Set in Singapore, during the Great Asian Financial Crisis, Ilo Ilo, written and directed by Anthony Chen, tells the story of a relationship between a family of three: Teck (Tian Wen Chen), Hwee (Yann Yann Ye) and Jiale (Koh Jia Ler) and their Filipino maid, Teresa (striking and moving performance by Angeli Bayani) who has…
The 57th BFI London Film Festival: Lebanon Emotion
This year’s London Film Festival spoiled the audience with a great amount of Asian films including a few from South Korea. Apart from subtle drama Nobody’s Daughter Haewon by Hong Sang-soo and the comedy of manners Our Sunhi by the same filmmaker, it’s time to mention Lebanon Emotion by Jung Young-heon, a first-time director, whose…
The 57th BFI London Film Festival: Nobody’s Daughter Haewon
Nobody’s Daughter Haewon written and directed by South Korean Hong Sang-Soo, tells the story of the enigmatic, eye-catching film student and aspiring actress Haewon ( superb performance by Jung Eun- Chae), who easily attracts men and makes fellow female colleagues jealous. The narrative is told in a diary format and chronicles a few days in Haewon’s life. Haewon’s…
The 57th BFI London Film Festival: Ida
Born in Poland, Pawel Pawlikoski (My Summer of Love, The Woman in the Fifth) has come back to his native country after years of voluntary emigration and has immediately presented us with an intimate black and white drama Ida, which takes place at the beginning of 1960s. Anna, also known as Ida (Agata Trzebuchowska’s film…
The 57th BFI London Film Festival: Bertolucci on Bertolucci
“Cinema is the mirror of the world” Bertolucci once said. And it sure is in the Italian director’s eyes. Born in 1940, son of the critically acclaimed poet Attilio Bertolucci, he entered adulthood in the 60s. In 1968, he was 27 years old and, according to him, that time was a great experience for him…
The Wolverine Review
The Wolverine, directed by James Mangold, is Hugh Jackman’s sixth film in which he portrays Marvel’s character Logan. Since 2000, when the first X-Men film was welcomed in cinemas, Hollywood’s approach towards comic-book adaptations on the big screen has changed. There’s Christopher Nolan’s Dark Knight trilogy and a well thought out series of movies from…
Elementary Season One Review
Sherlock Holmes, we all know the name, his adventures with Dr. Watson have been around for centuries. In recent years there has been an array of new adaptations of the world’s most famous detective, including Guy Ritchie’s films and the British modern retelling Sherlock. Now America has decided to modernise, and indeed Americanise, Sir Arthur…
Man of Steel Review
DC Comics are as good as Marvel ones. The company was founded in 1934, known as National Allied Publications. DC Comics produce material featuring a large number of well-known characters such as: Green Arrow, Batman, Wonder Woman, Green Lantern and, of course, Superman. Superman was brought onto the big screen when Ilya and Alexander Salkind…
The Iceman Review
‘The Iceman’ had it in his blood. He often used a gun with silencer or a mini revolver but he was not picky individual, he was able to kill using, literally, anything that came to hand. His name was Richard Kuklinski. In almost 40 years he assassinated over 100 people, however, in his confession,…
In Conversation with Boris Seewald
Boris Seewald is a film director who was raised in Central-West Germany, he first ventured into digital media through design and played music in various bands. He moved to Berlin in 2005 with a clear intention of pursuing a career in film, and began work on his own film projects and developing work experience. Owing…
In Conversation with Marijn Poels
Marijn Poels is a documentary and independent filmmaker, who stole my heart with his extraordinary film stories. He focuses on making reports and films worldwide for organisations, governments and educational films concentrated on human rights. Apart from being a filmmaker he is also a writer and photographer. Poels’ film style is characterised by real-life recordings,…
The Host Review
I believe everyone noticed the catchy annotation on the poster of ‘The Host’: Based on the best-selling novel by Stephanie Meyer. Well it says more about the film than any review, it’s not true of course it’s just my sarcasm talking to you. Those who are familiar with the previous work of the writer…
In Conversation with Ruud Lenssen
Ruud Lenssen is an independent documentary filmmaker. His films focus on socially relevant topics. In 2010 Lenssen graduated from the Willem de Kooning Academy in Rotterdam with a BA in Audiovisual Design. His graduation film ‘Kathem & Chris’, a short documentary about the friendship between former asylum seeker Kathem and the local villager Chris in the Limburg village…
Silver Linings Playbook Review
Silver Linings Playbook written and directed by David O Russell is based on an incredible novel by Matthew Quick. The film had its world premiere at the 35th Toronto International Film Festival and it is a story of former teacher Pat Solitano (Bradley Cooper: The Hangover, Limitless), who has a bipolar disorder and is admitted…
