A personal journal of film and documentary reviews, and reviews of anything else that intrigues me.
French and French-language Films
Jean Vigo, “À propos de Nice” (1930) Posing as “a day in the life” travelogue of the French city of Nice, Vigo’s documentary short is a…
French and French-language Films
Jean Vigo, “Taris, Roi du L’Eau” (1931) Sports documentaries don’t come any more poetic, beautiful and experimental than this early short by Jean Vigo about the…
French and French-language Films
Jean Vigo, “Zéro de Conduite: Jeunes Diables au College” (1933) One of four films made by French director Jean Vigo before his life was cut short…
Martin Scorsese, “American Boy: A Profile of Steven Prince” (1978) After making his break-through films “Mean Streets”, “Taxi Driver” and “New York, New York”, Martin Scorsese…
Martin Scorsese, “It’s Not Just You, Murray!” (1964) Made by Scorsese as a film student at New York University under the tutelage of Haig Manoogian, this…
Robert Breer,”Fuji” (1974) An interesting short of a train trip taken through the Japanese countryside with Mount Fuji dominating the rice-fields and towns along the way,…
Robert Breer, “A Man and a Dog Out For Air” (1957) Why have I never heard of this wonderful animator before? This very short animation piece…
Priit Pärn and Hille Kusk, “Aeg Maha / Time Out” (1984) “Aeg Maha” is animator Priit Pärn at his most defiantly surrealist best. The entire short…
Northern European Films, Russian and Soviet Films
Priit Pärn and Hille Kuusk, “Eine Murul (Breakfast on the Grass)” (1987) Inspired by the Edouard Manet painting “Luncheon on the Grass”, this 25-minute short follows…
Rein Raamat and Kulno Luht, “Suur Tõll”(1980) In Estonian mythology Suur Tõll is a giant hero king who rules the island of Saaremaa off the coast…