Corpus Christi: impostor priest story explores redemption, healing and religious hypocrisy
Jan Komasa, “Corpus Christi” (2019) For some odd reason, Poland has many fake Roman Catholic priests, many of whom must be doing a good job, and…
nausika
Essays, Multi-media Presentations
Vladimir Putin’s Valdai Speech (2020) / Q&A Session
Vladimir Putin’s Valdai Speech at the XVII Meeting (Final Plenary Session) of the Valdai International Discussion Club (Moscow, 22 October 2020) – Part 2: Q&A Session…
Essays, Multi-media Presentations
Vladimir Putin’s Valdai Speech (2020): finding hope, opportunity and direction in a world in crisis
Vladimir Putin’s Valdai Speech at the XVII Meeting (Final Plenary Session) of the Valdai International Discussion Club (Moscow, 22 October 2020) – Part 1 The 17th…
Manufacturing State Propaganda at the BBC: “The Corbett Report (Interview 1587: Vanessa Beeley Debunks a BBC Hit Piece)”
James Corbett, “The Corbett Report (Interview 1587: Vanessa Beeley Debunks a BBC Hit Piece)” (20 October 2020) Recorded 16 October 2020, this conversation between James Corbett…
Tokyo Story: a study of social and economic change in Japan during the 1950s
Yasujiro Ozu, “Tokyo Story / Tokyo monogatari” (1953) Under the precise and careful direction of Yasujiro Ozu, this family soap opera becomes a character study of…
Italian and Italian-language Films
Bad Tales: voyeuristic survey of dysfunctional families in alienation
Damiano and Fabio d’Innocenzo, “Bad Tales / Favolacce” (2020) A survey of three families living in a dull suburban estate on the outskirts of Rome, “Bad…
Hillary (Episode 4: Be Our Champion, Go Away): concluding episode delving into outright fantasy and falsehood
Nanette Burstein, “Hillary (Episode 4: Be Our Champion, Go Away)” (2020) If the first three episodes of this series on Hillary Rodham Clinton are essentially worshipful…
Italian and Italian-language Films
The Goddess of Fortune: how the passage of time and random events change people and relationships
Ferzan Özpetek, “The Goddess of Fortune / La Dea Fortuna” (2019) On the surface, this very visually stunning and colourful film appears to be a heart-warming…
The Plot to Destroy Syria: a good overview of the agendas aiming at Syria’s collapse and extinction
Carlton Meyer, “The Plot to Destroy Syria” (Tales of the American Empire, 2 October 2020) In just over 10 minutes, director / narrator Carlton Meyer lays…
Hillary (Episode 3: The Hardest Decision): more fawning over a despicable subject
Nanette Burstein, “Hillary (Episode 3: The Hardest Decision)” (2020) Purporting to show how Hillary Rodham Clinton became a feminist icon to millions of women (and quite…