Movies On This May
May at Pivot is bursting with bold new stories. From powerful true tales to soul-stirring musicals, our screen is lighting up with films that move, inspire, and stay with you long after the credits roll.
Monsieur Aznavour
Just as Marion Cotillard transformed into Édith Piaf, Tahar Rahim becomes the legendary Charles Aznavour in MONSIEUR AZNAVOUR — a rich, emotional biopic of the French-Armenian icon. Born in 1924 to Armenian refugees, Aznavour grows up in poverty, ridiculed for his stature and voice, yet driven by his family’s passion for music. His early career stumbles until mentorship from Édith Piaf helps him find his voice. By the 1950s, his heartfelt ‘chansons’ win global acclaim. Anchored by Rahim’s powerhouse performance, this is a lush, stirring tribute to a cultural giant — and a must-see on the big screen.
Monsieur Aznavour
La Cocina
La Cocina is a 2024 drama directed by Alonso Ruizpalacios, offering a raw and immersive look into the lives of undocumented immigrant workers in a bustling Times Square restaurant. The film centers on Pedro, a passionate Mexican cook, and Julia, an American waitress, whose complex relationship unfolds amidst the high-pressure environment of the kitchen. As tensions rise due to a missing sum of money and personal revelations, the story delves into themes of exploitation, identity, and the pursuit of the American dream. Shot in striking black-and-white, La Cocina presents a poignant exploration of the human cost behind the hospitality industry.
La Cocina
The Surfer
The Surfer
Small Things Like These
Small Things Like These
Small Things Like These is a 2024 historical drama directed by Tim Mielants, adapted from Claire Keegan’s acclaimed novella. Set in 1985 in the Irish town of New Ross, the film follows coal merchant Bill Furlong (Cillian Murphy), a devoted father and husband. While making a routine delivery to a local convent, Bill uncovers disturbing secrets about the institution’s treatment of young women, forcing him to confront both the town’s complicity and his own past. As Christmas approaches, he faces a moral dilemma that challenges the silence and conformity of his community.
Wilding
Wilding
A British documentary directed by David Allen, based on Isabella Tree’s best-selling book. The film chronicles the transformative journey of Tree and her husband, Charles Burrell, as they abandon intensive farming practices on their 400-year-old Knepp Estate in West Sussex. By removing fences and allowing nature to reclaim the land, they initiate one of Europe’s most significant rewilding projects. The documentary captures the resurgence of biodiversity, showcasing the return of native species and the restoration of the ecosystem. Through stunning cinematography and heartfelt storytelling, Wilding offers an inspiring vision of ecological renewal and the profound impact of working in harmony with nature.
Tinā
Tinā
TINĀ is a powerful, inspirational crowd pleaser about the healing power of music. Samoan teacher Mareta Percival is struggling following a huge personal loss in the 2011 Christchurch earthquake. Reluctantly taking on the role of substitute teacher at an elite, wealthy private school – she is surprised to find children crying out for guidance, inspiration and love. Using the symphony of her culture to empower her students, she forms a choir, bringing them together while unexpectedly rediscovering her passion again for being a teacher and mother.
The Correspondent
The Correspondent
While covering the news desk in Cairo for a colleague over the Christmas holidays, Australian journalist Peter Greste is arrested and accused of terrorism. He has become a pawn in the middle of a deadly game full of corrupt officials and ancient rivalries. Now the subject of his own worldwide news story, with only his wits and unlikely allies keeping him alive, Greste’s very survival means staring down a brutal regime. THE CORRESPONDENT is a gripping thriller and a compelling true story about the relentless defence of the truth and triumph of the human spirit. Starring Richard Roxburgh as Peter Greste and directed by Kriv Stenders (Red Dog).
Widow Clicquot
Widow Clicquot
Widow Clicquot is based on the true story behind the Veuve Clicquot champagne family and business that began in the late 18th century. After her husband’s untimely death, Barbe-Nicole Ponsardin Clicquot flouts convention by assuming the reins of the fledgling wine business they had nurtured together. Steering the company through dizzying political and financial reversals, she defies her critics and revolutionizes the champagne industry to become one of the world’s first great entrepreneurs.