The Banquet: a much loved cartoon with wry gallows humour
Zofia Oraczewska, “The Banquet / Bankiet” (1976) Its style seems outdated for a short animation of its vintage but I believe this is still a much…
Fantasy
Ichthys: a caustic commentary on institutional religion
Marek Skrobecki, “Ichthys” (2005) For once I didn’t need to look up an English translation for the title of this Polish animation short which uses animated…
Repo Man: science fiction comedy satire on the beginnings of Western capitalist / consumerist culture’s downfall
Alex Cox, “Repo Man” (1984) Dare I say that with the passage of time, this little cult science fiction comedy thriller film will come to be…
Fantastic Voyage: call for the doctor, this film of inner space has no vital signs!
Richard Fleischer, “Fantastic Voyage” (1966) Set during the Cold War in the 1960s – or was it the 1990s? – “Fantastic Voyage” has a wonderful premise…
French and French-language Films
La Belle et La Bête: a visually sumptuous film both clear in its themes and ambiguous in its details
Jean Cocteau, “La Belle et La Bête” (1946) A beautiful and sumptuous film, this interpretation of the famous fairy tale by surrealist writer / film-maker Jean…
French and French-language Films
Black Moon: surreal film on death and rebirth that satirises political, cultural and social issues of 1970s
Louis Malle, “Black Moon” (1975) A curious film this is, based on Lewis Carroll’s “Alice in Wonderland”, in which Alice figure Lily (Cathryn Harrison) is fleeing…
O Brother, Where Art Thou? – a layered film of renewal and redemption aiming at easy targets for comedy
Joel Coen, “O Brother, Where Art Thou?” (2000) An amusing road film based on Homer’s The Odyssey, “O Brother …?” takes viewers on a quick and…
Night Fishing: delving into the world of Korean shamanism and spirituality with an Apple iPhone 4
Park Chan-kyong, Park Chan-wook, “Night Fishing / Paranmanjang” (2011) Filmed using an Apple iPhone4, this fantasy-horror film delves into the little understood world of Korean shamanism…
The Wild, Wild West (Season 2, Episode 20: Night of the Vicious Valentine): fantasy, eccentricity and camp comedy in an original plot
Irving Moore, “The Wild, Wild West (Season 2, Episode 20: Night of the Vicious Valentine)” (1966) This episode is notable for winning the series its only…
The Wild, Wild West (Season 1, Episode 1: The Night of the Inferno): a cautious start to a classic TV series
Richard C Sarafian, “The Wild, Wild West (Season 1, Episode 1: The Night of the Inferno)” (1965) With the Civil War over and the period of…