By Janine Gericke. Korean writer and director Hong Sangsoo’s new film The Day He Arrives follows a former filmmaker and now professor, Seongjun, who seems to be stuck in every sense of the word. It’s a stark film that shows how tedious and repetitive life can sometimes feel. Seongjun arrives in Seoul for a brief […]
Contemporary Neorealist Principles in Abbas Kiarostami’s Filmmaking (1997 – 2005)
By Luke Buckle. ABSTRACT Iranian film has in recent decades comprised an increasingly important and influential cinema. The Iranian Islamic Revolution of 1979 paved the way for freedom of artistic and literary expression, communicating a new generation of unheard voices in Iranian society. More specifically Iranian cinema has progressed in […]
All is Forgiven, Cohen: Not a review of The Dictator
By Daniel Lindvall. What’s the difference between a comedian who joked about goat-fucking, dirty-bearded Muslims in 1975 and one who does the same in 2012? The first one was racist, the latter only ironic. That’s why we can now laugh ourselves silly at the same amusing stereotype, since we are […]
The Avengers (2012): The Mega-Blockbuster Hit of the Year!
By William Frasca. It’s no surprise that Marvel’s Avengers would be a success, but after its opening weekend in the US taking in over $200 million, and shattering the top box office record of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2, the new question is what can these superhero […]
SXSW Film Festival 2012
By Jacob Mertens. Nestled in the heart of the Austin Convention Center, I stand in a line that stretches around the perimeter, coiling in on itself like a writhing boa constrictor. Herein lies the hub of SXSW, hosting event registration, the Vimeo Theater, and several floors of conference rooms and […]
Film International 56: Coming soon!
May 9, 2012
Cinema’s Civil War Sesquicentennial: Top twelve histories filmed with lightning Why so many cinematic/TV works about the War Between the States? Why has this genre attracted vast audiences and enjoyed enduring popularity? From plantations to Harpers Ferry to Fort Sumter to Gettysburg to Appomattox Courthouse to Lincoln’s assassination, Civil War […]
1980-something
By Guilhem Caillard. A look at two striking films presented at this year’s 35th Göteborg International Film Festival (Sweden). Known for its emphasis on Nordic cinema, the Göteborg International Film Festival, which celebrated its 35th anniversary this year, has once again lived up to its reputation. Among the eight feature-length […]
Private Romeo: A Conversation with Alan Brown
By Tom Ue. Writer and director Alan Brown’s most recent feature – his fourth – Private Romeo, won a Grand Jury Prize at 2011 Outfest Film Festival in Los Angeles, and was a Critic’s Pick of The New York Times, which wrote that, “Shakespeare himself would spring for a ticket […]
Keyhole (2011): A SXSW Review
By Jacob Mertens. The muted wail of sirens fills the air and a languid spotlight scrolls over the wall, penetrating the tattered guts of a rundown Victorian house. Men lie on the floor dead or dying, blood pooling over the floor boards as other men pace over their prostrated bodies. […]
The Fourth Dimension (2012) and other Highlights from the 55th San Francisco International Film Festival
By Janine Gericke. This year’s San Francisco International Film Festival, which ends on May 3, has offered an array of spectacular films. One of the many films that stood out for me was the anthology film The Fourth Dimension. The Fourth Dimension brings together three short films by U.S. director […]