Monthly Archives: December 2013

Chance and destiny during an economic crisis: “An…” [2012 Greece]

Christoforos Papakaliatis makes an assured directorial début with the romantic drama “An…” [Eng. Title: What If…] – a film that’d also become a personal project, with him in a starring role and also writing its screenplay. Set against the backdrop … Continue reading

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Life and friendship: “Career Girls” [1997 UK]

Mike Leigh’s deceptively titled “Career Girls” might lull you into believing it to be easy viewing, with a sweet and fairly simple mainstream plot, but this ridiculously overlooked film has more layers than your average puff pastry.
Granted, there are … Continue reading

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Mucky and dark… “Zift” [2008 Bulgaria]

Javor Gardev’s début feature “Zift” is a widescreen homage to the American film noir. It is about a recently released prisoner hounded by his partner in crime from twenty years earlier for the missing portion of the loot.
Set sometime … Continue reading

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A review: “Heli” [2013 Mexico]

Amat Escalante is no stranger to controversy. One of the bad boys of the Mexican New Wave, his films, alongside that of close friend Carlos Reygadas (who incidentally is also often his producer), provoke and shock audiences through searing … Continue reading

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Romanticizing social politics: “Ådalen 31” [1969 Sweden]

Bo Widerberg’s social drama “Ådalen 31” [Eng. Title: Adalen Riots] concerns itself with a working class family during a tragic 1931 strike in the industrial town of Ådalen. The strike spread nationwide and was a turning point in Swedish … Continue reading

Posted in Bo Widerberg, Sweden | Tagged , , , , | 2 Comments