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Lars von Trier, “Medea” (1988) Originally made for TV and with a script based on that other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
French and French-language Films
The Tenant: psychological study of alienation, self-repression and loss of identity and control
Roman Polanski, “The Tenant” / “Le Locataire” (1976) A very good psychological study of a young man,
Australian and New Zealand Films
The Mysterious Geographic Explorations of Jasper Morello: beautiful layered Gothic steampunk film steers viewers into a heart of darkness
Anthony Lucas, “The Mysterious Geographic Explorations of Jasper Morello” (2004) A nominee for a Best