The Promise: a slurpy romantic melodrama overshadows significant historic events
Terry George, “The Promise” (2016) A film about the Ottoman Turkish genocide of Armenians and other Christian minorities (1915 – 1918) is probably never going to…
War Films
Middle Eastern Films, Northern European Films
9 Days – From My Window in Aleppo: an ordinary documentary short with little to say and leaving too many unanswered questions
Floor van der Meulen, Thomas Vroege, Issa Touma, “9 Days – From My Window in Aleppo” (2016) Filmed over nine days (hence the title) in August…
Son of Saul: a modern morality play in the midst of extreme evil
László Nemes, “Son of Saul / Saul Fia” (2015) Of all the stories László Nemes could have chosen to film to launch his career as a…
Fear and Desire: an uneven debut meditating on the degradation of war
Stanley Kubrick, “Fear and Desire” (1953) Stanley Kubrick’s debut feature film may be an awkward and clumsy beast in many ways but for its time (at…
Arabic-language Films, Russian and Soviet Films
Russian Media interview President Bashar al Assad of Syria: a view of how Syria is fighting terrorism and advancing political change
Russian Media Interview with President Bashar al Assad (16 September 2015) Syrian President Bashar al Assad granted a rare interview to representatives from various Russian media outlets including…
Sõda: political satire as animal fable takes on a dark tone
Riho Unt and Hardi Volmer, “Sõda” (1987) It has the look of a political satire disguised as an animal fable and I would say that the…
German and German-language Films, North American Films
Hollywood and The Pentagon: A Dangerous Liaison – where entertainment recruits cannon fodder for the military
Maria Pia Mascaro, “Hollywood and The Pentagon: A Dangerous Liaison / Marschbefehl für Hollywood” (2003) People may be surprised that the United States Department of Defense…
Full Metal Jacket: how people are dehumanized by the culture of war
Stanley Kubrick, “Full Metal Jacket” (1987) According to Wikipedia, a full metal jacket refers to a bullet consisting of a soft core (usually made of lead)…
British Films, North American Films
The Imitation Game: another simplistic cog in the propaganda war aiming to demonise Russia
Morten Tyldum, “The Imitation Game” (2014) One of a slew of historical films from the UK depicting hitherto unknown or unfamiliar aspects of Britain’s role in…
North American Films, Russian and Soviet Films
No Russian troops but plenty of Donetsk determination and pluck in “Donetsk: An American Glance”
Miguel Francis Santiago and Alexander Panov, “Donetsk: An American Glance” (RT Documentary, 2014) Cheerful LA film graduate and investigative journalist Miguel Francis Santiago, fresh from filming…