Modern Times: sympathy for the underdog and horror at a machine society enforcing conformity and repression
Charlie Chaplin, “Modern Times” (1936) In its own way, “Modern Times” is significant as an
Freaks: a sympathetic work that pleads on behalf of its performers and turns normality on its head
Todd Browning, “Freaks” (1932) A unique cult film of the kind that can be said
Australian and New Zealand Films
Chasing Asylum: an urgent film detailing the inhumanity and idiocy of Australian incarceration of refugees in overseas detention centres
Eva Orner, “Chasing Asylum” (2016) Finding information about Australia’s treatment of asylum seekers kept in
Battleship Potemkin: a classic of drama, passion and the power of people to overturn injustice and oppression
Sergei Eisenstein, “Battleship Potemkin” (1925) Although this film was made over 90 years ago and
British Films | North American Films
The Man Who Fell to Earth: a satire on US cut-throat capitalist society and how it alienates, controls and dehumanises people
Nicholas Roeg, “The Man Who Fell to Earth” (1976) For a film with hardly much
Australian and New Zealand Films
The Sound of One Hand Clapping: retreating into blandness and relying on stereotypes and a banal plot-line
Richard Flanagan, “The Sound of One Hand Clapping” (1998) If there’s any value to this
Spirited Away: a lavish film representing the peak of Studio Ghibli’s creativity and the start of its decline
Hayao Miyazaki, “Spirited Away” (2001) In many ways, “Spirited Away” represents the peak of Studio
French and French-language Films
Marguerite: a rich film of how loyalty, control and hypocrisy intersect with innocence and free spirit
Xavier Giannoli, “Marguerite” (2015) The inspiration for this film may have been the American socialite
Italian and Italian-language Films
The Hawks and the Sparrows: a rambling road movie enquiry into the social and political conflicts of Italian society in the 1960s
Pier Paolo Pasolini, “The Hawks and the Sparrows / Uccellacci e Uccellini” (1966) A bit
Whistle: a bland and modest sci-fi thriller that saves its killer punch for the last
Duncan Jones, “Whistle” (2002) “Moon” director Duncan Jones’ first feature is a 29-minute short that