Category: World Cinema
Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind (1984)
1984 Director: Hayao Miyazaki Words: Ben Matthews. Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind began life as a serialised manga within the pages of Animage, a monthly magazine edited by eventual Studio Ghibli co-founder Toshio Suzuki. It was created by Hayao Miyazaki, who was… Continue Reading “Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind (1984)”
The Boy and the Heron
2023 Director: Hayao Miyazaki Words – Ben Matthews. The Boy and the Heron is potentially the final release from anime director Hayao Miyazaki, and though for a time The Wind Rises (2013) was credited as his closing accomplishment, it doesn’t come anywhere near as… Continue Reading “The Boy and the Heron”
Hive
Director: Blerta Basholli Cast: Yllka Gashi, Çun Lajçi, Kumrije Hoxha, Aurita Agushi, Adriana Matoshi, Molikë Maxhuni, Blerta Ismaili Words – Rhiannon Topham. At the heart of writer and director Blerta Basholli’s triple-Sundance-winning drama Hive is a message of hope in a time of tragedy… Continue Reading “Hive”
Titane
2021 Director: Julia Ducournau Cast: Agathe Rousselle, Vincent Lindon, Garance Marillier, Bertrand Bonello, Myriem Akheddiou, Lais Salameh Words – Rhiannon Topham. Titane, Julia Ducournau’s Palme d’Or-winning body horror film, is not for everyone. It is certainly not recommended for anyone prone to squeamishness, or… Continue Reading “Titane”
Petite Maman
2021 Director: Céline Sciamma Cast: Joséphine Sanz, Gabrielle Sanz, Nina Meurisse, Stéphane Varupenne Words – Rhiannon Topham. Céline Sciamma’s follow-up to the masterful modern classic Portrait of a Lady on Fire is the beautiful, simple 72-minute drama Petite Maman. It opens with the protagonist,… Continue Reading “Petite Maman”
Shogun Assassin (1980)
1980 Director(s): Robert Houston, Kenji Misumi Starring: Tomisaburô Wakayama, Akihiro Tomikawa, Kayo Matsuo, Tokio Oki Words – Nathan Scatcherd. The kind of bloody, balletic Samurai film you rarely see made anymore, Shogun Assassin stands as perhaps one of the finest examples of the Jidaigeki… Continue Reading “Shogun Assassin (1980)”
Cinema Paradiso
1988 Director: Giuseppe Tornatore Starring: Salvatore Cascio, Marco Leonardi, Jacques Perrin, Antonella Attili, Pupella Maggio, Enzo Cannavale, Isa Danieli, Leo Gullotta, Agnese Nano, Leopoldo Trieste Words – Christian Abbott “The old movie business is just a memory”, a line which summates so much feeling… Continue Reading “Cinema Paradiso”
Our Little Sister
2015 Director: Hirokazu Kore-eda Starring: Haruka Ayase, Masami Nagasawa, Kaho, Suzu Hirose Words – Natalie Mills Based on manga series Seaside Town Diary, Our Little Sister follows the lives of three twenty-something sisters. Abandoned by their separated parents, they live together in the beautiful,… Continue Reading “Our Little Sister”
Tekkonkinkreet
2006 Director: Michael Arias Starring: Kazunari Ninomiya, Yû Aoi, Yûsuke Iseya, Kankurô Kudô, Min Tanaka, Rokurô Naya, Tomomichi Nishimura Words – Joe H. Tekkonkinkreet is based on the popular original Japanese manga series ‘Black & White‘, written by Taiyo Matsumoto. The title Tekkonkinkreet is… Continue Reading “Tekkonkinkreet”
Seven Samurai
1954 Director: Akira Kurosawa Starring: Toshirô Mifune, Takashi Shimura, Keiko Tsushima, Yukiko Shimazaki, Kamatari Fujiwara, Daisuke Katô, Isao Kimura, Minoru Chiaki, Seiji Miyaguchi, Yoshio Kosugi, Bokuzen Hidari, Yoshio Inaba Words – Christian Abbott. All great films can be traced back to other works of… Continue Reading “Seven Samurai”
REEL STEEL 
You must be logged in to post a comment.