There is a considerably solid canon of filmmakers that were driven by the desire to shock and provoke – some of them did it to push boundaries, others to expose the darker side of humanity, which they perceived as being concealed under layers of socially-mandated conventions that hide certain issues from public views. Perhaps the…
50/50 (2011)
When it comes to the subject of life-threatening diseases, we see that there are two major diversions in the world of exploring them through literature – either, they’re composed as bleak, harrowing stories of the trials and tribulations of those living with such diseases, or they’re irreverent comedies that try to bring out some humour…
Sneakers (1992)
Some films have got excellent concepts, while others have great casts. A few combine both of them with a strong story, excellent writing and an execution worthy of these qualities, which leads to unbridled entertainment. Sneakers is one such film, with the wildly inventive crime comedy directed by Phil Alden Robinson (written in collaboration with…
To Leslie (2022)
We all live with regrets – some are just small mistakes that bother us at arbitrary moments, while others are enormous errors in judgement that possibly changed the entire trajectory of one’s life, leading to further challenges that can take a major psychological toll on those who aren’t ready to confront the reality of the…
Phone Booth (2002)
Not many people can attest to having to present an idea to the great Alfred Hitchcock, and only had it rejected after intense deliberation resulted in neither the director nor writer being able to come up with a feasible way of making the film’s premise work, but where Hitchcock himself was so interested in the…
Brief Encounter (1945)
If we are looking at the history of romance on screen, we can divide it into two distinct eras – those films that were made before Brief Encounter, and those that were made after it. This isn’t a hyperbolic way of calling this one of the greatest screen romances ever committed to film – it’s…
Songs for Drella (1990)
There are a few figures in 20th-century art that have become synonymous with the concept of fame, people who transcend numerous boundaries and remain iconic, whether it is for who they are or what they represented. Andy Warhol is undeniably one of the most important artists of his generation, both for his own creative output,…
The Cat in the Bag (1964)
Francophone cinema has certainly held a monopoly when it comes to foreign language filmmaking, as evident by the prominence of French and Belgian films that are widely consumed every year. However, an area that we tend to overlook are the movies produced in Canada by the French-speaking population. It’s certainly not a case of there…
Eo (2022)
How do you begin a conversation about Eo without simply collapsing into a state of complete psychological despair? This is one of the many questions that anyone endeavouring to discuss the ambitious drama written and directed by the legendary and highly influential Jerzy Skolimowski has to face when confronted with the abundance of emotions contained…
The Day Has Gone (1968)
Watching a film made by a pioneer of a specific kind of movement or national cinema is always a compelling experience, since it allows us to see a different side of the filmmaking process, as well as gives insights into the challenges these directors tend to face. Márta Mészáros is one of Hungary’s most celebrated…
The Postmodern Pelican 