A personal journal of film and documentary reviews, and reviews of anything else that intrigues me.
Australian and New Zealand Films
Lachlan McLeod, “Clean” (2022) As this documentary demonstrates, there’s much more to the word “clean” than first appears. Initially the topic of the film was trauma…
Anthony Fabian, “Mrs Harris Goes to Paris” (2022) A light and lively film harking nostalgically back to an idealised vision of post-WWII Paris, “Mrs Harris Goes…
Essays, Multi-media Presentations
Vladimir Putin’s Valdai Speech at the XIX Meeting (Final Plenary Session) of the Valdai International Discussion Club (Moscow, 27 October 2022) As is his usual custom,…
Ihsanul Huq, “The Collector” (2021) A very moving story thanks to its lead actor Frank Collison, this short film revolves around a choice his character is…
Chinese and Chinese-language Films
“Land Reform in the Philippines” (Asianometry, 17 October 2022) For most of its existence as an independent nation since 1946, the Philippines has suffered from unequal…
Australian and New Zealand Films
Nik Kacevski, “Mongrel” (2021) A very minimalist little film, featuring just two actors, “Mongrel” poses the universal question of what makes someone human or less than…
Ridley Scott, “Thelma & Louise” (1991) Two best friends – one a waitress whose musician boyfriend frequently leaves her on her own when he goes on…
Michael Koerbel, “In Captivity” (2011) Superficially in the style of a “Truman Show” situation comedy, this short film is an amusing riff on what a future…
Rebecca C Scott, “Together Forever” (2022) A well-made film, driven almost entirely by its characters’ dialogue, turns what could have been a maudlin romance tragedy into…
Carlton Meyer, “The Rebellious Colony of Mali” (Tales of the American Empire, 14 October 2022) A handy introduction into the geopolitics of western Africa and why…