Coriolanus: an examination of a simple man and his place in a duplicitous and corrupt society
Ralph Fiennes, “Coriolanus” (2011) When I was 28 years of age, a mysterious Shakespeare-reading frenzy seized me and before I knew what I was doing, I had…
War Films
French and French-language Films
Hiroshima Mon Amour: simple story of two lovers hides complicated message about memory and the fragility of existence
Alain Resnais, “Hiroshima Mon Amour” (1959) This famous film tells a very deceptively simple story: a French actress whom we’ll call She (Emmanuelle Riva) is in…
The Cranes are Flying: expressive and soulful film of hope despite the tragedy of war
Mikhail Kalatozov, “The Cranes are Flying / Letyat zhuravli” (1957) A soulful film of hope and optimism amid the cruelties of war, this story of a…
French and French-language Films
Orpheus: visually lovely meditation on triumph of love over death, the role of the artist and life in Vichy France
Jean Cocteau, “Orpheus / Orphée” (1950) Intriguing re-telling of the famous ancient Greek legend set in post-WW2 Paris, this film combines surrealism, fantasy, situation comedy or…
Peace, Propaganda and the Promised Land: excellent and well-presented documentary on the role of news media in abetting oppression
Sut Jhally and Bathsheba Ratzkoff, “Peace, Propaganda and the Promised Land” (2003) This is a highly informative documentary on the role that the US media plays…
The Living Dead (Episode 3: The Attic): how a romantic fantasy of a glorious past disguised a thirst for power at any cost
Adam Curtis, “The Living Dead (Episode 3: The Attic)” (1995) Having seen the mishmash that was “The Iron Lady”, I figured it was high time I…
Silmido: excellent film about a series of incidents in South Korean history that has a universal resonance
Kang Woosuk, “Silmido” (2003) Apparently based on actual incidents, this epic film ought to have been just a straightforward “Dirty Dozen” action film with a sketchy…
Italian and Italian-language Films
Fallujah, the Hidden Massacre: documentary makes case for war crime but provides no context for attack
Sigfrido Ranucci and Maurizio Torrealta, “Fallujah, the Hidden Massacre” (2005) This 27-minute film plays like an extended news or current affairs report: it originally aired on…
Starship Troopers: a hilarious send-up of US-style fascism and conduct of war
Paul Verhoeven, “Starship Troopers” (1997) Loosely adapted from the Robert Heinlein novel of the same name, this film can be read as a caricature on several…
WikiSecrets: questionable motives and agenda in documentary that smears whistle-blower
Marcela Gaviria, “WikiSecrets” (2011) Took in this documentary on SBS1 last night on the case of Bradley Manning, the US soldier arrested in May 2010 f0r…