FIlm Review
Film Review: Eternal Spring
Following the Second World War, the People’s Republic of China was founded in 1949. Under the iron fist of Chairman Mao, the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) maintained a tight control over its population which, despite directional change, remains to this day. They have ensured that no ideology has been allowed to challenge their prevailing ideals. …
Film Review: Wyrm
We normally remember childhood with a lot of fondness, until puberty hits that is. Until then, it’s all bread and roses. Adventures and exciting new experiences are suddenly replaced by a sense of inadequacy and uncomfortableness in your own skin. As our bodies change, so do our minds. Suddenly we find ourselves having new and …
Film Review: Il Buco
Modern exploration is usually looking up to the stars, but there are still so many places on this planet which are mysteries to us. The heart of the Amazon Rainforest, the deepest oceans and sometimes the ground beneath our feet. In the 1960s, young speleologists (cave scientists and enthusiasts) explored Europe’s deepest cave. They reached …
Film Review: Swan Song
While you might not be able to place where you’ve seen him, Udo Kier has one of the most recognisable faces in modern cinema. While the German actor has often been cast as the bad guy, due to his distinctive looks and accent, he has portrayed just about every type of character you can imagine. …
Film Review: Earwig
There are many elements which go into making a successful film. While cinematography always features highly in critical assessments, some of the other technical components are often overlooked. Unless they’ve been done badly, that is. Good sound design, for Instance, can make a film stand out from the crowd. Especially if your audience has the …
Film Review: The Roundup
With the recent successes of Bong Joon-ho’s Parasite and Netflix’s Squid Games there has been a huge spike in interest in Korean cinema and TV. The quality of the ‘South’s’ film output comes as no surprise to those of us who had been enjoying it for decades. The likes of Memories of Murder, I Saw …
Film Review: The Passenger
There’s nothing quite like a road movie to bring people together, or tear them apart. Placing several different characters within the confines of a vehicle and forcing them to try and get along. The claustrophobia of being cooped up together as they head for a shared destination. All with their own individual worries and concerns, …
Film Review: Poser
Unless you’re really into new music, you probably don’t realise that most major cities have their own insular music scenes. These can be big or small but tend to have their own ecosystems and microenvironments. They are usually full of cliques and can seem intimidating and difficult to penetrate from the outside. A young woman …
Film Review: A Sexplanation
Sex is not a subject we like to talk about. Especially not with our families. While it might crop up frequently with friends, that’s not to say we’re comfortable discussing the nuts and bolts. Or holding court on our deepest phobias, foibles or fantasies. The way we receive, and the amount of, information available about …
Film Review: Fortune Favours Lady Nikuko
Food plays an important role in Japanese culture. In many ways, a meal can be as much a ritual as simply performing a vital function of survival. Take sushi chefs, for example. It’s a culinary skill which is as much an art form as it is an occupation. It can take up to ten years …