Invocation of My Demon Brother: not an essential film to see for Kenneth Anger fans
Kenneth Anger, “Invocation of My Demon Brother” (1969) If like me, you’ve already seen a considerable number of films by Kenneth Anger, this one won’t add…
Experimental Films
The Man We Want to Hang: a subjective if not very experimental homage to Aleister Crowley
Kenneth Anger, “The Man We Want to Hang” (2002) After over 20 years in which he made no films, the American cult underground film director Kenneth…
Puce Moment: a nostalgia piece that foresees the arrival of pop music videos
Kenneth Anger, “Puce Moment” (1949) In the space of just 6 minutes, this short acts as a homage to Kenneth Anger’s grandmother, a dressmaker and designer…
Scorpio Rising: an amazing concoction of film collages, music and themes
Kenneth Anger, “Scorpio Rising” (1964) One of the most amazing concoctions of film collages and music soundtracks, “Scorpio Rising” is perhaps Kenneth Anger’s most famous and…
German and German-language Films
Gods of the Plague: a character study on social hypocrisy, loneliness and the destruction of dreams
Rainer Werner Fassbinder, “Götter der Pest / Gods of the Plague” (1970) Following on from “Love is Colder than Death” in R W Fassbinder’s trilogy of…
German and German-language Films
Love is Colder than Death: a study of nihilism and individuals’ relationships in a mercenary society
Rainer Werner Fassbinder, “Liebe ist kälter als der Tod / Love is Colder than Death” (1969) Gangster films might be an unusual choice for film-makers to…
Dogville: failing to understand complexities and contradictions of American people, culture and history
Lars von Trier, “Dogville” (2003) First in a series of films on American culture from Lars von Trier’s own rather idiosyncratic viewpoint, “Dogville” is a minimalist…
Branded to Kill: existentialist yakuza thriller parody of the corporate rat-race and its values
Seijun Suzuki, “Branded to Kill / Koroshi no Rakuin” (1967) After his previous gangster flick “Tokyo Drifter”, director Suzuki fell afoul of his bosses at Studio…
Tokyo Drifter: surreal pop-art gangster flick riffing on corporate loyalty and surviving in a corrupt world
Seijun Suzuki, “Tokyo Drifter / Tokyo nagaremono” (1966) A tale of larger-than-life characters grappling with their consciences and their loyalty to their superiors and the life…
Blancanieves: silent Gothic melodrama of a brief summer of shining innocence before a long winter of fascism
Pablo Berger, “Blancanieves” (2012) In the style of old 1920s expressionist silent films, Berger’s “Blancanieves” is a witty, layered and lavish Gothic retelling of the fairy-tale…