As the well-worn adage goes, some of us work to live, whereas others live to work. The concept of labour as the foundation of any functioning society is something that we’ve found debated in every arena, from political machinations to philosophical thought, all of which set out to determine the merits and shortcomings of dedicating…
Last Summer (2024)
Beauty is in the eye of the beholder, but the consequences that come when pursuing it can often be quite dreadful if one isn’t careful. It took Catherine Breillat over a decade to return to the medium of film after what we can only imagine was a daunting process when forming the autobiographical Abuse of…
100 Nights of Hero (2025)
There are some stories that are universally known and adored, and can be traced back over the centuries, or even going as far back as antiquity. It can often be fascinating to see where these stories originated, and while it is more likely than not that they emerged through the oral traditions that populated most…
We’re No Angels (1989)
The boundary between right and wrong can sometimes be so narrow that even the most principled and straight-laced of individuals can find themselves on the wrong side of the law. None of us is entirely immune to making mistakes, and we have come to realise that society is not necessarily designed to protect the rights…
The Squid and the Whale (2005)
While his name is now synonymous with a very particular kind of reliable independent cinema that offers exactly what it promises and doesn’t always inspire much passion outside of potentially having some intriguing narrative elements, and which are mostly adherent to the kind of star-studded, lightweight dramas and quirky comedies that speak to the neuroses…
Kiss of the Spider Woman (2025)
A good film lingers with you after the credits end and you walk out of the cinema. A truly great film stays with you forever, settling in your memory and being recalled whenever it is required. This isn’t a description of Kiss of the Spider Woman itself, but rather the central premise of Bill Condon’s…
A Piece of the Action (1977)
A brief disclaimer: A Piece of the Action is a film that co-stars Bill Cosby, a notorious figure whose fall from grace has been well-documented. While I maintain the importance of separating the art from the artist in most instances, it is also vital that it is made clear that by covering this film, I…
The Best Films of 2025
Every year when putting together my list of the best films of the past twelve months, I attempt to find one cohesive theme that connects them all – a quote, a song or even an abstract concept, anything that can bind together what always ends up being a very dynamic and often wickedly offbeat year…
Harvest (2025)
History tends to be presented to us in a form that is either nostalgic or heroic – whether it’s the valour of soldiers on the battlefield, or the beauty of the simpler existences lived by those in a time when we weren’t so preoccupied with modern problems. What we don’t often see – and for…
Tell Me That You Love Me, Junie Moon (1970)
Life has never been easy for people like Junie Moon and her friends, who decide to check out of the hospital in which they have been residents for a while, and take up the challenge of starting their own home – Junie is a victim of a vicious acid attack that has left most of…
The Postmodern Pelican 