Category Archives: Directors

Grow more pineapple! “Der Geschmack von Leben” [2017 Germany]

No, this is not a new UN directive concerning public nutrition (though it might be a refreshing idea), but it might increase demand for pineapple if Roland Reber and his vlogging protagonist Nikki’s advice to drink more pineapple juice is … Continue reading

Posted in Germany, Roland Reber | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | 7 Comments

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 the … 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 identity … Continue reading

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

In search of Utopia: “Zheleznaya doroga” [2007 Russia]

I’d been working backward through the filmography of Aleksey Fedorchenko, and was pleased to see that his Fellini-esque surreal comedy from 2007, “Zheleznaya doroga” [Eng. Title: The Railway] was as much an allegory as a visual feast. The hilarious premise … Continue reading

Posted in Aleksey Fedorchenko, Russian Cinema | Tagged , , , | 3 Comments

Primal instinct: “La región salvaje” [2016 Mexico]

Amat Escalante is renowned/infamous for gritty and at times shocking realism in his films. But his 2016 erotic Sci-Fi fantasy drama (or dark comedy even) “La región salvaje” [Eng. Title: The Untamed] is quite different, and happily so. The film begins … Continue reading

Posted in Amat Escalante, Mexico | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment