Chinese and Chinese-language Films
Hero: a smug film that twists Chinese history and delivers a deplorable message
Zhang Yimou, “Hero” (2002) If one needs proof that a visually gorgeous film with a
Tag: Propaganda Films
Films made with an obvious bias to serve a larger agenda or to mitigate a controversial topic and make it safe for general public consumption.
Australian and New Zealand Films
The Coming War on China: a hard-hitting documentary drawing on the history of US relations with the western Pacific
John Pilger, “The Coming War on China” (2016) Two years in the making with literally
Australian and New Zealand Films
The Tracker: a desert Western study of European colonialism and exploitation and its effects
Rolf de Heer, “The Tracker” (2002) On the surface, a simple story of four men
Torn Curtain: an unremarkable spy thriller film let down by poor casting and a laboured script
Alfred Hitchcock, “Torn Curtain” (1966) To properly appreciate how good a director Alfred Hitchcock was
AntiRacist Hitler: a subversive cartoon satirising Western social policies and hypocrisy
Matt the White Rabbit, “AntiRacist Hitler” (2013) A subversive animation short satirising open-borders immigration policies
Battleship Potemkin: a classic of drama, passion and the power of people to overturn injustice and oppression
Sergei Eisenstein, “Battleship Potemkin” (1925) Although this film was made over 90 years ago and
The Great Dictator: using comedy and drama, silent film and talking picture to confront fascism
Charles Chaplin, “The Great Dictator” (1940) It’s over-long and the slapstick comedy is laid on
Let Your Life Be A Friction To Stop The Machine: bare-bones film delivers a devastating alternative history of the United States and the West
“Let Your Life Be A Friction To Stop The Machine” (Class War Films, 2012) It’s
Italian and Italian-language Films
The Gospel According to St Matthew: a minimal neo-realist tale of struggle against corruption and injustice
Pier Paolo Pasolini, “The Gospel According to St Matthew / Il Vangelo Secondo Matteo” (1964)
This Changes Everything: simplistic globe-trotting essay based on faulty premises
Avi Lewis, “This Changes Everything” (2015) Billed as a film about climate change, this documentary