Category Archives: Major Actresses

It’s an insane world! “Tag der idioten” [1981, West Germany]

Werner Schroeter’s films are pretty much like the man himself, less talked about but theatrical and larger than life in person. Among his last films acknowledged as part of the Neuer Deutscher Film canon, “Tag der Idioten” [Eng. Title: Day of … Continue reading

Posted in Carole Bouquet, Germany, Werner Schroeter | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 10 Comments

A brief review: “Cambio de Sexo” [1977 Spain]

One of Vicente Aranda’s lesser known (and until recently, quite rare) films, “Cambio de sexo” [Eng. Title: Forbidden Love] was also the beginning of a collaboration with his life-long muse Victoria Abril. The film, about a hitherto taboo topic concerning gender … Continue reading

Posted in Spain, Vicente Aranda, Victoria Abril | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 5 Comments

My body, my choice: “Vergine giurata” [2015, Italy, Albania]

There’s no need for alarm; we needn’t fear a militant or agenda-driven feminist narrative in Laura Bispuri’s debut feature “Vergine giurata” [Eng. Title: Sworn Virgin]. It is rather a nuanced critique of restrictive sexual and cultural norms in some communities … Continue reading

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Using failures as stepping stones: “Nome Próprio” [2007 Brazil]

Murilo Salles co-opted author Clara Averbuck’s alter ego Camila from her groundbreaking novel (Máquina de Pinball) for his drama “Nome Próprio” [Eng. Title: Camila Jam].
Set in São Paulo, the film begins with Camila (Leandra Leal) being kicked out of … Continue reading

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Highbrow destape: “La muchacha de las bragas de oro” [1980 Spain]

If Vicente Aranda’s groundbreaking exploration of sexual identity in “Cambio de sexo” made destape (a Spanish ‘Glasnost’ of sorts during and after Dictator Franco’s final years, when censorship was relaxed) purposeful, his next feature, “La muchacha de las bragas … Continue reading

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