Sheffield Doc/Fest Review: Boney Piles
While Vladimir Putin might have started his official invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, Russia has been at war with its neighbour since 2014. Under the guise of ‘Russian-backed separatists’ he’s slyly attempted to capture the Dombas for the best part of a decade. Although the cameras of the world were pointed elsewhere until the …
Blu-Ray Review: Shaft
Hollywood has always been a very white place. Whilst some purposeful steps have been made this century, at least in front of the camera, there is still a long way to go. When black people appeared on screen in the early 1970s, they were usually the bad guy or, at best, a sidekick. There were …
Blu-Ray Review: Black Girl
While you might think that domestic servitude is a thing of the past, it’s alive and kicking in many parts of the world. While it’s rife in regions such as the Indian Subcontinent, Middle-East, South-East Asia and many parts of Africa, that doesn’t mean to say it doesn’t still happen in Europe. While the colonial …
Film Review: A Man of Integrity
Iran, once a country known for progressive ideas and innovation, now has one of the most repressive regimes. The theocratic authoritarian state is run according to religious law. Many of their diktats look bizarre to those looking in from the outside, to say the least. The freedoms of Iranians are monitored closely by the government, …
Blu-Ray Review: Execution in Autumn
Lee Hsing sadly passed away last year at the ripe old age of 91. The godfather of Taiwanese cinema made over thirty films in a career spanning over four decades. As well as being popular with audiences in his homeland, he was nominated for, and won, a number of awards at the national Golden Horse …
Sheffield Doc/Fest 2022 Preview
After a couple of years in an online or hybrid form, Sheffield Doc/Fest once again returns in all its glory to the cinema screens of South Yorkshire on 23-28 June. The UK’s leading documentary festival will once again showcase a thrillingly diverse range of short and feature length films from around the world. Alongside the …
Film Review: Guidance
One of the many joys of science fiction, as a genre, is that it can be pretty much anything a human mind can imagine. This works particularly well in literature, where there are literally (and literarily) no limitations. It is, however, much more difficult to achieve on the screen, where budgets come into play. Where …
Blu-Ray Review: The Discreet Charm of the Bourgeoisie
Luis Buñuel was undoubtedly one of the most distinctive, and successful, European filmmakers of his generation. Spending much of his youth in Paris, the Spaniard was deeply involved with the surrealism movement. He carried this with him throughout his career, going on to make a number of critically acclaimed and iconic films. Working across a …
Film Review: Pleasure
Of all the sectors of the job market, the adult film industry isn’t known for its commitment to diversity and gender rights. Indeed, much of what makes it onto popular websites is dubious, to say the least. Porn valley no longer turns out bored housewives and randy plumbers. Consumers want their entertainment hard and nasty, …
Film Review: Official Selection
According to some, there are two kinds of actors. There are the ones who dedicate their whole lives to studying the masters, tackling the most difficult works and only appear in worthy plays and productions. Then there are the pretty boys who become heartthrobs and leads, whose personas and image are often considered more important …