Nearly half a century ago, Derek Jarman made Sebastiane, an experimental masterpiece that looked at the trials and tribulations of the titular saint as he underwent persecution for his homosexuality and refusal to abide by the social convention in Ancient Rome, which resulted in his martyrdom that many still view as a tragic demise for…
Category: Drama
An Angel at My Table (1990)
While it is logically implausible (since everyone needs to start somewhere), it has always seemed like Dame Jane Campion has been considered one of our finest filmmakers regardless of what stage of her career we are looking at – so imagining her being a young, rambunctious director that wasn’t the celebrated artist she is today…
The Piano Lesson (2024)
Few playwrights evoke such passionate discourse and praise when their names are mentioned, with this status being reserved for a select few artists who changed the way theatre functions, either narratively, in form or as a combination of both. August Wilson lived a comparatively short life when we look at it from a distance, but…
The Room Next Door (2024)
Death is a subject that has been explored from every conceivable angle, but yet we are no closer to understanding its nuances or nature than we were at the dawn of humanity. This has only added to the complexity of dealing with the topic since death is perhaps the only universal inevitability, yet no one…
Hard Truths (2024)
“You can’t buy time. You can’t sell it either” There are many reasons to adore the work of Mike Leigh. His meticulous attention to detail when it comes to developing his characters, his astonishing ability to capture every aspect of everyday life (which is often the reason he is considered a founding member of an…
Sing Sing (2024)
Starting a discussion on a film with a personal anecdote is not always appropriate, since the conversation should be about the artistry on display, rather than a bundle of memories. However, while watching this film, I was reminded about a visit I took during high school to a local prison as part of an educational…
Pressure Point (1962)
“No one is born hating another person because of the color of his skin, or his background, or his religion. People must learn to hate, and if they can learn to hate, they can be taught to love, for love comes more naturally to the human heart than its opposite” These words were written by…
Una (2017)
While it may not be particularly memorable in retrospect, there was a brief moment when many of us believed that Una would become one of the major dramas of the past decade. In terms of the premise, the film was an adaptation of Blackbird, a critically acclaimed stage play by David Harrower, which told the…
Ladies in Lavender (2004)
Everyone has their own unique opinion on what an ideal life would be, but they usually entail a daily routine that is free of unnecessary stress or challenges, and one in which you can live in harmony with yourself and whoever you choose to spend your life with. For many, the concept of living in…
Janet Planet (2024)
Time tends to move very quickly. Every one of us has had that moment where we suddenly realize just how much time has elapsed, which is both terrifying and beautiful in its way. Annie Baker has a fascination with time and the impact it has on people, as evident through her work as a playwright,…
The Postmodern Pelican 