Kuroneko: an ordinary ghost horror story saved by expressionist cinematography and social commentary
Kaneto Shindo, “Kuroneko” (1968) A companion piece to his earlier classic “Onibaba”, Shindo’s “Kuroneko” explores
A narrow, personal focus in “The Tsar and Empress: Secret Letters” does little justice to two ill-fated personalities of Russian history
“The Tsar and Empress: Secret Letters” (2017) A lavish two-part series revolving around the letters
German and German-language Films
Faust: a visually stunning film with many magnificent scenes – but a thin story weakens it
F W Murnau, “Faust” (1926) Visually powerful and stunning, with an incredible opening scene of
Real-life horror movie treatment of patients in “Brainwashed: The Secret CIA Experiments in Canada” which the Canadian government refuses to acknowledge and apologise for
Harvey Cashore, “Brainwashed: The Secret CIA Experiments in Canada” (The Fifth Estate, December 2017) As
A Tale of Two Traitors: short documentary on two double agents is short on answers as to why spies turn traitor
Ronna Syed, “A Tale of Two Traitors” (Fifth Estate, March 2018) In the wake of
British Films | French and French-language Films
The Death of Stalin: an unfunny and insulting comedy satire lacking in imagination and original ideas
Armando Iannucci, “The Death of Stalin” (2017) A British-made comedy satire about the death of
Why is China Investing in the Balkans? – VisualPolitik’s guess is no better than yours or mine
“Why is China Investing in the Balkans?” (VisualPolitik EN, 26 March 2018) VisualPolitik EN is
The Curious Incident of the Skripal Poisoning in Salisbury, UK: a View from the Russian Foreign Ministry
Russian Foreign Ministry Meeting with Foreign Ambassadors on Skripal poisoning case (21 March 2018) For
Lady Macbeth: a disturbing character study told in a minimalist, understated style
William Oldroyd, “Lady Macbeth” (2016) Adapted from Nikolai Leskov’s 1865 novel “Lady Macbeth of the
Vladimir Putin’s Presidential Speech to the Russian Federal Assembly (1 March 2018): a new vision, a new path to greater prosperity and unity
Vladimir Putin’s Presidential Speech to the Russian Federal Assembly (1 March 2018) Usually the Russian