Just based on the premise, one would be forgiven for thinking The Story of Qiu Ju (Mandarin: 秋菊打官司) is not a film we should take particularly seriously – after all, it does centre on a man being kicked in the groin after a heated argument with their village chieftain, and his heavily-pregnant wife taking matters…
Author: The Postmodern Pelican
To Sir Sidney, With Love
I do try and avoid hyperbole or statements that can be considered too grandiose – after all, only foolish people rattle off absolutes as if they were fact. However, here is something that I have believed for as long as I have loved film: there has never been a better actor than Sir Sidney Poitier….
Monsieur Hulot’s Holiday (1953)
Despite only having made a small handful of films, Jacques Tati remains one of the most important filmmakers of his generation, with his career both predating and occurring concurrently with the French New Wave, a movement that may not have been directly related to Tati, but was undeniably influenced, at least in terms of taking…
Wolf (2021)
There is something about wolves that are so profoundly fascinating, and which has inspired artists for centuries. It’s difficult to find works of literature or mythology that don’t feature lupine characters in some way, with their enigmatic manner of prowling in packs, or their distinctive howls to the night sky making them almost mystical creatures….
The Actress (1953)
As far as I’m concerned, my writing has reflected a deep and undying devotion to the work of the ruthlessly talented Ruth Gordon, an artist I’ve admired since my earliest days of watching movies. Her impact on the film industry is clear and indelible – but what is often not discussed is The Actress, the…
Lost in America (1985)
There is a moment in Lost in America where it is made abundantly clear that Albert Brooks is not simply a great comedian, but has finally achieved brilliance as a filmmaker as well. It occurs towards the end of the film, when Brooks’ character returns to his humble mobile home, where he and his wife,…
Parallel Mothers (2021)
One of the great marvels of modern cinema is how, despite having made his directorial debut over four decades ago, Pedro Almodóvar remains a trailblazer in his medium, an individual whose existential curiosity and unique approach to constructing art have made him one of the most celebrated filmmakers of any generation. There are far too…
Where Chimneys Are Seen (1953)
Somewhere in residential, working-class Tokyo sits a power station – the community surrounding it have been engaging in a spirited debate about how many chimneys the factory has. The opening narration to Where Chimneys Are Seen (Japanese: 煙突の見える場所) states that it all depends on where you are standing – for some, only one chimney can…
The Humans (2021)
At some point earlier in the previous decade, a play appeared on the New York stage that almost immediately become something of a phenomenon. Stephen Karam’s The Humans received widespread acclaim, being seen as one of the finest achievements of the year, and celebrated as a major new entry into the canon of American literature….
Barefoot in the Park (1967)
In the history of romantic comedies, few films have done quite as much heavy-lifting as Barefoot in the Park, Gene Saks’ beloved adaptation of Neil Simon’s adorable play about two people who discover how easy it is to get married, with the challenge coming in staying together, especially in contrast to the obstacles they face….
The Postmodern Pelican 