The Great Pretender: a shallow picture of a famous rock music icon
Rhys Thomas, “The Great Pretender” (2012) The public fascination with the shy Parsi Indian boy
Peterloo: an immersive dramatic re-enactment of a significant event in British political history
Mike Leigh, “Peterloo” (2018) Made just before the 200th anniversary of the Peterloo Massacre in
Michael Palin in North Korea (Episode 2): an attractive visual experience spoilt by repetitive propaganda police-state stereotypes
Neil Ferguson, “Michael Palin in North Korea (Episode 2)” (2018) In this second and final
Michael Palin in North Korea (Episode 1): Western insistence on stereotyping a country ruins a striking travelogue
Neil Ferguson, “Michael Palin in North Korea (Episode 1)” (2018) At least two years in
Chinese and Chinese-language Films
Forward, Comrades! – an animated short on the downfall of the Soviet Union
Wang Liyin, “Forward, Comrades!” (2013) This animated Chinese short, made by a student at the
British Films | Eastern European Films
Abandoned Soviet Fairground Ride in Transnistria: where the mundane becomes exotic in a real country not supposed to exist
“Abandoned Soviet Fairground Ride in Transnistria” (Bald and Bankrupt, 2019) During his travels in Moldova
The Chaperone: preferring a character stereotype over portraying the life of a real revolutionary cultural icon
Michael Engler, “The Chaperone” (2018) A film of self-discovery and self-transformation leading to personal freedom,
Ana by Day: exploring identity and the limits of freedom and pursuing one’s dreams
Andrea Jaurrieta, “Ana by Day / Ana de Dia” (2017) You feel vaguely dissatisfied with
The Curse of La Llorona: cursed by cheap thrills and Hollywood horror film cliches
Michael Chaves , “The Curse of La Llorona” (2019) As his full-length movie directorial debut,
British Films | Eastern European Films
Abandoned Europe | Road To Ratus: even searching for past Soviet-era reality ends in disappointment
“Abandoned Europe / Road to Ratus” (Bald and Bankrupt, April 2019) “Could be awesome, could