Starring Academy Award® winner Anthony Hopkins (The Father) “at the top of his game” (Deadline) and Emmy nominee Matthew Goode (The Crown, Downton Abbey), FREUD’S LAST SESSION will release in Australian cinemas on April 18. Both Hopkins and Goode “deliver sterling performances” (Deadline) in this cinematic adaptation of Mark St Germain’s off-Broadway smash, in which a battle of the minds plays out between Sigmund Freud and C.S. Lewis, on the eve of the Second World War. Freud’s Last Session unfolds on the eve of the Second World War as two of the greatest minds of ..read more

Brace yourself for a quick tempo horror flick with a few twists (literally), clever retro staging and cagey characters whose measured reveal builds a spooky tension worthy of Stephen King’s comment “It’s absolutely brilliant. I couldn’t take my eyes off it.” Written and directed by Colin and Cameron Cairnes (100 Bloody Acres, Scare Campaign) and starring David Dastmalchian (Oppenheimer, Dune, The Dark Knight) alongside an all-star Australian line-up including Laura Gordon, Ian Bliss, Fayssal Bazzi, Ingrid Torelli, Rhys Auteri, Georgina Haig and Josh ..read more

There is a lot more to Bali than Kuta Beach and noisy bars, travel editor Winsor Dobbin reports. Tucked away in the hills above the northern Bali coast is a superb rural getaway that allows guests to experience the authentic sights, sounds and tastes of the holiday island. The Damai, which reopened last year after a three-year Covid closure, offers a luxury villa experience surrounded by temples, small farms, and rice paddies.  The 15 private villas (in four configurations) all offer an essence of Balinese style (think al fresco garden showers), but each has its own swimmin ..read more

PERFECT DAYS is a return to peak form from master director Wim Wenders. The film oozes Japanese cool through a unique blend of gentle imagery, humour and classic hits. Lead actor Koji Yakusho was awarded Best Actor at Cannes in 2023, for his portrayal of humble toilet cleaner Hirayama, and the film is a nominee in the Best International Feature category at the Oscars. Hirayama seems utterly content with his simple life as a cleaner of toilets in Tokyo. Outside of his very structured everyday routine he enjoys his passion for music and for books. And he loves trees and takes ..read more

From Spanish director Pablo Berger, Academy Award nominated film ROBOT DREAMS releases in Australian cinemas on April 11. The animated tragicomedy is based on the comic of the same name by Sara Varon and received the award for Best Film in the Contrechamp section of the Annecy International Animation Film Festival. Dog lives in Manhattan and he’s tired of being alone. One day he decides to build himself a robot, a companion. Their friendship blossoms, until they become inseparable, to the rhythm of 80s NYC. One summer night, Dog, with great sadness, is forced to abandon Rob ..read more

Nominated for ‘Best International Feature’ at the 2024 Academy Awards,IO CAPITANO is the epic story of two teenagers, Seydou and Moussa, who decide to leave Dakar, Senegal and make their way to Europe. They do this secretly, although they are repeatedly warned about the arduous journey. The dream of becoming rich and famous as musicians in Europe is too enticing. But their journey is not as easy as they imagined and they are quickly confronted with obstacles that they never envisaged in this powerful and empathetic odyssey that will move and uplift you. It’s one of the most beautiful film ..read more

Sydney Sweeney stars as Cecilia, a young nun welcomed to a prestigious convent in the idyllic Italian countryside.  But it’s not long before, she realises that the very walls that shelter her also conceal malevolent and unspeakable horrors, threatening her faith and safety in ways she could never have imagine. Thanks to Rialto, Ciao Magazine has 10 in-season double passes to giveaway. Simply email us at info@ciaomagazine.com.au and tell us if horror is your favourite genre. Best of luck. You can view the trailer here ..read more

A 1920s English seaside town bears witness to a dark and absurd scandal in this riotous mystery comedy. Based on a stranger than fiction true story, Wicked Little Letters follows two neighbours: deeply conservative local Edith Swan (Olivia Colman) and rowdy Irish migrant Rose Gooding (Jessie Buckley). When Edith and fellow residents begin to receive wicked letters full of unintentionally hilarious profanities, foul-mouthed Rose is charged with the crime. The anonymous letters prompt a national uproar, and a trial ensues. However, as the town’s women – led by Police Officer Gladys Moss (Anjana ..read more

From a couple of quick trips up the Pacific Highway to luxe accommodation in the Barossa, travel editor Winsor Dobbin looks at the latest in food and wine travel news. Going for Broke On the verge of celebrating a quarter of a century in the winemaking business, The Little Wine Company has announced the opening of its new cellar door in the Hunter Valley hamlet of Broke. Founded by Suzanne and Ian Little in 2000, The Little Wine Company has been a regional leader in the production of alternative grape varieties, and the Broke Fordwich region has been the family home for three decades. The new ..read more

It’s supposed to be the best summer ever. Tara, Skye and Em touch down on the Greek party resort of Malia for the vacation to end all vacations, the girls trip every British teenager ticks off at the cusp of adulthood. Tara, the last remaining virgin, is on a mission to change that: and her best friends are causing chaos right alongside her. The 16-year-old drinks and dances her way through the strip – with all its messy bars and grimy nightclubs – until she meets a couple of boys on the neighboring hotel balcony who she hopes might give her a summer to remember. Making her debut feature with ..read more