Bram Stoker’s Dracula: a lavish and surreal film skirting over social issues in Western society now and in the 1890s
Francis Ford Coppola, “Bram Stoker’s Dracula” (1992) A visually lavish and often surreal presentation, Francis
The Miseducation of Cameron Post: a sketchy work on psychological abuse and repression in a gay conversion centre
Desiree Akhavan, “The Miseducation of Cameron Post” (2018) Set in 1993, this coming-of-age drama follows
French and French-language Films
Un Beau Matin: a realist meditation on mortality, memory, loss and the love and beauty that endure
Mia Hansen-Løve, “Un Beau Matin” / “One Fine Morning” (2022) One fine morning in Paris
British Films | North American Films
SPECTRE: behind a gritty and stylish front, old Bondian stereotypes return
Sam Mendes, “SPECTRE” (2015) As James Bond films go, “Spectre” looks gritty and stylishly in
French and French-language Films
Saint Omer: dry legal drama on dysfunctional parent-child relationships and the struggles of migrants in an alien culture
Alice Diop, “Saint Omer” (2022) At first presenting as a dry courtroom drama cum psychological
Renfield: camp horror comedy suffers from co-dependency on too much CGI splatter violence
Chris McKay, “Renfield” (2023) A cheerfully cheesy vehicle for Nicolas Cage to finally fulfil his
Infinity Pool: character study satire on the decline of Western culture and values
Brandon Cronenberg, “Infinity Pool” (2023) Take away the extreme violence, the scenes of sleazy sex
Blacula: cheap and campy cult classic given backbone by its monster
William Crain, “Blacula” (1972) In 1780, a noble African Prince (William Marshall), known as Mamuwalde,
Eastern European Films | French and French-language Films | Italian and Italian-language Films
EO: a donkey’s odyssey through the kindness (or not) of strangers
Jerzy Skolimowski, “EO” (2022) Inspired by Robert Bresson’s 1966 film “Au hasard Balthazar”, this Polish
French and French-language Films
L’Innocent: romantic comedy / heist plot of the extremes people will risk for love
Louis Garrel, “L’Innocent” (2022) A very clever comedy combining romance and a heist plot, “L’Innocent”
