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…
Tag: movies
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,…
Takeuchi Hideki Returns to the Far East Film Festival
Historically, cinema has predominantly engaged with the human body through the lens of science fiction, often depicting miniature characters – reduced to the size of ants – who embark on fantastical journeys within our physical form, confronting its mysteries and the limited special effects technology of bygone eras. Iconic films like Richard Fleischer’s Fantastic Voyage,…
International Premiere of “The Wedding Banquet” to Open The 39th BFI FLARE: LONDON LGBTQIA+ Film Festival
LGBTQIA+ cinema is more essential than ever, offering visibility, promoting empathy, and challenging societies. It provides a space for storytelling that reflects diverse identities and experiences, creating a sense of belonging for marginalised communities. Festivals like BFI Flare play a crucial role in strengthening these voices, ensuring that queer narratives – whether exploring love, family,…
The World of Shaina Magdayao: Acting, Advocacy, and International Acclaim – Exclusive Interview
Before cinema’s advent in the Philippines, theatrical traditions thrived through indigenous rituals and Spanish-imported zarzuelas and vaudeville. These laid the cultural groundwork for the cinematic evolution to follow. The country’s first public film screening occurred in 1897 under Spanish auspices, marking a watershed moment for Philippine entertainment. By the turn of the century, cinema rapidly…
18th Asian Film Awards Have Announced the Nominees for its 16 Award Categories
The Asian Film Awards have once again shown the genius of Asian cinema, with Exhuma taking the lead in this year’s nominations. Earning an impressive 11 nominations across major categories, including Best Film, Best Director, Best Actor, Best Actress, Best Newcomer, Best Screenplay, and more, Exhuma has quickly become a prime example of the power…
“By the Stream” Review
There is no easy entry point to the work of Hong Sang-soo. Even though his style remains consistent, his Eric Rohmer-inspired narratives frequently built around off-the-cuff drunken conversations and meandering walks around Seoul, there’s a density to the storytelling not always immediately apparent. His earlier work could often be in conversation with itself, with metatextual…
Wang Bing’s “Youth” Trilogy: Voices from China’s Hidden Factories – Film Review
The history of cinema, in many ways, began in the factory – its first frames capturing the daily lives of male and female workers as they filed out of the Lumière factory in Lyon in 1895. This simple, silent image marked the inception of the filmic medium, recording not just the physical movement of workers,…
“How To Make Millions Before Grandma Dies” Review
Some films change your life; others just remind you to call your grandparents, if you’re fortunate enough to still have them around. The Thai box office hit How To Make Millions Before Grandma Dies, which has already made nearly $80 million globally prior to its UK release, is a movie with modest emotional aims that…
Eight Stories, Endless Nightmares: Inside Thai’s “Terror Tuesday: The Extreme” – TV Show Review Part Two
And here is our part two… Dear Granny Unlike the others, this episode’s opening feels particularly refreshing. It begins with Montha (Bee Namthip Jongrachatawiboon) taking a tranquil walk by a lake with her mother. The scene is relaxing, almost lulling viewers into a false sense of security, as they stroll under a crisp blue sky…
Eight Stories, Endless Nightmares: Inside Thai’s “Terror Tuesday: The Extreme” – TV Show Review Part One
What could possibly be better than one Thai horror movie? How about eight? Terror Tuesday: The Extreme is an anthology series created by Chayan Laodtrakool, inspired by the popular radio program Angkhan Khlumpong (Terror Tuesday). Each episode focuses supposedly on true-life horror stories, all set across Thailand. While our binge-watching culture might tempt you to…
Lindsay McIntyre on Cultural Preservation and Storytelling Through “NIGIQTUQ (The South Wind)”
Native cinema, whether from the Americas, Australia, the Pacific Islands, or any other region, plays a vital role in today’s film industry by serving as a powerful medium for storytelling, cultural preservation, and social advocacy. For far too long, Indigenous communities have been underrepresented or misrepresented in mainstream media. Native filmmakers are now reclaiming their…
“IN THIS CORNER (AND OTHER CORNERS) OF THE WORLD” Streaming on CRUNCHYROLL
The award-winning anime In This Corner (And Other Corners) of the World is now available for streaming on Crunchyroll, marking the first time its extended version has been released internationally. Directed by Sunao Katabuchi and produced by the acclaimed studio MAPPA, the film is a poignant exploration of resilience, community, and the enduring human spirit…
“NIGIQTUQ ᓂᒋᖅᑐᖅ (The South Wind)” Review
Lindsay McIntyre’s NIGIQTUQ ᓂᒋᖅᑐᖅ (The South Wind) is a heartfelt exploration of identity, cultural displacement, and survival. Based on the director’s grandmother’s story, this moving short film brings viewers to 1938, where young Marguerite and her mother Kumaa’naaq (koo-MAT-na) leave their Inuit homeland in Nunavut to build a new life in the South. This transition…
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