Film Review: The Roy Andersson Collection
Roy Andersson is a rather unique film director even for a country renowned producing brilliant and unconventional filmmaking. His career in media has mostly been in commercials and in over five decades he has only made four films. However, it’s a case of quality over quantity, winning numerous awards for his output. The Roy Andersson …
Incoming: True Story
When disgraced New York Times reporter Michael Finkel meets accused killer Christian Long – who has taken on Finkel’s identity – his reporting job morphs into an unforgettable game of cat-and-mouse. Based on actual events, Finkel’s relentless pursuit of Longo’s true story encompasses murder, love, deceit and redemption. True Story is out in cinemas on …
EIFF Review: Turbo Kid
The year 1997. The apocalypse has already happened and those left struggle to survive in a harsh climate where commerce and existence is dominated by the ownership of water. It’s a premise which shares certain similarities with the original Mad Max film, and François Simard and Anouk Whissell, the directors of Turbo Kid, pay homage …
Incoming: Dear White People
follows the stories of four black students at an Ivy League college where a riot breaks out over a popular “African American” themed party thrown by white students. With tongue planted firmly in cheek, the film will explore racial identity in “post-racial” America while weaving a universal story of forging one’s unique path in the …
Film Review: The Reunion
I for one will never go to a school or class reunion. The whole concept of meeting up with people you never liked enough to keep in touch with and playing the happiness game is totally repugnant to me. Swedish Artist and filmmaker Anna Odell had an unhappy school life and was bullied. She wanted …
Blu-ray Review: 3 Women
Robert Altman got inspiration for 3 Women from a dream and the film itself has a dreamlike quality, feeling slightly otherworldly and obtuse. Having built up fearsome reputation as one of the best American filmmakers through the 1970s, the release of 3 Women signalled a change of direction and emphasis. Many comparisons have been drawn …
Incoming: Love and Mercy
Love and Mercy presents an unconventional portrait of Brian Wilson, the mercurial singer, songwriter and leader of The Beach Boys. Set against the era-defining catalogue of Wilson’s music, the film intimately examines the personal voyage and ultimate salvation of the icon whose success came at extraordinary personal cost. Love and Mercy is out in cinemas …
Incoming: Touch of Evil
In a seething Mexican-American bordertown, narcotics agent Miguel Vargas (Charlton Heston) clashes with detective Hank Quinlan (Orson Welles) – a local hero despite his dubious intuitions and bloated bigotry – as each investigates a potentially scandalous killing. Is the Grandi crime clan involved? What of Susan Vargas (Janet Leigh), keen to continue her honeymoon? A …
Sheff Doc/Fest Review: Leaving Africa
Africa is a very conservative continent. Outside of South Africa, traditional values and beliefs tend to hold a grip on the populous. Uganda is no exception. Outdated gender roles and stereotypes are abundant and religion plays a huge role in the education of Ugandans. Two sexagenarians, Ritta and Kata, live together and provide sexual and …
Film Review: P’tit Quinquin
Bleak, beautiful and unrelenting are three words which aptly sum-up Bruno Dumont’s career to date. A succession of rural dramas where humanity bends its knee to God and beauty and evil vie for supremacy have seen him rewarded with two Grand Jury Prizes and a Golden Camera at Cannes. For his first foray into Television …