Culture

  • A brilliant return for Piaf

    Piaf: The Songs and Story in Concert With Jeannie Lewis The Playhouse, Sydney Opera House, until Aug 1. Reviewed by Francesca Davidson Piaf is brilliant. Directed by Ted Robinson, the show played in the 1980s to rave reviews, and the 1995

  • The French government's big secret

    Moruroa — The Big Secret The Cutting Edge SBS, Wednesday, July 5, 8.30pm (8 Adelaide) Reviewed by Jennifer Thompson This documentary, made in 1993 by a group of French, Tahitian and Australian film makers, on the shelf until now, has

  • Hard blues for hard times

    Bloodlines Michael Hill's Blues Mob Alligator Records through Festival Reviewed by Jenny Long For any person doubting the relevance of blues today and for the future, Michael Hill's Blues Mob will make you think again. Combining a varied

  • Waiting for the fire

    James Baldwin: A Biography By David Leeming Henry Holt & Co, 1995. 442 pp., $26.95 (pb) Reviewed by Phil Shannon Australian censors, in their own perverse way, have guided many Australians to good, challenging writers. James Baldwin,

  • The Slouch of Vietnam

    The Slouch of VietnamWhy should I wear the new slouch hat, the slouch of Vietnam, Why should I share the napalm-guilt of blundering Uncle Sam, Why should I hunt down peasant kids, who fight for rights and rice, Why

  • The well-meaning racist

    The Color of Fear A film by Lee Mun Wah Reviewed by Chris McLean Arthur Tunstall's anti-Aboriginal jokes, National Action's anti-Asian campaigns and the widespread verbal abuse of Aboriginal footballers have been loudly condemned in the

  • Pop with oomph

    Karma Zoo Karma Zoo Through Disculture Reviewed by Norm Dixon When the six major multinational record companies which dominate the Australian recording industry were under pressure to justify the high prices consumers are forced to pay for

  • A great voice and a way with words

    A great voice and a way with words Returning on Foot Girl Zone Records 1995 Reviewed by Anthea Holt Penelope Swales has a great voice and a way with words. In her latest CD, this singer-songwriter takes the listener on a guided tour of

  • Holding barbarism at bay

    Holding barbarism at bay MGM Sarajevo Sarajevo Group of Authors (SaGA) Sydney Film Festival Reviewed by Jennifer Thompson MGM Sarajevo, made in that city during the war and ongoing siege, shows in stark reality one of the bleakest

  • Despite Hollywood, still a giggle

    Tank Girl A Rachel Talalay film Reviewed by Jen Crothers In the future of Tank Girl, the world is struck by a comet, turning the whole planet into a desert. It hasn't rained in 11 years, and water is power. The Water and Power Company just

  • Homage to the labourer

    Workers: An archaeology of the industrial age An exhibition of photographs by Sebastiao Salgado The Art Gallery of NSW until July 23 Reviewed by Lisa Macdonald This powerful exhibition of 250 black and white photographs by Latin American

  • Denis Leary: militant mirth marauder

    No Cure For Cancer By Denis Leary Picador. 133 pp., $12.95. Reviewed by Dave Riley My sister runs her household like an amusement parlour. When you visit, you have to speak over the television, which stays on, and she doesn't care who you