Rick and Ruby: two buddies confront pop culture stereotypes in gory fashion
Scott Woodburn, “Rick and Ruby” (2019) Playing like an episode in a never-ending road-movie series
Australian and New Zealand Films
Clean: finding peace and freedom from trauma by helping others deal with theirs
Lachlan McLeod, “Clean” (2022) As this documentary demonstrates, there’s much more to the word “clean”
Mrs Harris Goes to Paris: a fantasy nostalgia world where good deeds and kindness are rewarded and bad gets its just punishment
Anthony Fabian, “Mrs Harris Goes to Paris” (2022) A light and lively film harking nostalgically
Essays | Multi-media Presentations
Vladimir Putin’s Valdai Speech (2022): what is behind the West’s drive to dominate the world?
Vladimir Putin’s Valdai Speech at the XIX Meeting (Final Plenary Session) of the Valdai International
The Collector: a moving story of outsiders in a post-apocalyptic police state dystopia
Ihsanul Huq, “The Collector” (2021) A very moving story thanks to its lead actor Frank
Chinese and Chinese-language Films
Land Reform in the Philippines: a detailed history lesson on the failure of land reform and its effect on a nation’s development
“Land Reform in the Philippines” (Asianometry, 17 October 2022) For most of its existence as
Australian and New Zealand Films
Mongrel: minimally styled film posing the question of what makes a human or a monster
Nik Kacevski, “Mongrel” (2021) A very minimalist little film, featuring just two actors, “Mongrel” poses
Thelma & Louise: a tale of freedom and independence found and misused with devastating consequences
Ridley Scott, “Thelma & Louise” (1991) Two best friends – one a waitress whose musician
In Captivity: freedom versus slave comfort and security in a future dystopian hell
Michael Koerbel, “In Captivity” (2011) Superficially in the style of a “Truman Show” situation comedy,
Together Forever: maudlin romance tragedy becomes a tale of murderous greed and a revenge vendetta
Rebecca C Scott, “Together Forever” (2022) A well-made film, driven almost entirely by its characters’