Film Review: Great Freedom
Franz Rogowski is fast-becoming one of the best actors working in European cinema today. His breakthrough came in Sebastian Schipper’s Victoria back in 2015. He’s gone on to star in Transit and Undine (Christian Petzold), A Hidden Life (Terrence Malick), the Golden Bear nominated I Was at Home, But… (Angela Schanelec) and Freaks Out (Gabriele …
GFF Review: Asteroid
Although the concept of leaving your family to earn a living elsewhere will be alien to many in the Western world, it’s a daily reality for countless people in poorer parts of the world. It’s usually men who move to the cities, either within the country or abroad, while the mother is left behind with …
GFF Review: Her Way
Often described as the oldest profession in the world, prostitution has been viewed and treated very differently throughout the ages. Today, in some places it has now been legalised. Affording sex workers a level of protection and legality that they’ve rarely seen. Taking the business off the streets and providing a safe space to operate. …
GFF Review: Once Upon a Time in Uganda
While everyone has heard of Hollywood and Bollywood, much, much less is known about the smaller film industries around the world. Indeed, the whole continent of Africa is often forgotten. Overlooked for many reasons, not least due to the lack of structure, financial and government support in most countries. Uganda has one of the most …
GFF Review: A Quiet Girl
Traditionally, films made within Britain, or even in the British Isles, are filmed in English. The logic being that they will be easier to sell to UK and international markets, there’s a much better chance of financing and almost everyone domestically speaks the language. Thankfully, we’re starting to see more productions made in other native …
GFF Review: Yuni
All people are born equal. It’s a nice sentiment but ludicrous to believe that it’s actually true in practice. Where you’re born in the world makes a huge difference to your life prospects. What standard of living you can expect. Your life expectancy. Then there’s the socio-economic level of your family, which dictates the opportunities …
Film Review: Huda’s Salon
Living, working and raising a family in a disputed territory has countless dangers, not least the instability caused by a fluctuating political landscape. Peril awaits round every corner, and you’re never quite sure how your day will go. Even if you force any misgivings to the back of your mind and concentrate on living your …
Blu-Ray Review: The Devil’s Trap
It seems a bizarre thing to say in the third decade of the twenty-first century, but the debate between evolution and creationism still seems to tax feeble minds. The friction between religion and science has been rumbling on for centuries. The former often used as a means of social control while the latter has been …
Film Review: The Long Walk
Every culture has its myths, legends and ghosts. Good and bad spirits which either help or hinder the hapless human who stumbles into their path. These creatures usually reflect the societies which they inhabit. Where there has been a tragedy or trauma, they often act as a mirror or conduit for guilt or recriminations of …
Film Review: La Mif
There are almost 2,500 children’s homes in the UK and that figure is on the rise. These institutions play a vital role in bringing up young people when there is no suitable parent or guardian around to take on the responsibility. However, they are critically underfunded, understaffed and riddled with a myriad of issues. Many …