Tag Archives: Highly Recommended

A load of bull: “El árbol de la sangre” [2018 Spain]

And they end up being as attention-gathering as only a Julio Medem can manage (apart from Bigas Luna, of course). While the bulls and cows in his latest drama, “El árbol de la sangre” [Eng. Title: The Tree of Blood] might … Continue reading

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Love and War: “Zvizdan” [Croatia 2015]

Dalibor Matanic’s film “Zvizdan” [Eng. Title: The High Sun] gives a unique perspective on a topic rarely discussed with frankness by people in what was once Yugoslavia; their hitherto simmering discontent leading to and following the rebirth of their respective nations. Using … Continue reading

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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

My body, my choice: “Vergine giurata” [2015, Italy, Albania]

There’s no need for alarm; we needn’t fear a militant or agenda-driven feminist narrative in Laura Bispuri’s debut feature “Vergine giurata” [Eng. Title: Sworn Virgin]. It is rather a nuanced critique of restrictive sexual and cultural norms in some communities … Continue reading

Posted in Alba Rohrwacher, Italian Cinema | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

A brief review: “Las hijas de Abril” [2017, Mexico]

Wishing you all a very happy 2018!
 
Michel Franco is among the leading lights of Mexican cinema working today. Franco follows up on his impressive 2015 drama ‘Chronic’ with an equally devious and shocking family drama “Las hijas de Abril” (Eng. … Continue reading

Posted in Mexico, Michel Franco | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 7 Comments