Culturally, we are usually predisposed to categorize absolutely everything, with our tendency to compartmentalize absolutely every work we come across being one of the many universal quirks that we find throughout the history of art, and something that has driven us to the point where everything has to be considered aligned with a specific set…
Taipei Story (1985)
It’s increasingly difficult to not wax poetic about Taipei Story, which is almost universally the case when it comes to the work of Edward Yang, who remains one of the most influential filmmakers in the history of cinema, and someone who may have only directed a handful of films before his untimely demise, but where…
Les Amandiers (2022)
The process of unpacking Les Amandiers (alternatively known as Forever Young, which doesn’t quite encapsulate the spirit of the film in the way whoever chose the English title may have thought) requires us to understand a few contextual elements, all of which ultimately play a part in laying the foundation for this charming and genuinely…
Four Steps in the Clouds (1942)
Two strangers from radically different walks of life meet by chance while commuting to some destination, not realizing the serendipity of such an encounter – this is a common trope that has existed almost as long as stories have been told. There’s something so compelling about chance meetings, and whether they result in a romantic…
A Thousand and One (2023)
There is a moment of indescribable joy when you sit in front of a film and get the feeling that you are watching the birth of a potentially groundbreaking voice. This has always been the case, but it is happening slightly more often in recent years, undoubtedly the result of platforms being given to exciting…
Labyrinth of Passion (1982)
While is appropriately seen as the elder statesman of Spanish cinema, there was a time when Pedro Almodóvar was not only a young filmmaker, but a controversial one. Based on this current status, it is bewildering to imagine that there was a time when he regularly courted controversy, and seemed to genuinely enjoy scandalizing the…
To Catch a Killer (2023)
If there was ever any example of the importance of not judging a film by its title, To Catch a Killer is one of the most appropriate candidates. Despite its generic title that seems more like what the writer would use to pitch the project rather than the overall encapsulation of the story, the film…
Roxie Hart (1942)
The majority of us know the character of Roxie Hart from either the theatrical sensation Chicago, or the well-received film adaptation that immortalized Bob Fosse’s iconic staging and the unforgettable music by John Kander and Fred Ebb for future generations to experience for themselves. However, the character has existed much longer than many of us…
Polite Society (2023)
The cinematic landscape could truly benefit from having more directors like Nida Manzoor. We don’t often witness the immediate birth of such a promising young voice that emerges with little fanfare, but immediately is established as an essential talent that will define their generation of visual storytellers. In her feature directorial debut, after a few…
Life Is Cheap… But Toilet Paper Is Expensive (1989)
Wayne Wang occupies a peculiar place in the cinematic culture, since he is not a particularly well-known director on a larger scale, but he is one that is widely respected amongst the niche group of devotees that see the merit in his work. He is best known for American productions like The Joy Luck Club…
The Postmodern Pelican 