The process of unpacking Les Amandiers (alternatively known as Forever Young, which doesn’t quite encapsulate the spirit of the film in the way whoever chose the English title may have thought) requires us to understand a few contextual elements, all of which ultimately play a part in laying the foundation for this charming and genuinely…
Author: The Postmodern Pelican
Four Steps in the Clouds (1942)
Two strangers from radically different walks of life meet by chance while commuting to some destination, not realizing the serendipity of such an encounter – this is a common trope that has existed almost as long as stories have been told. There’s something so compelling about chance meetings, and whether they result in a romantic…
A Thousand and One (2023)
There is a moment of indescribable joy when you sit in front of a film and get the feeling that you are watching the birth of a potentially groundbreaking voice. This has always been the case, but it is happening slightly more often in recent years, undoubtedly the result of platforms being given to exciting…
Labyrinth of Passion (1982)
While is appropriately seen as the elder statesman of Spanish cinema, there was a time when Pedro Almodóvar was not only a young filmmaker, but a controversial one. Based on this current status, it is bewildering to imagine that there was a time when he regularly courted controversy, and seemed to genuinely enjoy scandalizing the…
To Catch a Killer (2023)
If there was ever any example of the importance of not judging a film by its title, To Catch a Killer is one of the most appropriate candidates. Despite its generic title that seems more like what the writer would use to pitch the project rather than the overall encapsulation of the story, the film…
Roxie Hart (1942)
The majority of us know the character of Roxie Hart from either the theatrical sensation Chicago, or the well-received film adaptation that immortalized Bob Fosse’s iconic staging and the unforgettable music by John Kander and Fred Ebb for future generations to experience for themselves. However, the character has existed much longer than many of us…
Polite Society (2023)
The cinematic landscape could truly benefit from having more directors like Nida Manzoor. We don’t often witness the immediate birth of such a promising young voice that emerges with little fanfare, but immediately is established as an essential talent that will define their generation of visual storytellers. In her feature directorial debut, after a few…
Life Is Cheap… But Toilet Paper Is Expensive (1989)
Wayne Wang occupies a peculiar place in the cinematic culture, since he is not a particularly well-known director on a larger scale, but he is one that is widely respected amongst the niche group of devotees that see the merit in his work. He is best known for American productions like The Joy Luck Club…
Indiana Jones and the Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981)
We have all undoubtedly heard the refrain “they don’t make movies like they used to” – and while this is often spouted out by some nostalgic curmudgeon in response to what they perceive to be a decline in the cinematic culture, it is a relevant thought when it comes to certain filmmakers. We can view…
The Body Snatcher (1945)
They quite simply don’t make horror films like they used to. Something about the way filmmakers during the Golden Age of Hollywood managed to terrify audiences has allowed several to remain as effective today as they were at the time of their original release. The rise of the B-movie and monster film allowed many directors…
The Postmodern Pelican 