The Virgin Spring: a profound and moving work on vengeance, justice and the remoteness of religion
Ingmar Bergman, “The Virgin Spring / Jungfrukällan” (1960) Perhaps not so celebrated as “The Seventh
Ex_Machina: style is part of the substance in a low-budget SF film that tackles complex issues
Alex Garland, “Ex_Machina” (2015) At first glance, Alex Garland’s directorial debut flim “Ex Machina” looks
German and German-language Films
Metropolis (dir. by Fritz Lang, reconstructed + restored): near-full restoration carries a populist message of fear and conservative belief
Fritz Lang, “Metropolis (reconstructed + restored)” (1928) I’ve had the opportunity to see “Metropolis” (which
Multi-media Presentations | Russian and Soviet Films
Direct Line with Vladimir Putin (April 2015): concentrating on domestic issues, Crimea and the Ukrainian crisis
Kirill Kleymenov and Maria Sittel, “Direct Line with Vladimir Putin” (RT.com, 16 April 2015) Every
British Films | French and French-language Films
Tess: flat characters and subdued approach in adapting novel to screen ensure a slow-moving trudge
Roman Polanski, “Tess” (1979) Closely based on the original Thomas Hardy novel “Tess of the
German and German-language Films | North American Films
Paris, Texas: a film of isolation and rootlessness that cannot find purchase in a ruthless machine society
Wim Wenders, “Paris, Texas” (1984) One of American cinema’s finest yet under-appreciated treasures must surely
A riveting morality tale of corporate greed, sociopathy and Social Darwinism in “Enron: The Smartest Guys in the Room”
Alex Gibney, “Enron: The Smartest Guys in the Room” (2005) A bit gimmicky in parts,
British Films | North American Films
Cinderella (directed by Kenneth Branagh): a canny live-action Disney reworking carries its own messages amongst the schmaltz
Kenneth Branagh, “Cinderella” (2015) Being a Disney production, this live-action version of the tale as
Leviathan: a hollow and dishonest film insulting to ordinary people ground down by corruption
Andrey Zvyagintsev, “Leviathan” (2014) Often taken as reflective of the current socio-political situation in Russia,
Becoming a legend through humility and earning grace in “Samurai III: Duel at Ganryu Island”
Hiroshi Inagaki, “Samurai III: Duel at Ganryu Island” (1956) Inagaki’s third and last installment in