I Live in Fear: a portrait of society in denial of looming nuclear attack disaster
Akira Kurosawa, “I Live in Fear” (1955) I must admit to not being very impressed with this film: it seems like an over-long and overwrought soap…
AntiRacist Hitler: a subversive cartoon satirising Western social policies and hypocrisy
Matt the White Rabbit, “AntiRacist Hitler” (2013) A subversive animation short satirising open-borders immigration policies and multiculturalist agendas in Western countries, most of which also hypocritically…
Italian and Italian-language Films
Allegro Non Troppo: a suite of animation shorts of breath-taking imagination and originality, and much food for thought
Bruno Bozzetto, “Allegro Non Troppo” (1976) A spoof of and tribute to Walt Disney’s famous “Fantasia” film, “Allegro Non Troppo” is noteworthy mainly for its six…
Australian and New Zealand Films
Buckskin: a fascinating story about a young teacher determined to give his people a renewed identity and hope for change
Dylan McDonald, “Buckskin” (2013) A young teacher and sometime Australian Rules football player called Jack Buckskin is one of a very tiny number of people who can…
Australian and New Zealand Films
Prison Songs: a snapshot in song and dance of indigenous Australians’ prison experiences, and the issues that blight their lives
Kelrick Martin, “Prison Songs” (2015) Billed as Australia’s first musical documentary, and probably the first of its kind to be set in a prison, “Prison Songs” is…
Pony: a dark little story about the loss of innocence in a banal setting
Dony Permedi, “Pony” (2006) “Pony” is a short animated film made by Permedi as an undergraduate college project with the subversions of everyday life and student…
Italian and Italian-language Films
God Willing: a brisk slapstick comedy opposing self-complacency and arrogance against humility and faith
Edoardo Maria Falcone, “God Willing / Se Dio Vuole” (2015) A gentle slapstick comedy, Falcone’s “Se Dio Vuole” won its director top directing honours in Italy’s…
New York, New York: a homage to and a subversion of Hollywood / Broadway glamour, fame and artifice
Martin Scorsese, “New York, New York” (1977) One of Martin Scorsese’s most under-rated films, in my opinion, and in many ways an experimental and even surreal…
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 example of how one actor / director adapted his style from…
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 to be the only film of its genre – outsider film,…