Thu Jan 25

[ABC/9:30pm] The Archive Project. The Realist Film Unit in Cold War Australia… A foundational moment in Australian independent film is explored through Melbourne’s Realist film movement and the cultural cold war of the late 1940s and early 1950s. The Melbourne Realists were ‘activist’ filmmakers supporting labour movement, housing and peace campaigns. They introduced Australian audiences to world cinema at a time when cinema screens were dominated by the US and UK film industries. Their work was crucial to the emergence of film festivals in Melbourne and Sydney.

[Ten/7:30pm] Australia Day Live ’07. The annual Australia Day Live concert on the lawns of Federation Mall in Canberra again delivers a stellar line-up featuring some of Australia’s best known musicians. Hosted by Gretel Killeen with performances onstage by The Whitlams, Guy Sebastian, Bobby Flynn, TV Rock and many more. TEN will be on its best behaviour after the NYE party. And is this where we see Dicko and Damien Leith naturalised? Maybe they should just call it Pommy Bastard Idol?

[SBS/10:00pm] Dogville Confessions – This documentary, directed by Sami Saif, is a ‘behind-the-scenes’ look at the creation of Lars von Trier’s drama Dogville (screening on SBS Television on Wednesday, 24 January at 10pm) starring Nicole Kidman, Paul Bettany, Stellan Skarsgård, Ben Gazzara, Lauren Bacall and James Caan. This film combines exclusive interviews with footage shot on location in winter covered Sweden, as well as footage from specially made confessional boxes as seen in Catholic churches. In these ‘boxes of truth’ all the actors, along with von Trier talked, cried, laughed, sung and confessed directly to a camera during the whole shooting process. This documentary contains deleted scenes from the feature film, a look inside the mind and character of von Trier, Nicole Kidman, Paul Bettany and other actors, and the many problems and successes that were encountered. (From Denmark, in English and Danish, English subtitles) (Documentary) M (A,S) CC WS

[SBS/11:00pm] Cult Movie: Baron Blood – (ORRORI DEL CASTELLO DI NORIMBERGA GLI) – The curse of a witch allows a bloodthirsty baron to be brought back to life by his misguided descendant. Directed by Mario Bava and stars Joseph Cotton, Elke Sommer and Massimo Girotti. (From Italy, in Italian, English subtitles) (Horror) (1972) MA (H,V,A) (Rpt) WS

[SBS/12:45am Fri] Movie: PTU. From director Johnnie TO, winner of best director at the Hong Kong Film Festival in 1999 for The Mission. This thriller follows the Police Tactical Unit (PTU) during one night in Hong Kong’s Tsimshatsui district. The portly sergeant of the Crime Squad, (nicknamed Fat Sergeant) snubs the local punks in a steamboat café and is teased by members of the gang lead by Ponytail. He is lured into a back lane and is beaten up and in the commotion he loses his gun. Since he is due for a promotion, he wants this to be covered up until he retrieves his gun from the gang. He suspects that it has been taken by the followers of Ponytail, whom he met at the cafe. In trying to retrieve his gun, Fat Sergeant unwittingly leads the PTU into a gangland battle that endures throughout the night. Stars Simon Yam, Suet Lam and Ruby Wong. (From Hong Kong, in Cantonese, English subtitles) (Thriller) (2003) MA (V,A) (Rpt) WS

[Movie Extra/10:30pm] Movie: Mysterious Skin.

[31/10:30pm] Studio Q. Bent Bingo pt 2. Rpt.