Myths & Legends

Myths and Legends is a fantastical series of films screening at GOMA throughout summer, guaranteed to keep fans of the mythical and legendary happy.

A companion program to 2014’s Fairytales and Fables, Myths and Legends takes a broad look at the terms, with anything from literal interpretations of classical mythology such as the stunning 1963 film, Jason and the Argonauts, to heroic journeys of the contemporary kind, with An Officer and a Gentleman (1982).

The films will explore the powerful relationships between classic folklore and modern cinematic storytelling, and will feature reinterpretations of classic tales right through to contemporary genres that we’ve come to know and love and which are the result of translating mythic metaphors, i.e. romance, westerns, sci-fi, and film noir.

Myths and Legends’ curator, Amanda Slack-Smith (Associate Curator of the Australian Cinémathèque), will hold a free talk on Sat, 7 Feb, at 1pm titled Play it Again, Sam: Film and Modern Mythology, in which she’ll explore how different cinematic genres offer surprising takes on classic mythic narratives. She’ll use examples such as 1942’s often-quoted film, Casablanca (hence the talk’s title referencing the line that Humphrey Bogart never actually said in the film) and Quentin Tarantino’s explosive and enduring Pulp Fiction (1994).

A special school holiday event and a must-do for teens aged 13-18 is the QAGOMA Teens: Film Screening on Sat, 17 Jan, from 1-3pm. They’ll be invited to join the QAGOMA Teens team – who participate in regular free events at GOMA – and will be treated  to a screening of Stephen Spielberg’s beloved E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial (1982).

With the Myths and Legends program running for two months, there are plenty of films on offer, from 1991’s The Fisher King (a take on the Arthurian legend) to Akira Kurosawa’s 1954 gem, Seven Samurai, to James Cameron epics The Terminator (1984) and Aliens (1986). There are also some splendid golden oldies such as Faust – A German Folk Tale (1926) and 1928’s The Passion of Joan of Arc, both with live Wurlitzer organ accompaniment by David Bailey. Check here for more details.

by Vicki Englund