Film Festival
LFF Review: Dead Pigs
Whilst China has been the biggest economic success story of the 21st century, the transition from a Communist society to one competing for global dominance with America has not always been smooth going. It has seen the rise of a prosperous middle-class but a far greater number have been left behind; often exploited or trampled …
LFF Review: The Plan
Given that the United Kingdom spearheaded the Industrial Revolution in the 18th century, and has a long and rich history of leading the world when it comes to innovation and production, it’s strange to think that the manufacturing industry has been in a sharp decline for decades now. Much of the lasting damage was done …
LFF Review: Bad Reputation
Whilst it’s only now that women are starting to become widely respected as ‘rock’ musicians, imagine how bad it was forty years ago? Even today, is not out of the ordinary for female band members to receive derogatory comments about playing their instrument or asked questions which men would never be expected to answer. So, …
LFF Review: All the Gods in the Sky
One of the most fascinating cinematic movements over the course of the last two decades has been the emergence of the New French Extremity. Indeed, it’s one of the most inventive and creative areas of modern genre cinema. It’s an area where Gaspar Noé seems completely at home, but it’s films like Martyrs and Frontière(s) …
LFF Review: The Day I Lost My Shadow
There have been many films covering the crisis, conflict and atrocities which have taken place in Syria following the unrest of 2011. Whilst it’s largely accepted that over half-a-million people have been killed since hostilities broke-out, it’s extremely difficult to quantify numbers and differentiate between civilian casualties and armed combatants. However, it’s clear that the …
LFF Review: The Spy Gone North
Despite relations warming somewhat over the past couple of years, North and South Korea has been in a state of war since 1953. In reality, this has taken many forms, but the cult of propaganda and the art of espionage have played a major role in their hostilities. Whilst the Cold War may have ended …
LFF Review: Happy as Lazzaro
The caricature of a Holy Fool has been one of the most enthralling and iconic religious notions throughout history. However, the treatment of these figures has oscillated between demonization, victimisation and hatred to deification, adulation and worship; depending on the prevailing notions of the time. Today, despite medical diagnosis and awareness, a stigma still remains. …
LFF Review: Chained for Life
Hollywood has never exactly been what you’d call an equal opportunities employer. It never fails to amaze me how everyone from the ‘ugly’ character upwards in a big budget film normally looks like a model. A normal weight in the real world seems to be considered practically obese by some Studios. Having a facial disfigurement …
LFF Review: The Chambermaid
Today, there is marked socio-economic inequality in countries all around the world, but it some it’s more distinct than others. Take Mexico, for example. Over half the country lives beneath the poverty line yet four billionaires share almost 10% of the country’s GDP between them. There’s no industry where this polarity exhibits itself more abruptly …
LFF Review: Utøya – July 22
On 22 July 2011, Norway experienced the deadliest attacks on its own soil since World War II. In the middle of the afternoon, a car bomb exploded outside the offices of the Prime Minister, killing 8 people. Less than 2 hours later, a 32-year-old man, dressed in a police uniform, bordered a ferry to Utøya …