Tag Archives: shocking

A review: “DAU. Natasha” [2020, Russia, Germany, Ukraine]

Rarely does one bump into a film with an ambiguous origin, uncertain of the exact time that the first seed of an idea was sown. While we might have encountered films made from ‘found-footage’ or other reality shows, nothing comes … Continue reading

Posted in Ilya Khrzhanovskiy, Russian Cinema, Ukraine | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 2 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 film review: “La pelle” [1981 Italy]

Liliana Cavani: Veteran Italian director Liliana Cavani’s films aren’t always easy to love because they tend to tackle subjects that are often skirted around during mainstream discourse, and because they make for uncomfortable viewing and also leave behind a bitter aftertaste. Perhaps … Continue reading

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Sometimes, subtitles can be a hindrance: “Plemya” [2014, Ukraine]

Miroslav Slaboshpytskiy makes an assured feature film début with his astonishing film, “Plemya” [Eng. Title: the Tribe]. With dialogues entirely in Ukrainian sign-language (which the director himself is not fluent in) and presented without subtitles, voice-overs, or even background music, it forces the … Continue reading

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Historical baggage: “Cargo 200” [2007, Russia]

The allegorical Soviet drama “Gruz 200” [Eng. Title: Cargo 200] is one of Aleksey Balabanov’s most important and uninhibited films to date. It is also lesser known than his highly acclaimed “Brother” duology for the very same reason – for … Continue reading

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