Gonjiam: Haunted Asylum (곤지암)
GONJIAM suffers from none of the classic issues of found footage, writes Alice Pullen from the London Korean Film Festival teaser screening.
Category Archives: Reviews
The Swing
Closing this year’s Open City Documentary Festival, THE SWING marks Cyril Aris as a filmmaker to anticipate in the future, writes Luka Vukos.
Baronesa
Although the meandering approach robs BARONESA of momentum, the outlook and perspective is a fresh one worth engaging with. Jim Ross reviews the opening film of Open City Documentary Festival.
Kinshasa Makambo
Dieudo Hamadi’s examination of the Democratic Republic of Congo’s struggles with political corruption is bleak but visually and narratively gripping. Jim Ross reviews at Open City Doc Fest.
Lucky
The charismatic Harry Dean Stanton recites the meaning of realism from his dictionary, held up by a lectern in his living room. Lucky is a man of a certain age, physically anyway, with a routine of morning calisthenics and crosswords. Scamp-ish and young at heart, Lucky must now come to terms with his own mortality. … Continue reading Lucky
The Children Act
Following in the footsteps of ON CHESIL BEACH earlier this year, Ian McEwan has turned another of his novels into a screenplay with THE CHILDREN ACT. Emma Thompson stars as Fiona, a High Court judge married to her job – much to the chagrin of her husband (played by Stanley Tucci). Whilst her marriage hangs … Continue reading The Children Act
Sicilian Ghost Story
In a village in Sicily, Luna attempts to woo her classmate Giuseppe. After school, they share their afternoon in a dozen teenage adventures. At the end, she gives him a love letter and they share a kiss. But this is no charmed life. Giuseppe is the son of a Mafioso – and after Luna kisses … Continue reading Sicilian Ghost Story
I Am Not A Witch
I AM NOT A WITCH is an atmospheric and satirical slow-burn, Rungano Nyoni’s feature debut weaving in a sense of the surreal alongside. Ben Johnston reviews.
Apostasy
Ably supported by his principal cast, former Jehovah’s Witness Daniel Kokotajlo crafts a tragic and engrossing narrative in APOSTASY. Jim Ross reviews.
Stryka
STRYKA takes place in a grungy “near-ish future” populated with hover cars, holograms and lizard-aliens. The eponymous heroine (Aimee Mullins) is a thief who does small-time jobs with her partner Callen (Rupert Friend) – but she questions whether their relationship is in her best interests. Stryka is an alien – reminiscent of Whoverse Silurians, but … Continue reading Stryka