In the year 1996, against the backdrop of Turkey’s escalating tensions between religious and secular ideologies, a poignant and thought-provoking film, Yurt, takes us on a journey through the life of a fourteen-year-old boy named Ahmet (Doga Karakas). Raised in a secular environment, his world is upended when his recently converted father (Tansu Bicer) decides…
Category: Film
Ryoo Seung-wan’s “Smugglers” Review
Ryoo Seung-wan has done it again with his twelfth feature – albeit in terms of commercial, rather than critical, success. His latest film Smugglers has earned nearly £30 million since its July 26 premiere in South Korea, making it the fourth-highest grossing film of the year in the country and the summer box office champion….
80th Venice International Film Festival: “Making Of” Review
Warning: Spoilers ahead. A fantastical orchestral piece plays over a black screen. The opening credits introduce us to Making Of before throwing us into a rain-doused action scene. Without looking at the blurb one might’ve easily assumed this was the movie they were watching, but before too long, a cameraman is angrily pushed away and…
Chen Yixin Opens Up About Her Acting, Modelling and Influencing – Exclusive Interview
The entertainment industry has always been filled with diverse talent, with each individual contributing a unique, creative hue to art in all of its forms. One such vibrant thread is Yixin, a Singaporean actress, model, and influencer who has graced both screen and stage with her performances. From her beginnings in applied drama and psychology…
Visions of Haiti: A Celebration of Culture, History, and Resilience through Film
The Barbican Cinema is set to present a unique and immersive experience, Visions of Haiti, from October 18 to October 31, 2023. This event will provide a rare opportunity to learn more about the rich Haitian culture, history, and resilience through an array of films, poetry readings, and discussions. The two-week celebration will present the…
Celine Song’s “Past Lives” Review
The mundane joys of people watching have seldom been caught onscreen as effectively as they have in the opening sequence of Past Lives, the lauded directorial debut of playwright Celine Song. Entering the film from the perspective of two unseen, unnamed narrators, we’re immediately tasked with guessing the relationship dynamics between three people sitting at…
NewKidd’s Jinkwon and Minwook on HBO Max’s “My Magic Closet” – Exclusive Interveiw
In a thrilling breakthrough for K-Pop enthusiasts and drama lovers alike, series My Magic Closet (English title) has finally arrived on HBO Max Brazil, featuring none other than Jinkwon and Minwook of NewKidd. The show also features South Korean idols Kim Woojin and Yoon Jae Chan as members of “ACT”, a fictional boy group that…
“December”: Crime, Redemption, and Second Chances – In Conversation with Shogen, Ryo Matsuura, and Film’s Producer, Mina Moteki
December, directed by Anshul Chauhan, is a powerful drama that, hypothetically, delves into the Japanese justice system while exploring the possibilities of offering a second chance to criminals. It does so through the story of prisoner Kana (Ryo Matsuura), a young woman who killed her classmate a decade earlier and whose case is being brought…
La Biennale di Venezia – 80th Venice International Film Festival; Official 2023 Venice Immersive Selections Revealed
The selection process for Venice Immersive, the XR – Extended Reality segment of the 80th Venice International Film Festival (30th August – 9th September 2023) organized by La Biennale di Venezia, has been concluded. The official program will unfold on the Venice Immersive Island (located on the island of Lazzaretto Vecchio), just a short distance…
“SHABU” Is the Boss of Peperklip: Film Review
Brought to the screen by Shamira Raphaëla, a documentary film director keen on encapsulating the essence of humanity, comes SHABU, which follows a 14-year-old as he works hard to pay back his grandmother after crashing her car while she’s away in Suriname. We arrive in a bustling neighbourhood as we follow Shabu in his day-to-day…
Glenn Yong’s Journey: From TikTok to Stardom
In a stunning display of talen, the Singaporean actor and singer, Glenn Yong, has swiftly risen to prominence in the entertainment industry. From his humble beginnings as a TikTok sensation to his breakthrough roles as an actor and the release of his music, Glenn’s journey is quite impressive. He is known for his participation in…
Edison Song Discusses His Music and Explores Depth of His Latest Acting Role in “Bad Education”
Hailing from Taiwan, Edison Song has mesmerised audiences with his performances across various mediums. From his breakthrough roles in popular drama TV Shows, HIStory1: Stay Away From Me (2017), Brave to Love (2019), Moonlight Romance (2020) and I, Myself (2020), to his music career, where he has proven his versatility time and time again. With…
“XO, Kitty”: The Pains of Youth, Wrapped up in a Bow
“My life is a mess… except for you,” confesses Florian (Théo Augier Bonaventure) to Q (Anthony Keyvan) during one tearful moment on a school camping trip. The goals and hardships of the seven main characters envelop one another as their stories unravel in the “To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before” spinoff series, created by…
76th Cannes Film Festival: “If Only I Could Hibernate” Review
Social realism is the name of the game in Mongolian filmmaker Zoljargal Purevdash’s debut feature If Only I Could Hibernate. Over the past few weeks, the Un Certain Regard title has been widely celebrated as the country’s first film ever in the Cannes official selection. To be accurate, however, Hibernate is the first Mongolian feature-length…
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