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…
Tag: cinema
17th Asian Film Awards Nominations Announced
Celebrating its 17th anniversary, the Asian Film Awards (AFA) has unveiled the nominees for its 16 award categories ahead of the ceremony scheduled for March 10, 2024 (Sunday). The Asian Film Awards Academy (AFAA), established by the Busan, Hong Kong, and Tokyo International Film Festivals, aims to honour excellence in Asian cinema. AFAA plays an…
“Perfect Days” Review
It seems nearly impossible for a director from the West to shoot Tokyo from anything other than a tourist’s perspective. Sofia Coppola’s Lost in Translation and Gaspar Noé’s Enter the Void are seen as the two biggest offenders in this regard, with the Japan Times review of the latter opening with the pithy claim that:…
“Evil Does Not Exist” Review
The final moments of Evil Does Not Exist have proven divisive, but you won’t be able to successfully argue that Ryusuke Hamaguchi hasn’t tried to prepare you for them. From the opening moments to his latest effort, a prize winner at the recent Venice and London film festivals, it feels like the director is consciously…
18th London Korean Film Festival: “Dr. Cheon and The Lost Talisman” Review (Closing Night)
Spoilers ahead Demons and spirits conjure two emotions for movie lovers: it either piques their interest to watch or has them running away in fear. The opening credits of 2023’s Dr. Cheon and The Lost Talisman do just that with the cryptic quote, “Seoul Kyung is a talisman with spells and glyphs written on Hanji…
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…
74th Cannes Film Festival: “Bloody Oranges” Review
There’s a reason the “everything is connected” brand of big screen storytelling is widely mocked. Although the likes of Robert Altman’s Short Cuts and Paul Thomas Anderson’s Magnolia managed to find profundity in the semi-interlinking lives of vast ensembles, films such as Paul Haggis’ Crash and the collected works of Alejandro González Iñárritu have made…
Give Yourself Over to Absolute Pleasure – The Significance of ‘Don’t Dream it, Be it’ in The Rocky Horror Picture Show
When you think of Jim Sharman’s The Rocky Horror Picture Show, the first scenes that probably come to mind are that of the iconic time warp sequence, Tim Curry crooning ‘A Sweet Transvestite’ at the Annual Transylvania Convention, Rocky himself being unveiled in all his glory in Frank-N-Furter’s laboratory, or even a loved-up Brad pleading…
“We Did Not See Her as an Icon or the Greatest Actress, to Us She Was Our Mum – In Conversation with Sean Hepburn Ferrer, Audrey Hepburn’s Son
Filmgoers know almost everything about the Hollywood icon Audrey Hepburn, but not many are familiar with the actress’ childhood and youth, and the impact it had on shaping her character as well as her adult life – growing up in occupied Netherlands during the World War II, her parents’ divorce, and moving countries while she…
72nd Cannes Film Festival: Sick, Sick, Sick Review
They say you never forget your first love. In this case, teenager Silvia (Luiza Kosovski) is so adamant to get back her Romeo that she turns to bloody sacrifice and revival voodoo. Brazilian filmmaker Alice Furtado’s feature-length debut is a swirling fever dream of obsession, mourning, and a cold apathy towards the world. Taking a…
VIEW OF THE ARTS 