Film Review: Vagabond
Celebrating her 90th birthday this year, Agnes Varda remains one of the treasures of French cinema. Beginning with her first feature, La Pointe Courte, in 1954, she has spent decades making thought-provoking, intelligent and insightful films. In her latter years, she’s chosen to focus on making documentaries, but remains best-known for her narrative work. Most …
Incoming – Sicario 2: Soldado
In Sicario 2: Soldado, the drug war on the US – Mexico border has escalated as the cartels have begun trafficking terrorists across the US border. To fight the war, federal agent Matt Graver (Josh Brolin) reteams with the mercurial Alejandro (Benicio Del Toro). Sicario 2: Soldado is out in cinemas from 29 June.
Film Review – Ryuichi Sakamoto: Coda
Ryuichi Sakamoto has many strings to his bow but he’s best known for his work as a composer and musician. As a musician, he was a member of the pivotal Yellow Magic Orchestra and has also released 16 solo albums. His music spans genres, through techno to electronic and classical. His most famous work is …
Incoming – Maquia: When the Promised Flower Blooms
The people of Iorph have a lifespan of hundreds of years and maintain their teenage appearances for life, but when the peace of this town is shattered by those who want the secret to their longevity for themselves, a young girl named Maquia is forced to escape. Wandering the land alone, upon finding an orphaned …
Incoming: Boom For Real: The Late Teenage Years of Jean-Michel Basquiat
Boom For Real explores the pre-fame years of the celebrated American artist Jean-Michel Basquiat. Boom For Real: The Late Teenage Years of Jean-Michel Basquiat is in cinemas from 22 June.
Blu-Ray Review: Dark River
For many years, the British film industry has rightly been accused of being London-centric; often dominated by gritty urban dramas, dire comedies or ridiculous ‘mockney’ gangster films. Thankfully, there’s been a noticeable shift over the last few years. Introducing more variety of locations and diversity of stories. Clio Barnard has championed Yorkshire. Her first film, …
Sheffield Doc/Fest Review: When the War Comes
Over the past decade, there has been a steep rise in nationalism and right-wing factions and parties across Europe. Fuelled largely by the refugee crisis and government austerity measures, we’ve seen a marked rise in populism and the popularity of xenophobic groups. This has been exacerbated by politicians putting their own careers ahead of personal …
Incoming: In The Fade
Inspired by shocking real-life events, the film tells the story of Katja (Diane Kruger), whose life is torn apart when her husband and young son are suddenly killed in a bomb attack. After a police investigation points to a pair of young neo-Nazis as the key suspects, but a lack of evidence fails to fully …
Sheffield Doc/Fest Review: Under the Wire
Given the sheer logistics and geography of current ‘war zones’, not to mention the erosions in protections traditionally bestowed on journalists, ‘citizen reporters’ are becoming much more important. However, they don’t necessarily have the same impact as those working within print media in the West. Even with all the dangers involved, heightened by the rise …
Blu-Ray Review: The China Syndrome
Jane Fonda was undoubtedly one of the most successful actors working in Hollywood during the 1970s. During that decade, she won two Oscars (for Klute and Coming Home) and was nominated for a further two gongs. With that success came great power and influence. Fonda was, and continues to be, active in many left-wing causes; …