Category: World Cinema

Dark Suns – director interview

Dark Suns is an unrelenting investigation into mass disappearances across Mexico, urging you to pay attention. See our feature review of the film >here<. We interviewed director Julien Elie following the film’s UK Premiere at Sheffield Doc/Fest 2019.   Reel Steel: My first question… Continue Reading “Dark Suns – director interview”

MOTHER

MOTHER 2019 Director: Kristof Bilsen Words – Rhiannon Topham. We often talk about documentaries being ‘personal’ and ‘intimate’, about their power and capacity to move us in unexpected ways. They are, after all, often based in the lived experiences of people across all walks… Continue Reading “MOTHER”

Selfie

Selfie Director: Agostino Ferrente Words – Rhiannon Topham The ‘film within a film’ method of movie making, where the story is portrayed through the lens of a mobile phone camera as an eyewitness account, is at risk of becoming hackneyed. It does however, lend… Continue Reading “Selfie”

Dark Suns

Dark Suns Director: Julien Elie Words – Rhiannon Topham Sometimes you watch a documentary and it leaves such a profound imprint on your mind, you kick yourself for having been so ignorant to the subject matter before viewing. Dark Suns, director Julien Elie’s first… Continue Reading “Dark Suns”

Rafiki – interview with director Wanuri Kahiu

A story of two young women forced to choose between happiness and safety, Rafiki is a vibrant and colourful film with stunning chemistry between its two leads. The film was originally banned in Kenya for its bold approach to LGBTQ+ representation. We interviewed director… Continue Reading “Rafiki – interview with director Wanuri Kahiu”

Rafiki

Director: Wanuri Kahiu Starring: Samantha Mugatsia, Sheila Munyiva, Neville Misati, Nice Githinji, Nini Wacera, Muthoni Gathecha, Charlie Karumi, Jimmy Gathu, Vitalis Waweru, Githae Njogu Words – Rhiannon Topham Modern cinema is experiencing an exciting political renaissance. Daring narratives that tackle some of society’s most… Continue Reading “Rafiki”

Battle Royale

2000 Director: Kinji Fukasaku Starring: Tatsuya Fujiwara, Aki Maeda, Tarô Yamamoto, Takeshi Kitano Words: Katherine Guest Battle Royale, a Japanese dystopian thriller, is a film in which violence is made into a spectator sport. More specifically, it is about children on children violence as… Continue Reading “Battle Royale”

Oldboy

2003 Director: Park Chan-wook Starring: Choi Min-sik, Kang Hye-jung, Yoo Ji-tae, Oh Dal-Su, Ji Dae-han Words: Nathan Scatcherd. Oldboy has – in the years since its release – become one of the prime examples of ‘extreme’ Asian cinema to really be embraced by Western… Continue Reading “Oldboy”

Princess Mononoke

1997 Director: Hayao Miyazaki Words – Christian Abbott. Ghibli fans are like a loving mother, they would never pick a favourite. All are equal in their eyes, each different, each unique, each loved. Yet, there seems to be this vocal minority rising-up that challenge… Continue Reading “Princess Mononoke”

Spirited Away

2001 Director: Hayao Miyazaki Words – Christian Abbott. Asking someone to choose a favourite Studio Ghibli film is like asking someone what their favourite song is. It is an ultimately pointless question, as much like music, Ghibli’s filmography feels subjective to mood and emotion.… Continue Reading “Spirited Away”