Blade of the Immortal: one wearying bloodbath after another in a film on obsessive vengeance, duty and the hell of immortality
Takashi Miike, “Blade of the Immortal” (2017) Condensed from 30 volumes of manga into a
Tag: Road Movies
British Films | Eastern European Films
Loving Vincent: an arresting visual animation style papers over a repetitive and insubstantial formulaic plot
Dorota Kobiela and Hugh Welchman, “Loving Vincent” (2017) Most viewers will probably be bowled over
Blade Runner 2049: an absorbing and leisurely film on future societal trends despite a thin plot and lack-lustre characters
Denis Villeneuve, “Blade Runner 2049” (2017) In its own leisurely way, “Blade Runner 2049” is
Latin American Films (Spanish language)
Neruda: an exploration of how stories are created and shaped by those who exercise political power
Pablo Larraín, “Neruda” (2016) Very loosely based on an episode in Chilean poet-politician Pablo Neruda’s
Spring: character study on renewal through love and connections, and beating back monsters
Justin Benson and Aaron Moorhead, “Spring” (2014) A rather long and thin character study romance
French and French-language Films
Sans Soleil: a pretentious and confusing film that plays a stupid joke on its audience at its end
Chris Marker, “Sans Soleil” (1983) Picture yourself receiving a letter from a long-time friend who
Hedwig and the Angry Inch: an individual’s search for wholeness and authenticity delivered in a flat musical adaptation
John Cameron Mitchell, “Hedwig and the Angry Inch” (2001) A feisty little number showcasing John
My Winnipeg: an intriguing blend of memoir, documentary and surreal dark fantasy in a paean to a little city on the prairie
Guy Maddin, “My Winnipeg” (2007) An unusual blend of memoir, documentary and dark fantasy, Guy
Chinese and Chinese-language Films
2046: glossy soap opera with little profound to say about love and loneliness
Wong Kar Wai “2046” (2004) If ever a film could be considered typical “art house”
Tehran Taxi / Jafar Panahi’s Taxi: purporting to be a snapshot of life in Tehran but an examination of life and behaviour under a police state
Jafar Panahi, “Tehran Taxi” aka “Jafar Panahi’s Taxi” (2015) Banned by the Iranian government in