REEL TIME
Reviews for Waiheke Cinema by Gemma Korff
THE PHOENICIAN SCHEME
The Phoenician Scheme is a visually extravagant, eccentric caper that blends comedy, thriller elements, and social satire. The film follows Zsa-zsa Korda, a wealthy industrialist who, after surviving multiple assassination attempts, appoints his estranged daughter Liesl, a nun, as his heir. Together with his quirky secretary Bjorn, they embark on a globe-trotting adventure filled with political intrigue, absurd negotiations, and unexpected encounters.
As expected, the film is a meticulously crafted spectacle, with symmetrical framing, pastel color palettes, and an ensemble cast featuring some of the biggest names in cinema. Director Wes Anderson leans heavily into his stylistic trademarks, which may delight longtime fans but alienate those seeking deeper emotional resonance.
While The Phoenician Scheme offers moments of brilliance, particularly in its witty dialogue and elaborate set pieces, it occasionally feels more like an exercise in aesthetic indulgence than a fully realized narrative. The plot unfolds in a checklist format, with Korda and Liesl traveling from one eccentric encounter to the next. The film hints at deeper themes: oligarchies, family dynamics, and the absurdity of wealth, but never fully explores them.
Michael Cera steals the show as Bjorn, delivering one of his best performances to date. His awkward, insect-obsessed tutor-turned-secretary provides much of the film’s comedic relief, balancing out the more convoluted aspects of the story.
Ultimately, The Phoenician Scheme is a film that will divide audiences. Anderson’s signature quirks are dialed up to the extreme, making it a delight for devoted fans but potentially frustrating for those seeking a more grounded narrative. While it doesn’t reach the heights of The Grand Budapest Hotel, it remains an entertaining, visually rich experience.
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THE SALT PATH
The Salt Path is a poignant drama that explores resilience, love, and the healing power of nature. Gillian Anderson and Jason Isaacs star as Raynor and Moth, a married couple who, after losing their home and facing Moth’s terminal illness diagnosis, embark on a 630-mile trek along the South West Coast Path.
Director Marianne Elliott captures the breathtaking landscapes of England’s coastline, using sweeping cinematography to contrast the couple’s internal struggles with the vastness of nature. Anderson delivers a deeply emotional performance, portraying Raynor’s quiet determination, while Isaacs brings warmth and understated strength to Moth’s character.
While the film beautifully conveys the couple’s journey, it occasionally simplifies the complexities of homelessness and illness, opting for a more sentimental approach. Some moments feel overly polished, missing the rawness of the memoir. The script streamlines the story into a series of neatly packaged emotional beats, sometimes losing the depth of the original narrative.
Despite these shortcomings, The Salt Path remains a moving and visually stunning film that celebrates endurance, love, and the unexpected ways in which nature can restore the human spirit. The cinematography, particularly in its portrayal of the rugged coastline, adds an immersive quality that enhances the film’s emotional weight.
For those who appreciate introspective dramas and stories of personal transformation, The Salt Path offers a heartfelt, if somewhat sanitized, adaptation of Winn’s memoir. It may not fully capture the rawness of the book, but it succeeds in delivering a touching and visually captivating experience.
LILO & STITCH
Disney’s Lilo & Stitch (2025) brings a fresh perspective to the beloved animated classic, capturing the heartwarming essence of ohana while introducing new elements that enhance the story. The film beautifully showcases the bond between Lilo and her sister Nani, emphasizing their resilience and love in the face of adversity.
Maia Kealoha shines as Lilo, delivering a performance that is both spirited and deeply emotional. Stitch’s CGI rendering is impressively detailed, maintaining his mischievous charm while blending seamlessly into the live-action world. The Hawaiian setting remains vibrant, offering stunning visuals that celebrate the island’s culture.
While some changes have been made to the original narrative, the film retains its core themes of family, acceptance, and finding one’s place in the world.
OCEAN WITH DAVID ATTENBOROUGH
The irrepressible Sir David Attenborough, now 99 years old, has launched what he says is one of the most important films of his career. Ocean with David Attenborough is a visual marvel, showcasing the state of the world’s oceans with a compelling narrative that vacillates between hope and despair. After seven decades filming every aspect of the natural world, Attenborough delivers a clear exposition on the importance of healthy oceans in keeping the planet stable and flourishing.
The documentary focuses on what is needed to preserve the health of our oceans and presents graphic footage of the damage that bottom trawling does to the seabed. With his usual inimitable visual clarity, we see footage of the chain that the trawlers drag behind them scouring the sea floor clean. This method of fishing indiscriminately destroys fragile marine habitats such as cold-water coral reefs, seagrass beds, and nursery grounds that are essential for fish populations and carbon storage. These mega-trawlers can often be seeking a single species and may discard more than three-quarters of their catch. It is a vivid example of how industrial fishing can drain the life from the world's oceans, Sir David claims. The film makes a compelling case for global action to ban this destructive practice. The film also advocates for Marine Protection Areas, stretches of ocean where there are no fishing or other commercial activities allowed. Attenborough says that by creating these “no take zones”, we can give the ocean and its lifeforms time to recover. This is often possible within quite a short span of time. The film shows stunning examples of how quickly marine ecosystems can recover, regenerate and how revived species can “spill over” into other zones.
The ocean is the planet's primary support system and humanity's greatest ally against climate catastrophe The film is being released in anticipation of the UN’s World Oceans Day in June 2025, which is campaigning for 30% of the world’s oceans to be preserved from extractive exploitation.
MARLON WILLIAMS: NGĀ AO E RUA - TWO WORLDS
Award-winning, globe-trotting, singer-songwriter Marlon Williams prepares to record his first album entirely in the Maori language. The Album, written over four years at a time when Williams was reconnecting with his language and cultural heritage, symbolizes much of what the documentary is about – the experience of holding different identities simultaneously. It’s not only the origin story of Williams’ new album, Te Whare Tīwekaweka, but also a deeply personal story of reconnection with whakapapa and language.
Williams talks frankly about his own shifting relationship with te reo Māori, and the responsibility he feels to future generations. Director Ursula Grace Williams’ (no relation) first feature length documentary, Ngā Ao E Rua, required her to follow Marlon for years as he toured the country and the world. The film, mostly shot in Aotearoa, showcases the director’s award-winning skill in capturing the stunning beauty of the blue green world of regional Aotearoa,
The Director’s light touch in her portrayal of everyday moments and the “normality” of this talented and unusual artist combine with the uniqueness of his raw talent to create a joyous, inspiring music documentary.
