FIlm Review
Film Review: The Fencer
Most of our awareness of history doesn’t tend to stretch further than events which directly impacted on our own country. Whilst I consider myself relatively knowledgeable, my grasp of wartime history within the Soviet Union is very basic. I’m aware the Baltic states hate Russia, but only in general terms such as deportations, annexation and …
DVD Review: Electra, My Love
Myths and legends have fascinated humankind throughout he ages. Greek, Roman and Norse mythology has stuck with us in popular literature, TV and films. Based on a play by László Gyurkó, Electra, My Love is a reinterpretation of the Greek Electra myth, made in 1974. Miklós Jancsó, Famous for his extremely long takes, outdoes himself …
Film Review: Aloys
Loneliness is probably the biggest social problem of the 21st Century. The internet was set to revolutionise our lives, giving us the ability to connect with people from all over the world. Whilst this is obviously the case, no one factored in what affect it would have on our real-life relationships. Many have withdrawn into …
Film Review: The Clan
Cinema and television have had a long love affair with gangsters. From the days of James Cagney and Humphrey Bogart, through the Godfather movies to Boardwalk Empire, The Sopranos and Gomorrah, audiences simply can’t get enough. It’s not only the Mafia who make crime a family affair. Pablo Trapero’s new film, The Clan, focusses on …
Film Review: When Two Worlds Collide
When economics and industrialisation meet traditional lifestyles and communities it never usually ends well. Whilst governments and large corporations may argue the case for progress, the opportunity to exploit and make money is never far from their minds. This age-old story has played out in the Western world since the Industrial Revolution, but, unbeknownst to …
Film Review: Things To Come
Probably more than any other country, French cinema has a proud history of creating strong leading roles for female actors. Whilst traditionally fascinated with younger actresses it doesn’t forget them as they get older. The likes of Juliette Binoche, Catherine Deneuve and Isabelle Huppert are still given the roles their abilities deserve and seem to …
Film Review: The Conversations
British cinema is still predominately a white preserve, both in-front and behind the camera. Whilst there are occasionally films which showcase Black talent and delve into urban culture, Asian directors, writers and producers rarely get a look-in. The Conversation is that rare film which despite the co-writers and co-directors being British-Pakistani and black-British, the themes …
Film Review: Indigo Children
Anyone who has ever had the dubious pleasure of watching an overly arty and try-hard low budget independent film knows there are few worse experiences at the cinema. Too many young directors leave film school with the inherent belief that they have a unique vision but end up making jaded copies of the films they …
Film Review: Cosmos
Mainstream, unoriginal and tired, not three words you could ever use in relation to the films of Andrzej Zulwaski. The Polish director has been confounding, confusing and surprising since his first film, The Third Part of the Night, back in 1971. By far and away his most well-known film is Possession, which stars Isabelle Adjani. …
Film Review: Almost Holy
Matters of right and wrong in terms of ethics and morality are, by and large, fairly black and white in the Western world. The same cannot be said in Eastern Europe today. The disintegration of the Soviet Union and civil war in the former Yugoslavia has created a whole raft of social and economic problems. …