Perth Voice Interactive

A LOVE story spanning 51 years, Touch is a poignant tale of longing, memory, and the enduring power of first love.

At its heart is Kristofer, a 70-year-old widower from Iceland, who embarks on an emotional journey to rediscover the love that defined his youth.

As his own time on earth begins to dwindle, he is haunted by the memories of a romance that never fully faded, despite the passing of years.

Fifty years earlier, Miko, bought to London by her Japanese father (Takahashi-Sun) after Hiroshima’s nuclear holocaust, meets Kristofer as a student in London, when he comes looking for work in her father’s restaurant. 

There, amidst the washing of dishes and the cooking of monkfish, Kristofer falls in love with the beautiful, mysterious, and graceful girl. 

As he learns Japanese and the art of cooking from her father, a deep and passionate love blossoms between them.

One day Miko disappears and the restaurant closes without warning, leaving many unanswered questions.

Although Kristofer moves on in his life, Touch shows the how is life is forever altered as his love slipped away. 

Through his memories, the story of their romance unfolds. 

On a quest to find what happened to Miko, Kristofer returns to London in the midst of the Pandemic to track down Hitomi, a former restaurant colleague now living in an aged care facility. 

Hitomi finds an old letter from Miko, sending Kristofer on a mission to Hiroshima, even though the world’s borders were snapping shut thanks to Covid.

I do not want to tell you the end of the story as that would ruin it, but it shows just how true love can be enduring.

A beautiful scenic story spanning decades across cultures and continents.

4/5 chickens
by PAULA HOLLAND

DANIELE LUCHETTI’S new psychological thriller Trust certainly starts with bang as we watch an aged man prepare for suicide. 

Within moments we get a terrifying vision of the inner demon that is driving him to despair. 

The sequence primes us for a journey into the fantasies and realities of a man who experiences himself as an imposter. 

The film proceeds through episodic snippets to reveal exactly what is eating him away: a secret that he once shared with a volatile, possibly deranged, past lover.

Based on Domenico Starnone’s celebrated novel, we see a man who is much-loved in his public life as an educator and academic. 

But with every accolade he is awarded, he feels increasingly panicked at the thought of what could be revealed. 

The film’s Italian title, Confidenza carries connotations of “confidence trickster”, which is how the main character, Pietro (Elio Germano) thinks of himself.

Pietro’s life’s central preoccupation is to hold his persona together as a public intellectual, with his students, within his marriage and with his child.

All the while he is consumed by what is effectively the ultimate co-dependent relationship with a woman he has had no dealings with for years. 

In his private thoughts Pietro feels like a criminal fearing discovery. 

Can he confess to anyone? 

To do so would require commitment to genuine relationship and is he capable of that? 

He experiences himself as fatally inauthentic, lacking in integrity. 

His violent daydreams for resolving his pain erupt on the screen, jolting the audience.

The moody, beautiful soundtrack by Radiohead’s Thom Yorke using electronica and wind instruments subtlety builds the tension and conveys Pietro’s angst.

The Italian film Festival publicity says this film is a “true psychological thriller disguised as a bourgeois family drama”, which is accurate enough. 

However, it goes beyond that frame. 

It is a case study in the price of public acclaim. 

There are many Australian public figures who would feel unsettled by this film.

Incidentally, the novelist Domenico Starnone may himself be harbouring a great secret in public. 

His wife, Anita Raja is rumoured to be none other than Elena Ferrante, the pseudonym for the writer of the quartet of Neapolitan Novels. 

Possibly there is a myriad of confidences both within and outside of this film.

by BARRY HEALY

ST. ALi Italian Film Festival
October 3 – 23
Screenings at Palace Raine
Square, Luna Leederville,
LunaSX and Windsor Cinema
For the full program and tickets go to http://www.italianfilmfestival.com.au

MEMBERS of Perth’s Sri Lankan community have established a protest camp outside Tangney Labor MP Sam Lim’s office.

Their tents and banners are visible along Leach Highway.

The protesters are demanding the federal government end the practice of keeping Sri Lankan refugees on bridging visas that deny them the right to work, study and receive health care.

The Voice visited the makeshift camp on a cold, blustery and rainy Thursday morning. 

Willetton local Michael (who declined to give his last name) was deep in conversation with Sam Kugathas, a camp leader.

Michael said he’d never heard of the Sri Lankan’s plight before but now believes it’s a story everybody needs to hear.

However, he was adamant all refugees must be interviewed before arriving in Australia, while “anyone who comes here must assimilate into Australian life, not try to change the country into what they left behind.”

Mr Kugathas told the Voice being unable to work legally made the Sri Lankans dependent on charity, while being barred from education made it hard to master English, creating social isolation and despair.

On a small table were photos of Mano Yogalingam and Sasikaran Selvanayagam, two refugees who had committed suicide the previous week. Mr Yogalingam self-immolated in Melbourne on August 27.

Refugees’ children can’t go to a public school, Mr Kugathas said. 

They are dependent on the charity of church schools, but that only lasts to the end of high school. 

After that they are refused entry to university.

Mr Kugathas said the immigration department used some Malaysian interpreters for “fast track” interviews, and while they spoke Tamil their ignorance of Sri Lankan cultural factors created problems.

“In Sri Lanka many people ride motorbikes that are called 200, for the size of the engine,” he said. 

“One refugee told the interviewer that he had escaped murder by the Sri Lankan army by riding his 200. 

“The interpreter translated that as him saying that he owned 200 motorcycles, and the interviewer refused him refugee status based on that.”

Mr Kugathas said while the Sri Lankan community had door knocked for Mr Lim at the last federal election, they were unimpressed by his response when he visited the camp last week.

The MP’s comments about Mr Yogalingam’s death were criticised by the protesters as insensitive.

“If you can live for the last 12 years or 13 years in such a suffering state, why [do] you want to take your life,” Mr Lim said.

He also blamed the previous Liberal government for the visa mess, saying it had been the Albanese government that was sorting it out.

The protesters said they had also been visited by federal police, but Mr Kugathas said they left after saying it was a waste of their time. 

WA police warned the protesters it was illegal to sleep outside Mr Lim’s office so they’ve taken to protesting in shifts to stay awake all night.

The Sri Lankan community has mobilised to feed and sustain the camp using the resources of various churches and Hindu temples.

The Voice visited and e-mailed Mr Lim’s office for comment but didn’t get a reply before deadline.

by BARRY HEALY

A BID to make a popular recording studio and pint-size performance venue a permanent fixture in Baker Avenue has hit a snag, with a neighbour complaining that the after-parties are decidedly off-key.

CentreStage Recording Studio sits across from Birdwood Square in Vincent’s slab of Perth, and while it looks across to the buzzing Brisbane Hotel on Beaufort Street, it’s tucked behind one of the residential homes that line the avenue.

It’s the passion project of well-known Perth accordion player, composer and arranger Nunzio Mondia, who lists collaborations with Ray Charles, Michael Crawford and even Hugh Jackman on his CV.

Last October Mr Mondio wrapped up a recording session at CentreStage for the Shadows’ legendary guitarist Hank Marvin’s latest album Foolin’ with the Feds, and again joined him last weekend for an intimate concert at the studio. Earlier this year CentreStage also held a “melodic feast” of classical Italian music and even hosted Christmas Carols with a twist last December.

The studio has been on an 18-month trial which expired in August and Mr Mondio has applied to be able to operate permanently, asking to double his patronage to 80 people on weekdays, and to have an extra hour in the evenings.

But one of his neighbours fronted Vincent’s public question time at this week’s agenda briefing hoping to pull the pin on the entire endeavour.

Commercial

“The fully commercial concept venue he has been running has made an already bad situation much worse,” she said.

The neighbour (sadly the council’s microphone died during her introduction so we couldn’t catch her name) said she’d suffered years of after-performance noise.

“These celebrations naturally involve food and alcohol,” she said.

“Mr Mondia and his friends are one thing; post-performance parties take it to a whole new level.”

The studio has approval to run shows with 100 patrons every Friday, and the occasional Saturday, but the neighbour said that meant an army of Ubers arriving to drop them off, then sitting outside her home idling while waiting for pick-ups.

“Mr Mondia has pushed the envelope at every opportunity, first running a busy home business from his home in a residential zone, and from the time he moved in 10 years ago.”

But Mr Mondia said he’d been living there for near-on 30 years and had invested heavily in the studio’s noise insulation so the concerts barely raised a peep.

“The problem with my neighbour is she is not willing to negotiate,” Mr Mondia said.

“No one else has an issue.

“It’s an area that’s growing and we need to be pro-active he said,” urging the council not to bow to “backward thinking”.

With support from the Northbridge Common Town Team, the application could have been expected to sail through, but there were some nagging questions from councillors, plus support from the neighbour from former councillor Dudley Maier that might put Mr Mondia on edge.

The final decision on CentreStage’s future comes before the full council meeting this Tuesday.

by STEVE GRANT

PERTH council is looking for its next batch of Citizens of the Year.

Auspire, otherwise known as the Australia Day Council of WA, has opened nominations for the awards, which shine a spotlight on individuals and groups who make a difference in their community.

Lord mayor Basil Zempilas said the awards were about recognising and celebrating the outstanding efforts of community members who go above and beyond.

“So many remarkable contributions in our community often go unnoticed, and these awards provide a wonderful chance to highlight and honour some of that incredible work,” Mr Zempilas said.

This year’s youth winner Kate Kirwin said the award had made a huge difference to her work as an advocate for women in STEM.

“Winning this award has allowed me to connect with more women who are interested in tech industry, and it’s given us a chance to celebrate what we’ve achieved,” Ms Kirwin said.

“It’s really inspired me to continue pushing forward with She Codes Australia and make a real impact in our community.

“I’m so proud to be a positive role model for young women and girls as the City of Perth Youth Citizen of the Year.

“I can’t wait to see who will be honoured in 2025. Get those nominations in!”

Paul Ennis received the senior award category for his lifetime dedication to the City’s town hall clock. For over 50 years, Mr Ennis has kept the heritage-listed clock ticking.

“It’s not just a recognition of my work, but also a testament to the dedication of my family over the years,” Mr Ennis said.

“It makes me feel incredibly proud to have contributed to preserving part of our city’s heritage.

“If you think this could benefit you or someone else, go for it. Nominating is a great way to make a real difference.”

Nominations can be made for contributions to education, health, fundraising, voluntary services, business, sports, arts, the environment, social inclusion or any other area that enhances the wellbeing of our community.

Submit nominations before October 31 at www.citizenshipawards.com.au/nominate

AUCKLAND STREET is the latest precinct set to get its “character” enshrined in Vincent council’s policies.

At this week’s meeting, councillors will decide whether to include Auckland Street under its Local Planning Policy for character areas and send it out for public comment.

If adopted, the street’s single-storey homes, generous street setbacks and large front gardens would need to be taken into consideration in development applications so the traditional streetscape is maintained, though it leaves scope for site-responsive design solutions.

A report by Vincent’s planners found the street’s built form positively contributes to Vincent’s overall character. 

But a resident survey revealed mixed feelings: 50 per cent supported the character area designation, while the other half opposed it. Concerns included potential restrictions on new developments and a desire for higher density in the area.

The working group, composed of local residents, suggested adjustments to the draft guidelines. Three properties were excluded from the character area due to inconsistent lot configurations, and the guidelines were updated to emphasise key characteristics like single-storey design and generous setbacks.

BEING a wildcard entry for the U18s championships at this week’s HoopsFest, the Binar Indigenous Team know any victories will have to be hard-earned.

With a place in the WA Basketball League just edging nearer after a decade of dreaming, founder Adam Desmond says his young players rarely get an opportunity to play in competitions of this calibre.

Adding to the challenge, seven of the club’s top boys will be playing for their own WABL teams, but Mr Desmond says that’s given him an opportunity to offer a spot to some younger players and others from the regions.

“So it’s more opportunities for Indigenous kids to be playing basketball at this level, so that’s the silver lining,” Mr Desmond said.

But he says they’ve fared a little better with the Binar girls and he’s hopeful there might be an upset or two along the way.

Binar (the Noongar word for meteor) started in 2011 with just six kids playing under Mr Desmond, but has grown to include complete sports, culture and leadership programs.

This year for the first time, they ran a full league competition in the City of Swan with a 58 per cent Indigenous participation rate, which Mr Desmond says was born out of Binar’s core mission of removing the barriers to participation Aboriginal kids often face, as well as a commitment of inclusiveness.

“We had our grand finals this weekend, and then we’ll run another summer season, and that’s a big part of being able to qualify for a WABL place,” he said.

Mr Desmond said there was a lot of excitement amongst his young players, as they hadn’t been guaranteed a place and he wasn’t sure their application to play would be accepted.

He said after speaking to HoopsFest organisers he initially thought about taking kids along to watch some of the games, but decided to go the whole hog after deciding there’d be long-term benefits from playing and gaining visibility for Indigenous sports.

HoopsFest is Australia’s largest basketball festival and will see Perth host every first-round game of the NBL, the pre-season competition for the Women’s NBLA plus the Under 18s championships. 

There’ll be a festival of music, entertainment and street basketball at Forrest Place from September 19 – 22, while those special folk who love to queue for the latest sneaker release can have them all in one place at Sneaker Fest at RAC Arena on September 21/22.

WA tourism minister Rita Saffioti said WA had a long and proud basketball history which made securing HoopsFest special.

“It’s yet another opportunity to showcase Western Australia as an incredible tourism destination and a leading host of major events,” Ms Saffioti said.

For more information head to hoopsfest.com.au

by STEVE GRANT

THE chance encounter of a blossoming wattle in the south of France years ago provided the seed which has bloomed into the WA Maritime Museum’s latest exhibition Empress Joséphine’s Garden.

AGB Creative director Anthony Bastic, who’d been senior events manager at the 2006 Melbourne Commonwealth Games, was having a career break and renting a holiday home in Toulon (intriguingly named Les Eucaplypt) when he came across a small forest of the iconic Australian flower while on a drive with a friend.

“I said to my friend, ‘I wonder why this wattle is here, and all these Eucalyptus trees’, and she said to me, ‘you see Australia everywhere, big Aussie’,” Mr Bastic told the Voice.

“Then I was intrigued to find out more, and so that’s when I was first introduced to the story.”

The story turned out to be the fascination for Australian flora and fauna held by Josephine Bonaparte, wife of emperor Napoleon.

She had French expeditions send thousands of specimens of Australian wildflowers and wildlife to the couple’s palatial home Malmaison, just 12 kilometres west of Paris, and encouraged them to be planted across the country.

Included in her menagerie were two black swans Mr Bastic says were collected from the Swan River during French explorer Nicolas Baudin’s 1801-1803 expedition and brought home on a diet of wine-soaked bread. 

Mme Bonaparte amazed visitors with the swans; previously the expression “black swan” was the literal equivalent of “pigs might fly”.

“A couple of years ago I was creating a digital exhibition called Beauty Rich and Rare, which examined Cook’s voyage through the eyes of Joseph Banks,” Mr Bastic said.

“When I was doing my research, I came across correspondence between Josephine and Sir Joseph Banks, and he said to her, ‘you know these plants, you need them to be in a warmer climate’.

“So she builds this big hothouse, the biggest in Europe, and then other plans she sends down to the south of France, to give them to the people.”

“So I wanted to write a series of these stories that had a baseline of the plants and animals that Australia has, and why they are the fascination of the world.”

The result is an immersive digital experience where thousands of images taken from the explorers’ journals and books, letters and Mme Bonaparte’s own memorabilia to tell her story around the walls of the museum.

Empress Josephine’s Garden will be at the WA Maritime Museum until February 9 next year.

by STEVE GRANT