Castaway with Clare Bowditch

On Tuesday I had tickets for an evening called Desert Island Flicks, at ACMI, with Clare Bowditch. Apparently something that ACMI have on a monthly basis, the idea of a glimpse into the favourite movies of one of my favourite women, favourite singer-songwriters, was too good to pass up.

I convinced Michelle to come along, after a last minute pike, and we drove down to Melbourne, and met Jenny for a drink at Beer DeLuxe first. Joining the queue outside of the little Studio 1, I wasn't quite sure of the sign at the front door, and walked around the side to check we weren't missing it - and crossed paths with Clare herself, and said hi! Ha!

The small crowd shuffled into the Studio, with Michelle Carey, the new Artistic Director of MIFF, and Clare Bowditch on stage. Chatting about life, film and how Clare chose her 5 flicks for the night's discussion, we then went through the list, which a chosen scene out of each which meant something to our Artist.

The first film was introduced by scene, being a shot of a very young Claudia Karvan floating in the sea, in High Tide. Michelle and Clare chat on stage about why this film has been a stand out for Clare, and the plotlines.

It's A Wonderful Life is next, and watching the clip, and Clare's face of delight in the glow of the studio screen through the heart-felt family scene, is such a special moment. And makes me add this on to my Quick Flix list!

The beauty and mystic of The Piano is Clare's next film, with the scene selected being when Holly and Anna knock on Harvey's door and beg him to take them down to the beach, and then the first piano playing and Anna dancing. Such a great movie! Clare talks about how seeing this drew her back to classical music, which has ultimately influenced her folk tunes.

Zorba The Greek is Clare's 4th selection, as a reminder of her late father and moments of her childhood. A privilege to be part of this conversation, and a key point in the cinema-studied Michelle's take on Clare's five selections.

The scenes of In The Mood For Love were the final film, and again, has me adding this one to my list of Quick Flix with some serious desire. The cinematography and character exchanges featured in this short clip, the synopsis, and Clare's description of the "sashaying dresses" makes this Hong Kong film look so enchanting.

Dinner out in Fed Square, in the mild Melbourne night, at Chocolate Buddha. God, how I miss Melbourne and nights like this! Such a treat.