I have recently, as you’ll know, been looking at various cinematic genres and their origins in the history of filmmaking. It is a difficult task, because the very nature of art is that there isn’t really any way to determine which film was the “first” of its kind, so sometimes its better to just leave…
Author: The Postmodern Pelican
Your Name (2017)
There are very few films that have made me openly weep with bitter sadness and melancholy – and one that is possibly the most emotional response to a film I’ve ever had was Grave of the Fireflies, one of the greatest animated Japanese films ever made. The man behind that film, Isao Takahata, is a…
Trainspotting (1996)
It took me way too long to see this film. Trainspotting is naturally the kind of film I’d love – a social dark comedy about the degradation of society, with quirky characters, brutal violence and an Iggy Pop-infused soundtrack. I don’t have an answer as to why I waited until only now to sit and…
The Death of Mr. Lazarescu (2005)
I am fascinated by various film movements, and one movement I have been very interested in exploring is the Romanian New Wave, which started around the early 2000s and developed quite a reputation for being pitch black comedies defined for their audacity and social messages. Romania is a country that went through quite a lot…
The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari (1920)
An important part of being a cinephile (or at least something that many cinephiles agree is important) is not only do we adore cinema and relish in watching movies, we also have a tendency to have a fascination with the origins of modern cinema – this is understandable, because without knowing where these films originated…
Ghost in the Shell (2017)
Oh boy, this was a controversial one. There are just some movies that have their reputations tarnished because of some poor decisions, and one such film was Ghost in the Shell. Now I won’t pretend that I am completely in-tune with the iconic manga or anime series, but I do have a fair idea of…
Krisha (2016)
Everyone knows that I adore independent cinema – I am a notoriously vocal champion for independent filmmakers, and I will supporting indie cinema until the very end. Without the daring vision of independent filmmakers, the producers that financed their films and the audiences who watched and loved their films, we wouldn’t have most of the…
Holy Motors (2012)
When it comes to Holy Motors, I can confidently make two statements: I have no idea what I watched, and I absolutely loved it. In an age of hyperactive attention to coherence and plot development, a film like Holy Motors, which is completely and utterly off-the-wall insane and complex, is a breath of much needed…
Her (2013)
Why do people make sad films? Something I don’t understand why anyone would want to make a film that is just so utterly depressing, just like how I am not entirely sure why audiences would want to subject themselves to a truly sad experience. Then I remember that films like Her exist, and it reminds…
The Birdcage (1996)
Confession time – The Birdcage is my favourite film or at least one of them. I know for a cinephile, it is preferable to say something like The Godfather, Citizen Kane or Star Wars is your favourite film, yet The Birdcage is ranked along with The Blues Brothers, Harold and Maude and Naked as my ultimate favourite films –…
The Postmodern Pelican 