Round-up of Films seen in 2025
Round-up of Films seen in 2025 Dear USE Readers, The good news is that I managed to see more films than I thought I would in…
French and French-language Films
En Fanfare!: celebrating the power of community action and support against hostile corporate and government forces
Emmanuel Courcol, “En Fanfare!” (English title: “My Brother’s Band”) (2024) Initially the advertising for “En Fanfare!” suggested this was going to be fairly straightforward light-hearted fare…
Japanese Films, North American Films
Rental Family: a heartfelt film on loneliness and connection in a socially conservative society
Hikari, “Rental Family” (2025) Beginning in the 1990s, rental family services offering actors to stand in for family members, spouses, friends, co-workers or companions at weddings,…
The History of Sound: a slow-burning story of loss, regret and the preservation of memory
Oliver Hermanus, “The History of Sound” (2025) Based on two short stories by US writer Ben Shattuck who also wrote the screenplay, “The History of Sound”…
Kokuho: a sumptuous work weakened by a patchy plot
Lee Sang-il, “Kokuho” (2025) An ambitious and sumptuous work, paying homage to Japan’s kabuki theatre, its craft and performers, “Kokuho” centres around the conflicts and contradictions…
Nuremberg: a simplified and shallow portrayal of the Nuremberg trials
James Vanderbilt, “Nuremberg” (2025) Combining elements of the psychological and legal thriller genres, James Vanderbilt’s “Nuremberg” follows the Nuremberg trials that were held by the victorious…
Two Prosecutors: portraying 1930s Soviet society as repressive, stifling and absurdist
Sergei Loznitsa, “Two Prosecutors” (2025) An earnest historical drama, based on a short novel by Soviet physicist / writer Georgy Demidov (1908 – 1987), this film…
Bugonia: lampooning American social fragmentation, alienation and the role of disinformation in maintaining class warfare
Yorgos Lanthimos, “Bugonia” (2025) A remake of the South Korean sci-fi / black comedy film “Save the Green Planet!”, this work is just as dark in…
Frankenstein (dir. Guillermo del Toro): a tale of revenge, reconciliation and the burden of immortality weakened by an improbable plot
Guillermo del Toro, “Frankenstein” (2025) After many years of planning and delays, at last Mexican director Guillermo del Toro brings his adaptation of Mary Shelley’s “Frankenstein;…
Essays, Multi-media Presentations
Vladimir Putin’s Valdai Speech (2025) / Q&A Session
Vladimir Putin’s Valdai Speech at the XXII Meeting (Final Plenary Session) of the Valdai International Discussion Club (Sochi, 2 October 2025) / Q&A Session After his…