Queen of the Desert: a boring and flat movie that mocks a remarkable woman and the people and region she came to love
Werner Herzog, “Queen of the Desert” (2013) Renowned German film director Werner Herzog, maker of
Australian and New Zealand Films
The Family: a moving documentary on a bizarre religious cult that preyed on social utopian ideals and yearnings for a better life
Rosie Jones, “The Family” (2016) For over 20 years, the quiet town of Eildon and
Sergei Lavrov’s Speech to Military Academy of General Staff, Moscow: a summary of Russia’s place and direction in the new global political order
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov’s Speech to Senior Officers of the Military Academy of General
Memoirs of a Geisha: overblown rags-to-riches soap opera romance with a shallow and conservative message
Rob Marshall, “Memoirs of a Geisha” (2002) Essentially a variation on the Cinderella story through
Chinese and Chinese-language Films
Hero: a smug film that twists Chinese history and delivers a deplorable message
Zhang Yimou, “Hero” (2002) If one needs proof that a visually gorgeous film with a
High-Rise: an attempt to criticise Western and British society results in a collection of boring soap opera sub-plots
Ben Wheatley, “High-Rise” (2015) British author J G Ballard’s novels and short stories are famous
Spring: character study on renewal through love and connections, and beating back monsters
Justin Benson and Aaron Moorhead, “Spring” (2014) A rather long and thin character study romance
Night of the Living Dead: cult horror classic is a character study and commentary on American society
George A Romero, “Night of the Living Dead” (1968) Made on a minuscule budget, George
Australian and New Zealand Films
The Coming War on China: a hard-hitting documentary drawing on the history of US relations with the western Pacific
John Pilger, “The Coming War on China” (2016) Two years in the making with literally
The Truman Show: comedy drama satire encapsulating the search for authenticity for self and community under conditions of control and manipulation
Peter Weir, “The Truman Show” (1998) Once in a while Hollywood releases a film that