Judy & Punch

6/9/2019

It’s always fantastic when an Australian film is a success, and even more so when there’s a female filmmaker at the helm. However, for something as unique and fresh as ‘Judy and Punch’ to come from Australia makes me genuinely proud. A period story with a message that’s vital to current society, Mirrah Foulkes is an exciting young storyteller, and I can’t wait to see what she has in store next. - Charlie David Page Read Charlie's full article... https://www.maketheswitch.com.au/article/review-judy-and-punch-a-dark-fairytale-from-a-fresh-australian-voice Head to https://www.maketheswitch.com.au/sff for more Sydney Film Festival reviews.

12/10/2019

**_A fascinating socio-political study of proto-feminism mixed with exceptionally dark comedy_** >_Thence to see an Italian puppet play that is within the rayles there, which is very pretty, the best that ever I saw._ - Samuel Pepys (May 9, 1662); _The Diary of Samuel Pepys_ (1825) >_In my opinion the street Punch is one of those extravagant reliefs from the realities of life which would lose its hold upon the people if it were made moral and instructive. I regard it as quite harmless in its influence, and as an outrageous joke which no one in existence would think of regarding as an_ _incentive to any kind of action or as a model for any kind of conduct._ - Charles Dickens; Letter to Mary Tyler (November 7, 1849) The debut feature from Australian actress turned writer/direc

8/31/2020

The dark, absurd period fairy tale “Judy & Punch” makes an accurate observation (and a bold statement) about sex and violence in pop culture, and the mob mentality that can rapidly turn fear into savagery. This strange tale of puppetry, spousal abuse, murder, witchcraft, and revenge is based on the traditional 16th century Punch and Judy puppet show. It’s well told with a funny, sad, and modern feminist spin on the tale from writer / director Mirrah Foulkes. Things are rough in Seaside, where villagers fill their evenings by attending the marionette theater run by Punch (Damon Herriman), the self-proclaimed “greatest puppeteer,” and his wife Judy (Mia Wasikowska), who holds the real talent in the family. The show is crude and the routine misogynistic without much artistry, as a male pup