Category Archives: Cinema

A review: “Pupendo” [2003, Czech Rep.]

Jan Hrebejk’s comedy “Pupendo” takes a wry look at the last days of communist Czechoslovakia by comparing the fortunes of two families who, though ideologically similar, adapt to life under the regime in starkly contrasting ways. Bedrich (Bolek Polívka), a … Continue reading

Posted in Czech Republic | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

A quest for success, Argentinian style: “Gato negro” [2014 Argentina]

Gastón Gallo’s directorial début “Gato negro” [Eng. Title: The Black Cat] is about a man’s dogged determination to break away from poverty and become a success story, and the price he’ll end up paying in the process. We follow Tito … Continue reading

Posted in Argentina | Tagged , , , , | 1 Comment

A brief review: “Time of Darkness” [1991, Russia]

Occasionally we bump into a film only when looking for something else. An exploration into early post-Soviet Russian cinema led me to Vladimir Alenikov’s medieval drama “Time of Darkness” [Russian Title: Fiofaniya, risuyushchaya smert], made originally in English. Produced by … Continue reading

Posted in Russian Cinema | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

User-generated entertainment: “Steekspel” [2012 Netherlands]

Having had his break after Zwartboek, Paul Verhoeven eases back into film-making mode with “Steekspel” [Eng. Title: Tricked], by using it as a ‘creative-battery-recharging’ project. It’s a moderate success because, despite its meagre fifty minutes, the pint-sized featurette manages to … Continue reading

Posted in Netherlands, Paul Verhoeven | Tagged , , , | 2 Comments

Jodorowsky’s self-therapy: “La danza de la realidad” [2013 Chile, France]

After nearly a quarter of a century, Alejandro Jodorowsky, the Swiss Army Knife among provocative artists, conjures up a deeply personal film by adapting portions from his recently published autobiography. “La danza de la Realidad” [Eng. Title: The Dance of … Continue reading

Posted in Alejandro Jodorowsky, Chile | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment