The Lost King: real people and events lost in identity politics stereotypes
Stephen Frears, “The Lost King” (2022) A breezy and light film, “The Lost King” depends very largely on its lead actor Sally Hawkins’s energetic and impassioned…
nausika
Round-up of Films seen in 2021 and 2022
Dear USE Readers, As I’d not seen many films in 2021, due in part to a long lockdown in the second half of that year, I…
British Films, French and French-language Films
Triangle of Sadness: a perilous navigation through class warfare, power struggles and a plot that falls apart
Ruben Östlund, “Triangle of Sadness” (2022) Just sit right back and you’ll hear a tale, a tale of a fateful trip … er, sorry, this won’t…
Japanese Films, North American Films
Bakemono: modern-day ghost story on family relationships
Jorge Lucas, Sumire Takamatsu, “Bakemono” (2019) Even in modern times, the demons and spirits of yore can still find a way to inveigle themselves into people’s…
Home in Time: time travel, the consequences of bad behaviour, free will and reconciliation in comedy sci-fi short
Patrick Hagarty, “Home in Time” (2019) In time for Christmas, this amusing sci-fi comedy short about a married couple preparing for family Christmas at their home…
Human Form: cosmetic surgery as a tool of social oppression to eliminate individuality and identity
Noh Doyeon, “Human Form” (2014) A deeply unsettling short film about a teenage schoolgirl’s quest to change her appearance through plastic surgery to attain physical beauty…
Apotheosis: grit, determination and resilience win over inborn gifts in polished sci-fi short
Max Pearce, “Apotheosis” (2022) A very polished short film, with similarities in themes and plot to the better-known movie “Gattaca”, itself not a great money-maker on…
Eureka! – dealing with depression with comedy and skilful acting
Laura Moss, “Eureka!” (2019) I confess, I saw this comedy sci-fi fantasy short because Karen Gillan, star of Doctor Who and of various films in the…
Jettison: a parable on the US exploitation of soldiers using time-space travel
J J Pollack, “Jettison” (2021) A young woman, Rebka (Madison Wilson), restless and bored with life on the family farm, eagerly joins the United States Space…
The Menu: black comedy satire of class warfare in microcosm
Mark Mylod, “The Menu” (2022) A satirical commentary on Western gastronomy culture – and through it, much of contemporary Western culture – “The Menu” carries a…