The Clouds Are Parting

Well, it's the end of SLiQFlicks for 2012, and it's been quite a ride. We've screened over 100 films this year, ranging from premieres of local documentaries to the most blockbuster-y hollywood epics.
It's been a year where I think the SLQ film program has really established it's new identity- we're not afraid to be populist, and we're not adverse to taking risks with our programming either. I think that too often our personal film prejudices can get in the way of us enjoying or learning something new about what film has to offer. The kneejerk reaction against a large scale summer movie can be just as short sighted and self defeating as the resistance to watch anything that might be subtitled or narratively challenging to it's audience. As movie-goers, it's in our best interests to cast a wide net, take a breather, and give something a shot, even if only to be justified in rejecting it.
It's been wonderful seeing you all this year, and I look forward to an even bigger, more varied slate of movies for us all to enjoy in 2013.
A couple of closing thoughts- I'd like to wish happy trails to Richard Moore, who has been curating the Brisbane International Film Fest for the last three years, and who has been an absolute pleasure to work with on the many and varied BIFF events we've hosted here at the Library. Have fun in Melbourne, and we can't wait to see what you'll be up to next!
 
 
 

 
 
Secondly- I've noticed a trend in a lot of the bigger filmic releases of the year that might bode well for all of us in the future. Often movies can reflect the times in which they were made, and three of the most seen movies of the year- The Hunger Games, The Dark Knight Rises and Skyfall, all struck very similar chords in me as a viewer. These films all portray worlds descending into almost hopeless chaos, caused primarily through past misdeeds becoming resurgent, and the inability of our protagonists to do much but observe as the centre of things falls apart. They're bleak, tough movies, that by their conclusion reach a point where even if things have not been "fixed" (and in fact, there is no going back to how things were), we see a line where our players are able to look at this new world, steel themselves, and move into it.
After over a decade of global chaos, warfare and doubt, maybe it's a sign that we're all ready to shake off the dust of terror and see what's next.
Have a safe and happy holiday, we'll see you before you know it.