Category Archives: Cinema

Smell the coffee: “O Cheiro do Ralo” [2006 Brazil]

“God created the world, but it was man who created comfort, and also garbage – to keep idle people busy…” This is an excerpt translated from the conversation between Lourenço and Lourenço in a scene that vividly captures the film’s … Continue reading

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Oksana Borbat and Valentina Vyntu in “Hutorskie strasti” [2008 Ukraine]

This is one of my ‘guilty-pleasure’ posts as I wasn’t in a mood for anything particularly deep this week. Ukrainian director Aleksandr Parkhomenko’s “Hutorskie strasti” translates as Hamlet of Passion, a comedy that resembles one of the gleefully naughty stocking-fillers that … Continue reading

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Looking back with bitterness and nostalgia: “Quellen des Lebens” [2013 Germany]

It’s plain to see that director Oskar Roehler finds his late mother’s life story fascinating – his latest film “Quellen des Lebens” [Eng. Title: Sources of Life] is the third time I’d seen him draw characters inspired by his mother. … Continue reading

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Obsession and guilt: “I Want You” [1998 UK]

Michael Winterbottom’s haunting melodrama “I Want You” is one more of his underrated works. For a British film set in coastal Kent and Sussex, it bears a distinctly continental flavour. Storyline: Having served eight years for murder and released on … Continue reading

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A brief review: “Ella” [2010 Peru]

It’s unfortunate that I had to start an important Latin American director’s filmography in the blog with a totally forgettable film – I’d wanted to review Francisco J. Lombardi’s most recent film “Ella” [Eng. Title: She] before getting into his … Continue reading

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