Presented by ACMI in association with Sydney Film Festival and NFSA
Belfast, Maine
Tickets
When
Sun 17 Jul 2022
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All walks of life are painstakingly chronicled and honoured in Frederick Wiseman’s unvarnished and fascinating portrait of a small American town on the cusp of the 21st century.
Belfast, Maine… conveys a deeply emotional sense of place, season and time of day. In contrasting the breathtaking landscape with the troubled lives of many of those living there, it reminds us that the fleeting beauties of the natural world – the simple pleasures available to all – are among life’s deepest consolations.
A hypnotic portrait of a small New England coastal town compassionately observes ordinary lives. Lobstermen and tugboat crews go about their business. At the cannery, women snip the heads and tails off sardines with amazing dexterity and speed. In the dawn quiet, a baker cuts doughnuts, while the glowing afternoon light provides inspiration for an artist. Laundry is folded, potatoes harvested. Fish are caught and processed. Belfast’s caregivers dispense services to the elderly and infirm and Willy Loman takes to the stage during rehearsals of Death of a Salesman… Attending to minutiae, Wiseman reveals the relationships and routines that hold a community together. His lens sees everyone as an equally worthy subject.
Learn more
READ: The Art of Documentary No. 1
Lola Peploe, The Paris Review, Sep 2018
LISTEN: Legendary U.S. documentarian Frederick Wiseman
The Screen Show, Jun 2022
Get multipasses to this film program
3 session pass – $33–45
6 session pass – $66–84
10 session pass – $100–120
Plan your visit
COVIDSafe visitor guidelines, information on accessibility, amenities, transport, dining options and more.
Looking for dining options?
Our restaurant, cafe and bar features a seasonally driven menu developed by acclaimed Melbourne chef, Karen Martini.