One of the more peculiar moments in French history makes for a visually stunning animated feature, even though it struggles somewhat with plot structure and tone. Fans of hand-drawn animation will find Zarafa a delight; family audiences should probably plan for a … Continue reading REVIEW: Zarafa (2012)
Nobody really talks about children’s films. In fact, I would go so far as to claim it is the most misunderstood and under-appreciated form of popular cinema that there is. For one thing, it is difficult to persuade an adult … Continue reading REVIEW: Waiting for Anya (2020)
A fish lies dead, poking its empty face out of a brown, half-empty fish tank. Behind it, the walls are covered with layers of peeling wallpaper. Electrical cables are stuck up with packing tape. Fluorescent lights buzz and flickers. Everything … Continue reading FANTASIA REVIEW: Hotel Poseidon (2021)
A hot Mediterranean sun blazes down on a violent gang of thieves in hiding in Hélène Cattet and Bruno Forzani’s self-consciously stylish crime thriller Let the Corpses Tan. Based on a pulp novel and primarily shot on location in Corsica, it is … Continue reading REVIEW: Let the Corpses Tan (2017)
Ben (David Ralwe) lives on a lighthouse with his father Colin (Brendan Gleeson) and little sister Saoirse. His mother vanished the night she gave birth to Saoirse, who is non-verbal. Ben blames his sister for his mother’s disappearance, while Colin … Continue reading REVIEW: Song of the Sea (2014)
First and foremost, it’s worth noting that (a) ‘mute’ is an outdated term for the non-verbal, and is widely considered offensive, and (b) the title of this Polish historical drama is Krew Boga– which translates as ‘blood of god’. Blame … Continue reading REVIEW: The Mute (2018)
Jade (Vicky Knight) is a London single mother. A resentful ex-boyfriend threw acid on her face. While months of surgery and skin grafts have saved her life, the deep irreperable scarring has left her deeply traumatised. Neglecting her family and … Continue reading REVIEW: Dirty God (2019)
Ten-year-old Morten lives unwillingly with his guardian – the ballet-obsessed Anna – while his father is away captaining a ship. When the mysterious magician Senor Cucaracha comes to town, Morten is shrunk to the size of an insect and trapped … Continue reading REVIEW: Captain Morten and the Spider Queen (2018)
Disaffected commercials director Toby Grisoni (Adam Driver) walks off the location shoot of his latest commercial when he realises he is close to the Spanish hilltop village where he shot his first ever film The Man Who Killed Don Quixote. Hoping … Continue reading REVIEW: The Man Who Killed Don Quixote (2018)
New Caledonian immigrant Dilili (Prunelle Charles-Ambron) escapes the confines of her cultural display in Paris to explore the city in depth. When she meets the local courier Orel (Enzo Ratsito), they team up to solve the mystery of a series … Continue reading REVIEW: Dilili in Paris (2018)
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