The Awakening: tasty little film of death and how suddenly it comes
Ignacio Cerdà, Ethan Jacobson, Francisco Stohr, “The Awakening” (1991) This 8-minute short is the first of three films forming a trilogy about death and how we…
French and French-language Films
The Page Turner: a pleasing though cool psychological study of revenge through music
Denis Dercourt, “The Page Turner” / “La Tourneuse de Pages” (2006) A cool, elegant psychological study of revenge, this film will certainly speak to a lot…
A Ninja Pays Half my Rent: fun and hilarious student film about finding the perfect partner … and being the perfect partner
Stephen K Tsuchida, “A Ninja Pays Half my Rent” (2002) Hilarious student short about finding the perfect room-mate (which could be extended to include the perfect…
French and French-language Films, German and German-language Films
The Trial: brave and visually striking attempt to bring classic Kafka dystopia to screen
Orson Welles, “The Trial” / “Le Procès” (1962) This film is a visually striking adaptation of the famous Franz Kafka novel. Welles’s directorial approach tries to…
French and French-language Films, North American Films
Birds of a feather, let’s flock together: four film shorts about birds illustrate something universal about human behaviour and social life
Pierre Coffin, “Pings” (2 shorts, 1997) Ralph Eggleston, “For the Birds” (2000) Dony Permedi, “Kiwi!” (2006) All four films are about birds obviously but they’re also about…
Vinni Pukh trilogy: cartoons boast strong characterisation, wit, cheek and a distinctive and charming animation style
Fyodor Khitruk, “Vinni Pukh” (1969) / “Vinni Pukh idyot v gosti” (1972) / “Vinni Pukh i den’ zabot” (1972) My favourite cartoon featuring Winnie the Pooh as…
British Films, French and French-language Films
Cave of Forgotten Dreams: too much whimsy and overbearing music, not enough facts and editing mar a fine documentary
Werner Herzog, “Cave of Forgotten Dreams” (2010) In 1994, three speleologists discovered and explored a cave in southern France and found prehistoric paintings apparently dating back…
Inauguration of the Pleasure Dome: celebration of a religious ritual that imprisons as much as it liberates
Kenneth Anger, “Inauguration of the Pleasure Dome” (1954) A lush creation by famous underground avant-garde film-maker Kenneth Anger, this film of a celebratory religious ritual mixes…
The Meth Epidemic: confrontational documentary doesn’t quite go far enough in investigating a major social problem
Carl Byker, “The Meth Epidemic” (2011) Having seen and reviewed “Winter’s Bone” last year, I was intrigued to find out more about the methamphetamine addiction epidemic…
The House is Black: a meditation on human condition, suffering and the beauty of creation in a leper colony
Forough Farrokhzad, “The House is Black” / “Khaneh siah ast” (1962) Made about 50 years ago but still very confronting, “The House is Black” is the…