The Daughter of Dawn: a dull love-triangle story detailing the culture and customs of Kiowa and Comanche peoples
Norbert A Myles, “The Daughter of Dawn” (1920) Believed to have been lost after initial
Tag: Silent Films
Senga Tsubo: a tale within a tale about gratitude and returning favours
Sanae Yamamoto, “Senga Tsubo” (1925) Said to be the first animated film commission by the
A folk tale with a moral in “Kyoiku senga: Ubasuteyama”
Sanae Yamamoto, “Kyoiku senga: Ubasuteyama” (1925) A restored animation, “Ubasuteyama” is based on a traditional
Shadow Thief: a critique of social and cultural pressure on individuals to conform to other standards
Kim Heeyae, “Shadow Thief” (2018) Done entirely in black and white and shades of grey
Chinese and Chinese-language Films
The Goddess: a social realist film with natural and minimal acting, and a young rising star
Wu Yonggang, “The Goddess / Shen nu” (1935) A year after this film was made,
German and German-language Films
Faust: a visually stunning film with many magnificent scenes – but a thin story weakens it
F W Murnau, “Faust” (1926) Visually powerful and stunning, with an incredible opening scene of
French and French-language Films | Northern European Films
The Passion of Joan of Arc: an experimental film let down by its narrow focus, story-line and characterisation
Carl Theodor Dreyer, “The Passion of Joan of Arc” (1928) In itself, this silent film
French and French-language Films | Japanese Films
The Red Turtle: a pretty and glossy package with a conservative and banal message
Michaël Dudok de Wiet, “The Red Turtle” (2016) God save us all from pretty packages
Modern Times: sympathy for the underdog and horror at a machine society enforcing conformity and repression
Charlie Chaplin, “Modern Times” (1936) In its own way, “Modern Times” is significant as an
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