Category Archives: Directors

Of daydreams and hidden desires – “Belle de Jour” [1967 France, Italy]

Let’s open the great Luis Buñuel’s filmography with one of his more recognisable works, “Belle de Jour”. His first film in colour is also regarded by many as among the best films of all time. Buñuel’s most commercially successful film, … Continue reading

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Slaying personal demons in the wilderness – “Zero Kelvin” [1995 Norway, Sweden]

Norwegians (and Scandinavians) are unique indeed – shaped by their rugged land and climate, they’d learned to thrive in places many would only consider ‘extreme’. But it is also apparent that they’re equally curious and contemplative about everything under the … Continue reading

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When honour is your only possession – “Die verlorene Ehre der Katharina Blum” [W.Germany 1975]

. – It’s Neuer Deutscher Film time..! And I’ll start the filmography of Volker Schlöndorff – one of the important directors of New German Cinema, not with his Oscar-winning Die Blechtrommel (that comes later), but a slightly lesser known, but … Continue reading

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Letting sleeping beauties lie: “Bella Addormentata” [2012 Italy]

Veteran director Marco Bellocchio’s latest drama, “Bella Addormentata” [Eng. Title: Dormant Beauty] takes on the subject of euthanasia in a predominantly catholic Italy, by setting the film against a backdrop of real-life events in 2009, when the father of Eluana … Continue reading

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Desperately seeking a trophy-lover: “L’imbalsamatore” [2002 Italy]

Matteo Garrone once again takes us on a trip through the dark recesses of desire and obsession in his psychological ‘romantic’ drama, “L’imbalsamatore” [Eng. Title: The Taxidermist aka The Embalmer]. So much so that the grey decaying Neapolitan landscape will … Continue reading

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