Footballers back on home ground

Maidens mount partial comeback

Golden Bay Shield Maidens faced Nelson Suburbs Reserves at the Rec Park in a 1pm kick-off.

For the opening 20 minutes of the match, neither side managed to settle into a coherent pattern of play but both created scoring opportunities. On the 15-minute mark, Suburbs went close with a short-range shot that was spooned over the crossbar. At the other end of the pitch, the Maidens nearly scored when their corner kick caused confusion amongst Suburbs defenders who eventually managed to clear the ball.

With half-an-hour gone, the first real chances fell to the home side; running through the Suburbs' defence, Isla Foulds struck a low, hard shot which looked bound for the net but agonisingly struck the upright and ricocheted off the keeper for a corner. Two minutes later, Maidens’ striker Mazarine Fitzgerald latched onto a through ball from Foulds at the edge of the penalty area and, despite the attention of three defenders, got her shot away only to be denied by the keeper.

Shortly into the second half, the deadlock was broken when Suburbs striker was put through on goal and smashed the ball into the back of the net giving Maidens’ keeper Aliana Bowden no chance. Three minutes later the visitors doubled their advantage with a screamer from the edge of the box which again left the keeper helpless.

The Maidens responded by pressing the Suburbs defence and nearly scored when a corner kick almost found the net before it was batted away by the Suburbs’ keeper. But their tenacity paid off when the Maidens were awarded a free kick around 25 yards from the Suburbs' goal. As the keeper organised her defensive wall Liz Egan stepped up to take the kick. With all eyes on Egan she struck the ball perfectly, taking it over the wall before dipping just under the crossbar and out of the keeper’s reach into the back of the net. Buoyed by Egan's spectacular strike, the Maidens pushed for an equaliser but the well-drilled opposition held on to take the win.

Final score: GB Shield Maidens 1 vs Nelson Suburbs Women’s Reserves 2.

The result leaves Maidens mid-table and consolidates Suburbs’ third place.

Goats railroad Steamers

Of all the narratives in this season’s football adventure, truth really is stranger that fiction when it comes to the Mountain Goats’ recent run of form. With two consecutive seven-nil victories going into their Division 2 match against Nelson Steamers last Saturday, there was some joking about a repeat of that impressive scoreline. But, even though the away side were close to the bottom of the table, no one was taking such talk too seriously – until the final whistle blew – and guess what? The Goats had done it again.

Final score: GB Mountain Goats 7 vs Nelson Steamers 0.

The Goats are now equal on points with Division 2 leaders FC Nelson Karenni who have a better goal difference and a game in hand. As if scripted, the Goats travel to Guppy Park tomorrow to play the table-toppers in the final fixture of the season, knowing that a fourth seven-nil victory could bring the title home to Golden Bay. It couldn’t happen – could it?

Stingrays in stalemate

In the Masters Division, Golden Bay Stingrays took on second-placed FC Nelson. It turned out to be a six-goal thriller with the momentum and the lead changing throughout the game.

Stingrays’ Luke Concannon stung the visitors early on to give the home side a lead, but Nelson struck back to level the score.

The second half followed the same pattern, with Concannon netting first before the visitors equalised.

The Stingrays snatched the lead back once again with a fine finish by striker Sam Hopley. Surely it was third time lucky? The home side just need to see out the game, but Nelson had other ideas and managed to level the scores for a third and final time.

Final score: GB Stingrays 3 vs FC Nelson 3. Roli Muntwyler

Man of the Match: Ben James.

The Stingrays, who are now guaranteed a top-half finish, round off their 2023 campaign at home tomorrow afternoon with a match against Richmond Bogans.

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Review: Country Cabaret

Screening Schedule - 11 August to 3 September

Fri 11 4:00 The Little Mermaid (PG) Final

7:30 Barbie (PG)

Sat 12 4:30 Country Cabaret (M)

7:30 NZ Mountain Film Festival (E) $20/$15

Sun 13 2:00

Farming is difficult, but in France it seems especially so. Lugubrious David (Alban Ivanov) has inherited a dairy farm from his late father, despite everyone regularly informing him that he is an impractical dreamer poorly suited to real work. And despite his every effort, the run-down property is facing a mortgagee sale, which David manages to put off for two months.

With a mere eight weeks before he, his mother, and grandfather are evicted, David wanders into a cabaret in the local town, and is mesmerised by the performance of dancer Bonnie Starlight.

Fiery Bonnie, memorably played by Algerian-born Sabrina Ouazani, is in the process of angrily quitting her job and is open to a new opportunity. However, when David tries to convince her that creating a cabaret on his farm could be salvation for them both, Bonnie instantly decides that performing above a cowshed is not for her and angrily leaves, scything across the muddy yard in her enormous stiletto heels.

Of course, Bonnie does eventually allow herself to be convinced, but on the understanding that theirs will be a strictly business relationship and she will be the boss, creating and managing the show.

The interplay between these two very different characters is already entertaining enough, but Country Cabaret is by necessity an ensemble piece. The middle act consists of our unlikely entrepreneurs auditioning a variety of former entertainers, including a washed-up veteran hypnotist, a deaf magician, and a female impersonator who works in a hardware store. Bringing these glorious misfits together is easier than might be expected, having spent their lives not belonging anywhere.

David’s Farmyard Cabaret troupe gives them camaraderie and a sense of purpose. However, creating a show that people will pay to see is an entirely different matter, and the explosive perfectionist Bonnie is not interested in a diplomatic management style. To make matters worse, David’s bitter, homophobic grandfather is actively hostile to the concept, and seems determined to sabotage the entire venture.

Cabaret is a form of entertainment that relies very much on glamour – moving an audience from act to act so they don’t notice that a costume seems a little worn or the occasional note might be off. Country Cabaret is exactly that, with the transposing of rural and showbusiness sensibilities providing a framework for a procession of hilarious encounters between contrasting characters that is archetypically French, but also seems very Kiwi at the same time.

Ouazani as Bonnie is the absolute highlight, igniting every scene she appears in but also managing to portray the gentler side of what could easily have been a one-note, combative glamazon. Unexpectedly witnessing David help deliver a calf is a turning point, as she realises how much more there can be to life than the cut-throat entertainment world she has inhabited. David’s long-suffering mother Mireille (Michèle Bernier) turns out to be the other pillar that supports him, showing she can be equally formidable when seeing off an unwanted visitor with a shotgun.

Country Cabaret is brimming with charm, and as seems to be the trend with many modestly budgeted feel-good films over this last year, is based on a true story. Make sure you stay for the credits to see glimpses of the real-life performers.

The Village Theatre’s current season of Classic Cinema is proving to be very successful, with the most recent screening – Hitchcock’s thriller North by Northwest – earning a round of applause from the audience.

Next Sunday 20 August, make sure you catch Federico Fellini’s 1957 Nights of Cabiria. Featuring the misadventures of an entirely different kind of fiery heroine, Cabiria is an idealistic young prostitute searching for true love on the streets of Rome. Filmed in gorgeous black and white, Cannes award-winning Guilietta Masina gives an unforgettable performance that deftly balances tragedy and comedy.

NZ MOUNTAIN FILM FEST For one night only we have an outstanding collection of unique adventure films. International & NZ made. Tickets $20/$15. 7.30pm. SAT 12 AUG

Thu 31 7:30 The Last Rider (G)

Fri 1 4:00 Harry Potter & the Prisoner of Azkaban (PG)

7:30 Meg 2: The Trench (M) Final

Sat 2 4:30 The Miracle Club (PG)

7:30 A Great Friend (PG)

Sun 3 3:30 MetOpera: Champion (Blanchard) (M) $35/$30

7:30 The Miracle Club (PG)

WHAT’S HAPPENING IN THIS PROGRAMME:

EXTRAS

OPPENHEIMER/BARBIE: Due to popularity we have extra screenings. See programme for details & book online to avoid missing out!

HARRY POTTER FILMS: With no new kids' film releases till Sept, we are playing the first 3 Harry Potter films each Friday at 4pm starting 18 Aug. If popular, we’ll continue in next programme.

Movie Descriptions

NIGHTS OF CABIRIA (1957) (PG) Classic Cinema 1hr50m Rome, 1957. A woman, Cabiria, is robbed and left to drown by her boyfriend, Giorgio. Rescued, she resumes her life and tries her best to find happiness in a cynical world.

METOPERA: CHAMPION (Blanchard) (M) 3hr20m

Bass-baritone Ryan Speedo Green is the young boxer Emile Griffith, who rises from obscurity to become a world champion. Eric Owens portrays Griffith’s older self, haunted by the ghosts of his past.

HARRY POTTER FILMS (PG) Fantasy/Kids/Family Classic

Once-only screenings of the first three films, Harry Potter & the Philosophers Stone, Harry Potter & the Chamber of Secrets and Harry Potter & the Prisoner of Azkaban. Full descriptions are on our website.

THE

The incredible story of the 1989 Tour De France and how American Greg LeMond faced down betrayal, childhood sexual abuse and death completing one of the most inspiring comebacks in history.

THE LAST FILM SHOW (M) (subtitles) Drama 1hr50m Samay, a 9-year-old boy living with his family in a remote village in India discovers films for the first time. Against his father's wishes, he returns to the cinema day after day to watch more films.

SUN 26 AUG

FASHION PARADE AND WESTWOOD DOCO: Come along to a fashion themed afternoon starting at 2pm with a fashion parade, followed at 3.30 with a documentary about the late & great Vivienne Westwood.

NT LIVE: THE CRUCIBLE (M) 3hrs15m

A witch hunt is beginning in Arthur Miller’s captivating parable of power. Raised to be seen but not heard, a group of young women in Salem suddenly find their words have an almighty power.

MEG 2: THE TRENCH (M) Action/Science-fiction 2hrs

The original crew return to lead a daring research team on an exploratory dive into the deepest depths of the ocean, which spirals into chaos when a malevolent mining operation threatens their mission.

A GREAT FRIEND (PG) (subtitles) Comedy 1hr40m

High-flying entrepreneur Vincent's car breaks down while on a rugged mountain road. Pierre, who has distanced himself from the modern world, offers him a place to stay while its fixed.

THE MIRACLE CLUB (PG) Drama 1hr30m

In 1960, the women of Ballyfermot, Ireland, dream of winning a pilgrimage to Lourdes. Four close friends "win" a life-changing ticket at their local raffle night, thanks to their interfering priest.

WESTWOOD: PUNK, ICON, ACTIVIST (M) Documentary 1hr30m

Sundance Grand Jury Prizenominated documentary on the undisputed queen of British fashion, Dame Vivienne Westwood. Told in her own words, it's a sharpwitted look into her life.

Crossword 285

Crossword 285