Navigating the world is often difficult when you feel a profound sense of isolation and detachment from the rest of society. For many women, you can only be considered successful if you adhere to very traditional elements of femininity, whether it is taking on a career that is inherently more nurturing, or becoming a mother,…

When it comes to a film like Air, the supposed passion project for director Ben Affleck and his close friend and longtime collaborator (despite there being virtually no premeditated plans prior to the film’s announcement), it is important to know what to expect, not because there is any sense of unpredictability to this film, but…

If you choose any country, and spend enough time venturing off the beaten path, you are likely going to find that there are a wealth of stories hidden from view, but which are just as captivating and enduring as those which are more traditionally popular. There is a certain level of heroism that comes when…

Motherhood is a journey – anyone that has had any experience with it will undoubtedly mention the trials and tribulations that come from being a mother, to the point where one doesn’t even need to be a parent at all to understand the special connection that exists between a child and their parents. This is…

When one thinks of the qualities that best define James Gray, versatility is one of the more common terms we can use to describe him. A director who has successfully weaponised his refusal to develop a particular style, and instead pursued an identity based around his ability to work in a wide range of genres,…

The transition from journeyman screenwriter who worked primarily under the guidance of your artistic hero to one of the greatest filmmakers of all time is certainly not easy, but yet Billy Wilder managed to make it seem like the most enjoyable experience imaginable. It would be a challenge to find anyone who enjoyed his craft…

There have been few better examples of a filmmaker immediately announcing themselves as a major talent than this year, when Davy Chou introduced the world to the absolutely astonishing and deeply profound Return to Seoul (French: Retour à Séoul), a film that immediately and without any hesitation becomes of the year’s greatest artistic achievements in…

Few names are more regularly associated with an impeccable standard of quality during the classical era of cinema more than Michael Powell and Emeric Pressburger, the directorial duo that worked together under the name of The Archers. They were dominant creative forces throughout their career (both individually and as a pair), but were most known…

There are a few filmmakers who actively work to hone their craft, but even after producing several works, we can’t quite figure out how history is going to remember them. Albert Serra is the current embodiment of this principle – watching his films, we are never sure whether we are witnessing the continued development of…

There was a time when Ramin Bahrani was considered one of the most exciting young directors of his generation. He was given boundless praise by both critics and the industry, as well as audiences, all of which responded with nothing but the most sincere praise for his work, which signalled a flourishing directorial career that…