A personal journal of film and documentary reviews, and reviews of anything else that intrigues me.
Sergei Loznitsa, “Two Prosecutors” (2025) An earnest historical drama, based on a short novel by Soviet physicist / writer Georgy Demidov (1908 – 1987), this film…
Yorgos Lanthimos, “Bugonia” (2025) A remake of the South Korean sci-fi / black comedy film “Save the Green Planet!”, this work is just as dark in…
Peter Cattaneo, “The Penguin Lessons” (2024) At first this film appears no more than a light, gentle comedy about a teacher upstaged by a penguin. In…
Hayao Miyazaki, “My Neighbour Totoro” (1988) The film that brought Studio Ghibli to an international audience, “My Neighbour Totoro” may be charming and sweet, suitable for…
Bong Joonho, “Mickey 17” (2025) Based on the science fiction novel “Mickey 7” by Edward Ashton, “Mickey 17” takes that novel’s premise – a space colonist…
Drew Hancock, “Companion” (2015) A low-budget sci-fi thriller film with a young cast and a deceptively simple, straightforward plot becomes a magnet for commentary on aspects…
Italian and Italian-language Films, North American Films
Edward Berger, “Conclave” (2024) Who’d have thought that a film about a group of Roman Catholic cardinals electing a new Pope could turn out to be…
North American Films, Russian and Soviet Films
Sean Baker, “Anora” (2024) Presenting as a comedy variation on the Cinderella story, “Anora” deftly skewers Western neo-capitalism, the class system and trashy culture that are…
British Films, French and French-language Films
Coralie Fargeat, “The Substance” (2024) It may be called “The Substance” but this film’s style – in its boldly colourful (and confrontational) visual style, its minimal…
French and French-language Films, Northern European Films
Gilles Legardinnier, “Complètement cramé! / Mr Blake at your service!” (2023) It’s twee and artificial in style, but nevertheless this light French comedy-drama film highlights the…