Category Archives: Directors

A feverish kiss in the mouth to Recife – “A Febre do Rato” [2011 Brazil]

Cláudio Assis is no stranger to controversy – his previous two films, Amarelo Manga and Baixio das Bestas shocked film-goers with its in-your-face imagery and outrageous characterisation. While his latest offering doesn’t exactly fall short in its frankness, “A Febre … Continue reading

Posted in Brazil, Cláudio Assis | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 8 Comments

Kieslowski through the lens, darkly, in “Bez Konca” [1985 Poland]

By the time Krzysztof Kieslowski completed “Bez Konca” [Eng. Title: No End], he was already highly respected among arthouse circles, but his first overtly political film wasn’t particularly well received back home. Understandable – considering that Poland was under martial … Continue reading

Posted in Krzysztof Kieslowski, Polish Cinema | Tagged , , , , | 2 Comments

The idea of togetherness tested in “Tillsammans” [2000 Sweden]

Multifaceted Lukas Moodysson represents a new generation of talented Swedish directors who have been successfully making their voices heard among mainstream audiences, and with an increasingly global appeal. His films often explore evolving societies by pitting idealism against pragmatic necessities, … Continue reading

Posted in Lukas Moodysson, Sweden | Tagged , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

Exploiting the exploiter, and the viewer, in “Paradies: Liebe” [2012 Austria]

There’s something about Austrian directors and their fetishistic delight in dissecting human nature – to tear open layers of our civilised behaviour and scoop out the primeval muck. I’m clearly referring to Ulrich Seidl and his more celebrated compatriot Michael … Continue reading

Posted in Austria, Ulrich Seidl | Tagged , , , , , | 2 Comments

A Twisted Family in “Sitcom” [1998 France]

François Ozon is no stranger when it comes to pushing the envelope, and watching his comedy “Sitcom” on TV for the very first time had me cringing in my seat. This is black comedy of the darkest kind where nothing … Continue reading

Posted in France, François Ozon | Tagged , , , , , , | 3 Comments