Woolf and The London Aussie Film Festival

On Wednesday night, Jenny, Caitlin and I headed into Piccadilly Circus and along to the Apollo Theatre for Who's Afraid Of Virginia Woolf?

After rave reviews for Kathleen Turner's performance in this play, we were keen to see it. Upon arrival, however, we discovered that Ms Turner was not to perform due to an indisposition.

Her understudy was good, quite good, but throughout I couldn't help thinking how amazing Kathleen would have been. The play was excellent, I don't think I have ever been into a stage show as much before. Not knowing anything about the story, nor the movie, apart from it being a look at the codependency and atrocity of a marriage! It was funny, and disturbing. And I think Mireille Enos was really good, as Honey.

During the week I had looked into going to the London Australian Film Festival, chosing two to go and see. We had originally missed out on tickets for Saturday night's screening, however, faced with the dreaded prospect of being home alone with nothing to do, I checked again, and a text and a few calls later Nat and I had scored tickets - in a box!!

No kidding!! We hot footed over to the Barbican, which is a huge and really cool complex, and after grabbing some Twisties and a Cherry Ripe (Ohhhh!! How exciting!! Hee hee! Two treats I miss from home), we found our seats in one of the private boxes at the back of the Cinema - for Little Fish.

Starring Cate Blanchett, Hugo Weaving, Noni Hazlehurst, Lisa McCune, Sam Neil, Little Fish is real Aussie affair, and one of of those classic Australia life depictions. The crowd in the cinema was obviously mostly Aussies away from home, with collected laughter at different Australian phases, Australian language and mannerisms portrayed. There was also a big laugh when Noni's character described someone as having gone "overseas", 'you know, like New Zealand, Fiji and Bali'!!

There's so much in this movie, and it leaves you with a haunting rendition by a school choir of Flames Trees. Hugo and Cate, and Noni, are brilliant.

Today, Emy, Nat and I returned to the Barbican Centre for a second film from the Festival, The Illustrated Family Doctor. Starring Samuel Johnson, of Secret Life Of Us fame, this black yet funny look at life, mortality, and the meaningless of life and work...it was good. Another typical Aussie movie, that I am not sure would suit all audiences. Lots of Aussie phrases and joke...all good!