THE SEA BEYOND, directed by former actor Achero Mañas, presents to us a beguiling near-100 minutes of skilful filmmaking, and a refreshing take on the favourable road trip movie. When Ernesto’s (Ernesto Alterio) mother, Lola, informs him that when she dies she wishes to be buried at sea on the shores of her hometown of … Continue reading The Sea Beyond
In recent years, the rise of the social media influencer has become an interesting phenomenon, with their faces, products and ads flooding the internet. Magnus von Horn’s SWEAT is an intimate look at the mechanisms of modern influencer life and the reality of popularity in the world of tech. Most notably, he moves away from … Continue reading Sweat
ROM details the life of a lottery runner, a young boy tasked with delivering betting slips to his neighbours, and supplying them with numbers to bet on, all the while avoiding the local gangsters and his fierce rival Phuc. Set in the heart of a Vietnamese housing complex, and supported by a powerful cast, ROM … Continue reading Rom
MONTMARTRE DE PAPA, directed by Min Byung-woo (CATS AND DOGS) is an enthralling documentary that follows the life of Min Hyeong-sik, a retired art teacher. The question posed to the audience throughout the film’s first half, and encouraged by Min Hyeong-sik’s son is, quite simply, what will he do after his retirement? Determined to follow … Continue reading Montmartre de Papa
Science fiction has slowly become a much more introspective genre- replacing large set pieces and technical jargon for minimal sets and contemplative screenplays that question man, the universe, and morality. The claustrophobic dwellings of a deer farmers apartment may not sound like the most obvious setting for a sci-fi drama about alternate realities, however, Chong … Continue reading The Fourth Wall
Following the critically acclaimed success of his 2013 hit ILO ILO, which was the first Singaporean feature film to win an award at Cannes Film Festival, Anthony Chen’s WET SEASON marks the second feature film of his career and boasts a selection of familiar faces. WET SEASON follows the monotonous life of Ling (Yeo Yann … Continue reading Wet Season
Although Roundheads and Cavaliers will leave you wanting to follow the noble re-enactors further, it still stands on its own as a short and doesn’t at any point feel unfinished or cut off too short. It’ll certainly offer some respite for those dying to get back out into the countryside as well as some much needed amusement too!
Christophe Honoré’s latest fairground whirl of a film, ON A MAGICAL NIGHT, is a liberating and comedic tale about fading romance and revisiting the past. Teaming with a stellar casting of Chiara Mastroianni and Benjamin Biolay as the current day Maria and Richard, joined by Vincent Lacoste as young Richard and his piano teacher Irène, … Continue reading On A Magical Night
The premise of GUEST OF HONOUR is fairly simple, yet feels edited with a butcher’s cleaver; it becomes too jumbled and there is no catharsis at the end.
The films Pedro Costa has made since 1997 are all testaments to a method of collaborative production. Marc Nelson reviews his latest.
