Pieta (dir. Kim Kiduk): a cruel and absurd grotesquery mocking the poor and the marginalised
Kim Kiduk, “Pieta” (2012) This tale of dark revenge centres around a class of people
Truth: fictional drama has some value in showing how censorship works and propaganda is created
James Vanderbilt, “Truth” (2015) An ambitious film for James Vanderbilt’s directorial debut, though he is
The Great Dictator: using comedy and drama, silent film and talking picture to confront fascism
Charles Chaplin, “The Great Dictator” (1940) It’s over-long and the slapstick comedy is laid on
Let Your Life Be A Friction To Stop The Machine: bare-bones film delivers a devastating alternative history of the United States and the West
“Let Your Life Be A Friction To Stop The Machine” (Class War Films, 2012) It’s
Italian and Italian-language Films
The Gospel According to St Matthew: a minimal neo-realist tale of struggle against corruption and injustice
Pier Paolo Pasolini, “The Gospel According to St Matthew / Il Vangelo Secondo Matteo” (1964)
The Handmaid’s Tale: a film affected by its own demonstration of how repressive societies suck the life out of whatever they touch
Volker Schlöndorff, “The Handmaid’s Tale” (1990) Based on the dystopian novel by Canadian writer Margaret
Deduction and reason versus propaganda in pursuit of the truth in “Through Sherlock’s Eyes: The Case of Alexander Litvinenko”
Alexander Korobko, “Through Sherlock’s Eyes: The Case of Alexander Litvinenko” (2015) Not only does this 23-minute
Kakekomi: historical soap opera drama labouring under several sub-plots to tackle serious social issues
Masato Harada, “Kakekomi Onna to Kakedashi Otoko” (2015) A light-hearted historical drama set in Japan
A Samurai Chronicle: an earnest and heavy-going lesson in how to live a good life with grace, compassion and humility
Takashi Koizumi, “A Samurai Chronicle” (2014) I’m afraid that these days the Japanese just don’t
Fear and Desire: an uneven debut meditating on the degradation of war
Stanley Kubrick, “Fear and Desire” (1953) Stanley Kubrick’s debut feature film may be an awkward