A personal journal of film and documentary reviews, and reviews of anything else that intrigues me.
German and German-language Films, Middle Eastern Films
Herbert Ostwald, “Wild Iran” (2011) This documentary follows the Iranian-German wildlife photographer and environmentalist Benny Rebel on a 6-week journey across Iran taking photographs and videos…
Seijun Suzuki, “Branded to Kill / Koroshi no Rakuin” (1967) After his previous gangster flick “Tokyo Drifter”, director Suzuki fell afoul of his bosses at Studio…
Seijun Suzuki, “Tokyo Drifter / Tokyo nagaremono” (1966) A tale of larger-than-life characters grappling with their consciences and their loyalty to their superiors and the life…
Australian and New Zealand Films
Julia Redmond and Rhian Skirving, “Change My Race” (2013) This SBS production is a disturbing enquiry into a new trend known as “deracialisation” in which young…
Stanley Kubrick “2001: A Space Odyssey” (1968) One of the great crowning glories of 20th century cinema, Stanley Kubrick’s “2001: A Space Odyssey” deserves its reputation…
Gabriela Cowperthwaite, “Blackfish” (2013) It’s as much advocacy journalism as documentary and makes no apologies for aiming at the heart as much as the brain: “Blackfish”…
British Films, French and French-language Films
Roman Polanski, “The Ghost Writer” (2009) Circumstances surrounding this film were peculiar enough in themselves: in travelling to the Zurich Film Festival as a special guest…
Hayao Miyazaki, “Laputa, Castle in the Sky / Tenko no shiro Ryaputa” (1986) One of Studio Ghibli’s great joys, this film has everything you could possibly…
Hayao Miyazaki, “Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind / Kaze no tani no Naushika” (1984) Based on his own manga of the same name, Miyazaki’s…
Australian and New Zealand Films
Jeni Clevers (producer), “The Big Blue” (2006) There’s an area in the Southern Ocean just south of South Australia and south-eastern Australia near Tasmania where every…