Seven years after Village Rockstars (2017), filmmaker Rima Das returns to Kalardiya with Village Rockstars 2, continuing Dhunu’s (Bhanita Das) story as she faces the challenges of adulthood in her small Assamese village. Once a dreamer with ambitions of rock stardom, 17-year-old Dhunu now faces economic hardships, family responsibilities, and the weight of her mother’s…
75th Berlin International Film Festival – “Village Rockstars 2” Review
Seven years after the release of the critically acclaimed Village Rockstars (2017), filmmaker Rima Das revisits the vivid terrain of Kalardiya to continue the subtle narrative of Dhunu (Bhanita Das). Now on the cusp of adulthood, 17-year-old Dhunu confronts the complex realities of life in her small Assamese village, a world shaped by cyclical floods,…
75th Berlin International Film Festival: In Conversation with Florian Pochlatko, Director of “How to Be Normal and the Oddness of the Other World”
Mental health film narratives are arguably among the most challenging to bring to the big or silver screen due to their complexity, requiring a delicate balance between authenticity, artistic interpretation, and emotional sensitivity. Yet, Florian Pochlatko rises to the occasion with How to Be Normal and the Oddness of the Other World, a film that…
75th Berlin International Film Festival: “How to Be Normal and the Oddness of the Other World” Review
Much like the greyscale outlook of those with depressive disorders, sometimes cinema is so uninspired it seems like the entire industry has been lost to shareholders. But on one’s first watch of Florian Pochlatko’s How to Be Normal and the Oddness of the Other World, it’s like trying fudge after a lifetime of eating cardboard….
75th Berlin International Film Festival: “The Message” Review
Screened in Competition at this year’s Berlinale and winner of the Silver Bear Jury Prize, Iván Fund’s The Message is an unconventional coming-of-age story that balances the ethereal with the tangible, creating a narrative about family, perception, and connection. At its core, The Message captures the defining moment when a child gains the awareness that…
75th Berlin International Film Festival: “Hysteria” Review
A study in humanity might be one good way of summarising Mehmet Akif Büyükatalay’s 2025 film Hysteria. Where is the line between a righteous act and a performative spectacle? Büyükatalay attempts to answer the question when a dishonourable burning of a Quran for a shoot sparks conflict between parties, and Hysteria becomes a meta film…
“Cottontail” Review: A Masterful Directorial Debut
The recently bereaved Kenzaburo (Lily Franky), travels to the UK in order to scatter his late wife’s ashes in Lake Windermere accompanied by his son, Toshi (Ryo Nishikido), his wife, Satsuki (Rin Takanashi) and their daughter. Once in London, the fractious relationship between father and son intensifies leading to Kenzaburo deciding to fulfill his wife’s…
Inside t024’s Journey: The Story Behind “TRACE” – Exclusive Interview
There is no doubt that music is a universal language that connects people across the globe. While some artists achieve massive mainstream success, countless talented musicians remain under the radar, many of whom hail from Asia. Beyond the global phenomenon of K-pop, South Korea, in particular, boasts a rich and diverse music scene that spans…
ATEEZ Lights Up Copenhagen on Valentine’s Day – Concert Review
To say ATEEZ has had a successful 12 months would be an understatement. As the first K-pop boy group to headline Coachella, the only way has been up. After dominating the US on their Towards The Light: Will To Power Tour, it was finally time for Europe to get a taste of their anarchism lore…
Cinema and Myth: Riar Rizaldi Discusses “Monisme” and the Enigma of Mount Merapi – Exclusive Interview
Indonesian multimedia artist and filmmaker Riar Rizaldi, known for his blend of documentary fiction and essay films, has recently completed his latest work, Monisme (2024). The film delves into themes of duality—human and non-human, nature and technology—while questioning their interconnectedness. Born from years of extensive research on Mount Merapi, one of Indonesia’s most significant volcanoes,…
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