cotillard, Louis Garrel, Àlex Brendemühl, Brigitte Rouan
What’s it about?
An adaptation of Milena Agus’ eponymous novel set after WWII, this film spans 20 years, following the destiny of a passionate, free-spirited woman (Cotillard) who is in a loveless marriage and falls for another man. In Official Competition selection at the 2016 Cannes Film Festival.
Streaming after broadcast at SBS On Demand:
In Her Name
10:45pm
MA15+
France, 2016
Genre: Drama, Crime
Language: English, French, German
Director: Vincent Garenq
Starring: Daniel Auteuil, Sebastian Koch, Marie-Josée Croze, Christelle Cornil
What’s it about?
Based on a true story, Kalinka is about the struggle of André Bamberski (Auteuil) to bring justice to his daughter Kalinka who died in mysterious circumstances. After 27 years of investigation to hunt down her presumed murderer, Bamberski finally gets the chance to have the killer brought to justice.
Streaming after broadcast at SBS On Demand:
SUNDAY 25 JULY
When Marnie Was There
5:00pm
PG
Japan, 2014
Genre: Drama, Animation
Language: Japanese
Director: James Simone, Hiromasa Yonebayashi
Voice Cast: Sara Takatsuki, Kasumi Arimura, Nanako Matsushima
What’s it about?
Twelve-year-old Anna believes she sits outside the invisible magic circle to which most people belong, and shuts herself off from everyone around her. Concerned for her health, Anna’s foster mother decides to send her to rural Hokkaido to stay in a sleepy town by the sea. There she meets Marnie, an energetic young girl who seems to appear from nowhere. The pair quickly become inseparable.
Streaming after broadcast at SBS On Demand:
The Secret of Kells
7:00pm
PG
Ireland, 2009
Genre: Family, Fantasy, Animation
Language: English
Director: Tomm Moore, Nora Twomey
Voice Cast: Brendan Gleeson, Michael McGrath, Paul Young, Mick Lally
What’s it about?
Adventure awaits 12-year-old Brendan who must fight Vikings and a serpent god to find a crystal and complete the legendary Book of Kells. In order to finish Brother Aiden’s book, Brendan must overcome his deepest fears on a secret quest that will take him beyond the abbey walls and into the enchanted forest where dangerous mythical creatures hide. Will Brendan succeed in his quest? Nominated for an Oscar for Best Animated Feature.
Streaming after broadcast at SBS On Demand:
A Promise
8:30pm
MA15+
France, Belgium, 2013
Genre: Drama, Romance
Language: English
Director: Patrice Leconte
Starring: Rebecca Hall, Alan Rickman, Richard Madden
What’s it about?
Set in Germany just before WWI, this period drama based on Stefan Zweig’s novel and directed by Patrice Leconte (The Man On The Train, Ridicule) centres on a married woman (Hall) who falls in love with her husband’s protégé. Separated first by duties and then by the war, they pledge their devotion to one another.
Anomalisa
10:20pm
MA15+, AD
USA, 2015
Genre: Drama, Animation
Language: English
Director: Charlie Kaufman, Duke Johnson
Starring (voice cast): David Thewlis, Jennifer Jason Leigh, Tom Noonan
What’s it about?
Suffering an identity crisis, middle-age writer Michael (Thewlis) meets up during his one-night visit in Cincinatti with an old flame, who has never gotten over him dumping her, and a woman named Lisa (Leigh), who has come to hear him speak at a seminar and who gives Michael new inspiration for life. From Charlie Kaufman, writer of Being John Malkovich and Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind.
Streaming after broadcast at SBS On Demand: