As a director Michael Haneke is well known for producing films that reflect and challenge our notions of social development. While in turn polarising audiences and critics alike with tough and often uncomfortable reflections of our own humanity. His films having ranged from the Piano Teacher to The White Ribbon, each one wrapping audiences in themes of isolation and estrangement. …
The horrors of the First World War have long been a staple of cinema. However, in more recent years film has begun the process of reflecting this horror from a new perspective. Dovetailing the innocence of the young people who fought, with the apocalyptic brutality of a war with no visible end. In turn combining the anti war narrative of …
Writer and director Céline Sciamma is renowned for her beautiful and nuanced coming of age films. With a back catalogue filled with stunning reflections on the transition to adulthood, from Water Lilies to Tomboy. However, with her latest film ‘Portrait of a Lady on Fire’, Sciamma breaks with her own convention. While equally demonstrating that the urgency of love and belonging is not …
Political regimes built on segregation and hate are multi faceted in their use of control, violence and indoctrination. Often forcing both internal and external segregation and oppression based on an ideology that fears any difference. In turn using divide and conquer governance, in ensuring people who do not fit their idealised mould are targeted whether they be internal or external …
Based on the award-winning short story by Colin Barrett, and adapted for the screen by Joe Murtagh. Director Nick Rowland’s Calm With Horses is nothing short of electric crime drama. In a debut feature film that explores masculinity, community and crime without broad brush stereotypes or cliches. Wrapping the audience in a heart-breaking and violent portrait of limited opportunity, social …
Lampooning fascism and Nazi ideology in film can be a tightrope walk for any Director. With the sensitivities of history still raw and full of emotion for many viewers. Hence creating a need to balance humour with the true horror of war and hate. And with Jojo Rabbit, Director Taika Waititi manages to walk this tricky tightrope by layering the …
‘Papa, sdokhni’ From the very first scene Kirill Sokolov’s debut feature Why Don’t You Just Die sets out its devilishly dark stall. As twenty-something Matvei (Aleksandr Kuznetsov) arrives at the apartment of his girlfriend Olya’s (Evgeniya Kregzhde) parents, armed with hammer. Only to be met by Olya’s father Andrei (Vitaliy Khaev) a brutish, controlling and decidedly corrupt police officer. His large …
Charting the journey of four friends over five decades. Sergio Leone’s masterpiece Once Upon a Time in America has found itself eclipsed in recent years by the equally stunning Goodfellas and The Godfather. But this is a film that deserves an equal amount of praise and attention. As it wraps the viewer in a truly epic tale of friendship, betrayal and revenge. …
How far would you go to protect your child? and when does doubt begin to cloud the once perfect image you had of your son or daughter? These questions are of course nothing new in the crowded marketplace of crime drama. With a number of recent TV dramas having covered the same subject matter, from A Mothers Son to Born …
Five years after it first started production, Xavier Dolan’s first English language movie has finally and quietly arrived on streaming platforms. After bypassing cinemas in the UK and spending a lengthy period of time in the editing suit. While also having been duly slated by critics on its short festival run in 2018. Therefore, hopes were not high for The …