Youth is tricky to navigate, and there is a point in everyone’s life where we are caught in a very awkward space – old enough to take on adult responsibilities, but too young to be entirely trusted to bring them to fruition. This is a formative moment in one’s life, and a time when we…
The Portuguese House (2025)
There is something magical about Portugal, a sense of whimsy and wonder that is often undercut by a lingering melancholy that is as much a part of the national consciousness as the celebrations that have come to define the country. I once heard someone say, in passing, “One does not visit Portugal, one settles into…
Send Help (2026)
No one is coming to save you. The harsh reality is that, despite our inherent hope that we will somehow be rescued from our humdrum existence by some desirable saviour, we’re stuck in a reality in which it is essentially every person for themselves, and the sooner we realise that the only way to survive…
Nickelodeon (1976)
While in principle it is not a good practice to speak ill of those who have passed, we often find that certain stories resonate slightly more once someone has died. After his death a few years ago, there were countless stories about the genius of Peter Bogdanovich, perhaps the person many of us would choose…
The Proposition (2005)
There are some offers you simply can’t refuse – not because they are appealing, but rather since they seem to be the only choice when it comes to survival. This is what we find John Hillcoat beautifully negotiating in The Proposition, a film written by Nick Cave, who takes a momentary sojourn from being the…
Honey Don’t! (2025)
We have sadly lost the art of the B-movie, since no one seems to view them as being entirely worth our time. The only downside of independent cinema becoming respectful and having increased access to resources is that filmmakers not only lost the spark of resourcefulness that defined these works, but became complacent in appeasing…
The Color Wheel (2011)
Over the past two decades, there have been certain filmmakers who have adhered quite strictly to the concept of being independent, embodying the spirit of remaining true to their original vision and not daring to pander to the mainstream. With the exception of a couple of quick deviations as a screenwriter on studio films, Alex…
Quartet (1981)
The choice between excitement and security can be challenging, and many have fallen victim to the consequences of venturing down one avenue when the alternative is actually the one that is more reliable and worth their time. In the case of Quartet, this manifests in the very simple story of an impressionable young French woman…
The Threesome (2025)
Love is strange, and it doesn’t always make sense – but yet, it’s something that we all often crave, since it not only instils in us a sense of genuine satisfaction both physically and emotionally, but the validation that comes from simply being recognised as someone worth affection is a vital part of the human…
Burn, Witch, Burn (1962)
If given the opportunity to give our loved ones the best chance of success and eternal protection, the vast majority of us would not even consider hesitating. The idea of being able to ensure those closest to us achieve everything they desire is very tempting, even if we know it isn’t within our power to…
The Postmodern Pelican 