2023’s Home for Rent might not immediately strike you as a terrifying choice for your watchlist, but as the old adage goes, “Don’t judge a book by its cover.” In this case, the same applies to a Netflix thumbnail. Thai horror films have a knack for unsettling Western audiences by expertly blending jump scares and…
Category: General
38th BFI Flare: London LGBTQIA+ Film Festival – In Conversation with Yuqing Lai, Director of “Two Suns”
In its 38th year, BFI Flare: LGBTQIA+ Film Festival in London shines with its programme yet again. Apart from big names and films on the menu, the festival also included little gems from the Asian continent, and Two Suns is one of them. Written and directed by Yuqing Lai, the short film, characterised by its…
38th BFI Flare: London LGBTQIA+ Film Festival – “Heavy Snow” Review
Heavy Snow, written and directed by Yun Su-ik, is a subtle, heartwarming, and delicate narrative that depicts a friendship and budding romance between two teenage girls and their tumultuous journey through adolescence. At the centre of the story is Seol (Han So-hee: Nevertheless, My Name), a teenage actress whose world is transformed when she encounters…
38th BFI Flare: London LGBTQIA+ Film Festival – In Conversation with Heo Ha-yeon, Director of “Nobody Knows”
While LGBTQIA+ cinema is still not seen in a favourable light in South Korea, many filmmakers dare to venture into that territory, and rightfully so, whether they are part of the community or not. Although not all of these films can be screened in the country itself, international festivals, including BFI Flare: London LGBTQIA+ Film…
38th BFI Flare: London LGBTQIA+ Film Festival – “Nobody Knows” Review
Despite significant progress in recent years, the LGBTQIA+ community continues to face discrimination and marginalisation in Asia and around the world. While some countries have made strides towards equality, many from the community still live in fear of persecution, violence, and rejection by society due to their sexual orientation or gender identity. In Asia, cultural…
74th Berlin International Film Festival: “REAS” Review
As we plough through this cursed era of remakes and unnecessary sequels, any film or TV series that features a brand new story is a blessing – and there’s nothing more original than real life. Lola Arias directs Argentinian self-proclaimed hybrid musical REAS, which sources its material from the charming inmates of Ezeiza prison a…
74th Berlin International Film Festival: In Conversation with Anthony Schatteman, Director of “Young Hearts”
During the 74th Berlin Film Festival, just two days before the festival’s curtain called, I had the distinct pleasure of engaging in a candid conversation with the filmmaker Anthony Schatteman. His film, Young Hearts, earned a special mention from the discerning children’s jury in the Generation Kplus Best Film category. Young Hearts is rooted in…
74th Berlin International Film Festival: “Who Do I Belong To” Review
Who Do I Belong To by Meryam Joobeur, screened in Competition at the 74th Berlin International Film Festival, is a poignant yet powerful exploration of family and its identity, inspired by a chance encounter during a road trip in Tunisia. Joobeur’s journey began with a desire to reconnect with her homeland and evolved into a…
74th Berlin International Film Festival: “Through Rocks and Clouds” (Raiz) Review
Premiering in the Generation Kplus section at this year’s Berlin Film Festival, Through Rocks and Clouds weaves a poignant if predictable tale of tradition and industrialization, set in the rural Peruvian community of Rumicancha. At the heart of this Peruvian-Chilean coproduction lies Feliciano (Alberth Merma), an innocent 8-year-old alpaca herder whose world revolves around football…
“It Was Like Fire”: DXMON On Their Debut “HYPERSPACE”
With the energy of a hundred Border Collies on caffeine, six chirpy faces arrived on a call with the press on the 25th of January to talk about their recent debut with HYPERSPACE. The endearingly zestful attitudes of Minjae, Seita, Hee, TK, Rex and Jo will have been paramount in getting to this point, as…
VIEW OF THE ARTS 