South Korean filmmaker Lee Yujin brings a refreshing and nuanced perspective to the screen with Manok, a film that beautifully combines humour with moving themes of acceptance and belonging. Set in the rural village of Iban-ri, Manok follows its titular character as she returns to her hometown in the wake of her mother’s passing, only…
Tag: movies
39th BFI Flare: London LGBTQIA+ Film Festival: Actor Han Gi-chan Discusses “The Wedding Banquet” – Exclusive Interview
Andrew Ahn’s The Wedding Banquet revitalises Ang Lee’s 1993 classic, bringing a contemporary lens to themes of love, the weight of tradition, the complexities of identity, and societal expectations. While the original film followed a dutiful Taiwanese son confronting the pressures of tradition, Ahn’s version expands the narrative, introducing new characters and conflicts that reflect…
39th BFI Flare: London LGBTQIA+ Film Festival – “Việt and Nam” Review
If you’re a Vietnamese filmmaker, presenting a story to the world about two star-crossed lovers nicknamed Viet and Nam is all but asking the audience to interpret the trajectory of their relationship as a metaphor for the nation itself. The third film from writer/director Truong Minh Quy attempts to avoid this straightforward categorization due to…
39th BFI Flare: London LGBTQIA+ Film Festival – In Conversation with Minh Quý Trương, Director of “Việt and Nam”
Minh Quý Trương, a filmmaker from Buôn Ma Thuột, Vietnam, began his artistic journey by attending film school but dropped out in 2008 to pursue independent filmmaking. His early exposure to cinema led him to participate in the Asian Film Academy and the Berlinale Talents program, which enhanced his passion for storytelling and filmmaking. Trương’s…
39th BFI Flare: London LGBTQIA+ Film Festival – “Some Nights I Feel Like Walking” Review
Petersen Vargas draws us into a night of endless possibility in Some Nights I Feel Like Walking, a sensory experience set in the beating heart of Manila. Vibrant lights and a subtly hypnotic ambience immerse us into the thrilling hustle life of four boys, which is slowly unpeeled to its merciless core. We never see…
39th BFI Flare: London LGBTQIA+ Film Festival Announces Its Full Programme
The 39th edition of BFI Flare: London LGBTQIA+ Film Festival will take place at BFI Southbank, featuring screenings, special events, and DJ nights. The festival, known for its significance in the LGBTQIA+ film calendar, is divided into three thematic strands: HEARTS, BODIES, and MINDS. This year’s programme includes 34 World Premieres, 56 features, 1 series,…
75th Berlin International Film Festival: In Conversation with Sarah Miro Fischer, Director of “The Good Sister”
Sarah Miro Fischer began her film studies at the Escuela Nacional de Cine in Bogotá before returning to Germany, where she gained experience in script development, set management, and as a 2nd AD. Since 2018, she has been studying at the German Film and Television Academy Berlin, developing her craft through various projects as a…
75th Berlin International Film Festival: In Conversation with Charlotte Devillers and Arnaud Dufeys, Directors of “We Believe You”
At this year’s Berlinale, We Believe You made an impact with its unflinching portrayal of the intersection between the legal system and the emotional toll of a custody battle involving abuse allegations. Directed with precision and sensitivity, the film explores the labyrinth of judicial procedures while centering on Alice, a mother fighting to protect her…
75th Berlin International Film Festival: In Conversation with Rima Das, Director of “Village Rockstars 2”
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: 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…
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