Category Archives: Cinema

Morning Interim: “The Safe House” [2016 Portugal, UK]

João Paulo Simões’s anthology “The Morning Interim” is a series of experimental short films exploring ‘the darker side’ using a combination of abstract motifs and atmosphere. The first in this series, “The Safe House” pertains to a woman (Helena Salazar) … Continue reading

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A nod to the French New Wave: “A Bruta Flor do Querer” [2013 Brazil]

Dida Andrade and Andradina Azevedo script, direct, and star in their independent debut feature, “A Bruta Flor do Querer” [Eng. Title: The Savage Flower of Desire, aka Deep Blue Dream] about life and prospects for youth in a competitive and … Continue reading

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A changing society examined: “Niki and Flo” [2003 Romania]

At seventy, Luciane Pintilie hadn’t lost any of his sardonic wit and biting satire when he made “Niki Ardelean, colonel în rezerva” [Eng. Title: Niki and Flo], a probing examination of conflict within a society that’s changing suddenly and too … Continue reading

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Survival instinct: “Bufo & Spallanzani” [2001, Brazil]

Wishing you all a happy 2017!   Flávio Tambellini’s thriller “Bufo & Spallanzani” is a dramatisation of popular Brazilian novelist Rubem Fonseca’s novel by the same. The title alludes to tortuous experiments conducted by an Italian scientist – Spallanzani, to … Continue reading

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Rediscovering a sacred bond: “Toni Erdmann” [2016 Germany, Romania]

Maren Ade’s oddball comedy “Toni Erdmann” is a uniquely German attempt at highlighting the need for reinforcing familial bonds even while pursuing hectic lifestyles and careers. The film wryly focuses on a father-daughter relationship weathering changes in their individual circumstances. … Continue reading

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