Film
LFF Review: Mogul Mowgli
Of all the British actors who have made their breakthrough over the past decade, it’s perhaps Riz Ahmed who has made the biggest impression. Since coming to prominence in Four Lions back in 2010, he has starred in a number of films and TV series, including Nightcrawler, The Night Of, City of Tiny Lights and …
LFF Review: Never Gonna Snow Again
Whilst Polish cinema has always been surprisingly fertile, it’s witnessing somewhat of a renaissance at the moment. Historically, the likes of Kieślowski, Wajda, Munk and Żuławski have created some of Eastern Europe’s greatest films. Whilst they’re a tough act to follow, there’s a new generation who are once again leading the charge. It’s perhaps Malgorzata …
LFF Review: I am Samuel
If you’re gay and out in most places in the world you’re likely to face some level of prejudice and/or discrimination on a daily basis. However, whilst it’s all highly unpleasant, unnecessary and out of order, there’s a stark difference between how you’re treated in a ‘progressive’ country and more ‘traditional’ state. According to Amnesty …
LFF Review: Chess of the Wind
Given the turbulent political and social situation that has dogged Iran’s modern history, it’s in many ways surprising that their cinema is so good. Despite operating under a number of restrictions and government censorship, it’s easily the strongest filmmaking country in the region. Despite the odds stacked against them, Iranian directors have been regular award-winners …
Nightstream Review: Anything For Jackson
There’s seems to be nothing genre filmmakers love more than a good seance. Whether this meeting is a centrepiece or merely just an aside in a film, the possibly of connecting with the spirit world is an intoxicating and intriguing one. However, whilst the driver is normally an urge to speak with a loved one …
LFF Review: 180° Rule
For many women who live in Islamic countries, their movements are under the control of the dominant male in their lives. Whether that’s a husband, father or brother. Regardless of how good or bad that relationship may be, their freedoms and daily routines are (technically) bound by patriarchal consent. Failing To abide by these rules …
LFF Review: The Reason I Jump
For many of us, it can often be a struggle to communicate precisely what we’re trying to say. Whether that’s due to a lack of self-confidence, a speech impediment, lacking sufficient vocabulary or something else, it’s always terribly frustrating when you can’t fully vocalise what you’re thinking. Imagine then what it must be like to …
Nightstream Review: Bloody Hell
As the saying goes, you can choose your friends but you can’t choose your family. Normally, it tends to work out ok, but sometimes not so much. Whilst blood might be thicker than water, that doesn’t mean your relations are the people you want to hang out with. Or that they might not want to …
Grimmfest Review: Ropes
They say that dog is man’s best friend and in most cases that is undeniably true. Your favourite pooch can be a friend for life. A trusted companion. One who will never judge you and will stay by your side through thick and thin until the very end. However, whilst domesticated, like any other predatory …
LFF Review: The Painter and The Thief
As Mark Twain once opined, “Truth is stranger than fiction, but it is because Fiction is obliged to stick to possibilities; Truth isn’t.” As current events are demonstrating all too comprehensively, sometimes you just couldn’t make it up. When it comes to cinema, it can often be those true stories which are the most fascinating …