Fanny and Alexander: a film of many personas revisiting familiar Bergman themes
Ingmar Bergman, “Fanny and Alexander” (1982) In part an autobiographical film based on his own childhood experiences of growing up with a severe Lutheran pastor father,…
nausika
Exposing Browder: a glimpse into a sordid world of tax fraud and undermining a sovereign country
“Exposing Browder / Spisok Braudera” (Rassledovaniye, 2014) At last this Russian documentary exposing the shady activities of the investment fund manager Bill Browder has an English-language…
British Films, North American Films
Interstellar: a rather ordinary film dominated and spoiled by a deterministic and hermetic viewpoint
Christopher Nolan, “Interstellar” (2014) “Interstellar” managed to hold my attention for most of its 169-minute duration which was quite a feat as the plot is quite…
Essays, Multi-media Presentations
Vladimir Putin’s Valdai speech (2014) / Q&A Session: what part of Putin does the West refuse to understand?
Vladimir Putin’s Valdai Speech at the XI Meeting (Final Plenary Session) of the Valdai International Discussion Club (Sochi, 24 October 2014) – Part 2: Q&A Session…
Essays, Multi-media Presentations
Vladimir Putin’s Valdai speech (2014): challenging the New World Order
Vladimir Putin’s Valdai Speech at the XI Meeting (Final Plenary Session) of the Valdai International Discussion Club (Sochi, 24 October 2014) – Part 1 Founded in…
What Makes a Genius? From Voltaire to Edison (and Beyond …) – more to genius than meets the eye (and ear …)
Christopher Hartney, “What Makes a Genius? From Voltaire to Edison (and Beyond …)” (WEA Sydney, 28 October 2014) What makes a genius? Is genius inborn in…
British Films, Russian and Soviet Films
Spotlight on Cuban medical diplomacy and ISIS in “Sputnik: Orbiting the World with George Galloway (Episode 46)”
George Galloway and Gayatri Pertiwi, “Sputnik: Orbiting the World with George Galloway (Episode 46)” (RT.com, 3 October 2014) In the first half of this episode, George Galloway…
Sunday evening TV discussion of geopolitics on “An Evening with Vladimir Soloviev – Russia’s Response to US ‘Declaration of War’ ”
“An Evening with Vladimir Soloviev – Russia’s Response to US ‘Declaration of War’ ” (Rossia 1, 2014) In Western countries, Sunday evening TV consists of reality…
Mixing samurai sword action, gore and political commentary on “Lady Snowblood: Love Song of Vengeance”
Toshiya Fujita, “Lady Snowblood: Love Song of Vengeance / Shurayukihime: Urami Renga” (1974) At the end of the first eponymous film, main character Yuki (Meiko Kaji)…
Lady Snowblood: questioning the pursuit of vengeance in a society undergoing rapid social and economic change
Toshiya Fujita, “Lady Snowblood / Shurayukihime” (1973) Based on a manga and the inspiration for Quentin Tarantino’s “Kill Bill” homage to old 1970s Asian martial arts…