A personal journal of film and documentary reviews, and reviews of anything else that intrigues me.
“What the Media Won’t Tell You About China” (ReallyGraceful, 20 June 2018) This short film is less a historical documentary about China and how it came to…
Japanese Films, North American Films
Andrew Levitas, “Minamata” (2020) In these times when fake news and deliberate disinformation are the norm in mainstream news media, here comes a very welcome, solid…
Korean Films, North American Films
Carlton Meyer, “The United States Started the Korean War” (Tales of the American Empire, 11 June 2021) Most histories on the Korean War (1950 – 1953)…
“What the Media Won’t Tell You about Iran” (ReallyGraceful, 23 November 2017) Back in 2017 I’d been watching short history mini-documentaries on ReallyGraceful’s Youtube channel but…
Matt Bissonnette, “Death of a Ladies’ Man” (2020) Inspired by the poetry and songs of Canadian poet / novelist / singer-songwriter Leonard Cohen, some of whose…
Carlton Meyer, “American Special Forces Destroyed a Hospital in 2015” (Tales of the American Empire, 14 May 2021) This episode in Carlton Meyer’s Tales of the…
Sanae Yamamoto, “Senga Tsubo” (1925) Said to be the first animated film commission by the Ministry of Education in Japan back in 1925, this 16-minute short…
Sanae Yamamoto, “Kyoiku senga: Ubasuteyama” (1925) A restored animation, “Ubasuteyama” is based on a traditional Japanese folk-tale as so many animated films made in Japan in…
Kenzo Masaoka, “Tora-chan no Makan Mushi” (1950) In the last cartoon to feature Tora-chan (Little Tiger) and his friend Miike-chan, the two kittens have grown up…
Kenzo Masaoka, “Tora-chan to Hanayome” (1948) The last three animated films made by Kenzo Masaoka revolved around the adventures of the kitten Tora-chan (Little Tiger). The…