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 and clumsy beast in many ways but for its time (at…
Essays, Multi-media Presentations
Vladimir Putin’s Valdai Speech (2015): in the midst of war, a plea for co-operation, mutual respect and trust leading to renewal and reconciliation
Vladimir Putin’s Valdai Speech at the XII Meeting (Final Plenary Session) of the Valdai International Discussion Club (October 2015) Compared to his speech at XI Meeting…
This Changes Everything: simplistic globe-trotting essay based on faulty premises
Avi Lewis, “This Changes Everything” (2015) Billed as a film about climate change, this documentary essay based on Canadian journalist Naomi Klein’s eponymous book actually follows…
The Seafarers: a preachy recruitment film for trade union membership with unusual historical relevance
Stanley Kubrick, “The Seafarers” (1953) Stanley Kubrick’s first film made in colour turns out to be a 30-minute documentary promoting a trade union for crews of…
How I Ended This Summer: a meandering character study of two individuals coping with extreme isolation and one another
Alexei Popogrebsky, “How I Ended This Summer / Kak ya provel etim letom” (2010) Out of a very threadbare and unbelievable plot, Alexei Popogrebsky manages to…
The Makioka Sisters: a flat commentary on tradition and modernisation alike through a soap opera plot
Kon Ichikawa, “The Makioka Sisters” (1983) Admittedly this is a beautifully shot film and its style is very graceful but even the skill and experience of…
Jackie Brown: homage to 70s cult film heroine and nostalgia with a subtext about surviving in a brutal world not far beneath the surface
Quentin Tarantino, “Jackie Brown” (1997) Of the early films directed by Quentin Tarantino that have achieved cult status, perhaps the jewel of them all is this…
Conflagration: a competent critique of modern Japan and an unreal quest for beauty and purity
Kon Ichikawa, “Conflagration / Enjo” (1958) Based on the novel “The Temple of the Golden Pavilion” (itself based on an actual incident) by notorious Japanese writer…
Vladimir Putin’s Address to the 70th Session of the United Nations General Assembly: offering an alternative vision to the world
Vladimir Putin’s Address to the 70th Session of the United Nations General Assembly, New York City (28 September 2015) Apparently Russian President Vladimir Putin last attended…
Xi Jinping’s Address to the UN General Assembly’s 70th Session: China projecting its power abroad in a low-key, pragmatic way
Xi Jinping’s Address to the 70th Session of the United Nations General Assembly, New York City (28 September 2015) The President of the People’s Republic of…