Begotten: film explores Christian and pagan myths of fertility in cycle of birth, death and rebirth
Edmund Elias Merhige, “Begotten” (1989) A remarkable student film that explores Christian and pre-Christian creation
Finding the Telepathic Cinema of Manchuria: an ingenious look at how a country’s history is made, remade and reinterpreted
David Blair, “Finding the Telepathic Cinema of Manchuria” (2010) After finishing “WAX or the Discovery
Zoetrope: Kafka short story inspires a film about how science, industry, bureaucracy and politics oppress a victim
Charlie Deaux, “Zoetrope” (1999) Based on my favourite Franz Kafka short story “In the Penal
Medea (dir. Lars von Trier): human struggle against forces of Nature and God in a beautiful and emotional film
Lars von Trier, “Medea” (1988) Originally made for TV and with a script based on that other
Zoo: film teeters gingerly around its subject and suffers for that
Robinson Devor, “Zoo” (2007) Based on the case of a Boeing employee who died from
Italian and Italian-language Films
Salo or the 120 days of Sodom: gruelling film of corruption, unfettered freedom and abuse of power that turn humans into machines
Pier Paolo Pasolini, “Salò or the 120 days of Sodom” / “Salò o le 120
Italian and Italian-language Films
Medea (dir. Pier Paolo Pasolini): rich film of social analysis and the oppression of women
Pier Paolo Pasolini, “Medea” (1969) This film will always be a personal favourite of mine for
Debtocracy: good film about the 2011 Greek financial crisis and how it could be solved
Katerina Kitidi and Aris Hatzistefanou, “Debtocracy” (2011) Made on the cheap, this is a passionate
All Watched Over … (Episode 3: The Monkey in the Machine and the Machine in the Monkey): falling apart under its own shaky premise
Adam Curtis, “All Watched Over by Machines of Loving Grace (Episode 3: The Monkey in
A portrait of cultural fascism through one individual’s exploitation in “Superstar: the Karen Carpenter Story”
Todd Haynes, “Superstar: the Karen Carpenter Story” (1987) Using Barbie and Ken dolls to play