Reality and fiction blur together in Swan Song, the most recent film from queer cinema pioneer Todd Stephens, who tells the allegedly true story of Pat Pitsenbarger, a retired hairdresser and former amateur drag queen who is brought out of retirement for one final client: his former best friend who has recently died, and insists…
The Ladykillers (1955)
When it comes to classic comedy, there are a few names that evoke a particular level of esteem and respect, either through their dominance in the industry, or the pedigree that has come to be associated with them. Ealing Studios had a reputation for producing some of the finest comedies to ever come out of…
Citizen Kane (1941)
It was a cold, rainy evening while I was working my way through the various television channels, when I suddenly came across a film by the title Citizen Kane. What a revelation to have discovered this obscure gem of a film, clearly produced for the B-movie market, and embedded deeply in the heart of late-night…
Permanent Vacation (1980)
Looking at the genesis of any director’s career is always a fascinating endeavour, particularly when dealing with those that you admire – seeing their roots presented in the form of their early work helps us critically judge their evolution as artists, and show their journey to becoming compelling storytellers. Jim Jarmusch is one of the…
Annette (2021)
If you ask someone the simple question: “If you could live anywhere in the world, where would it be”, some may answer that they’d like to live in some tropical paradise, while others a bustling metropolis. Personally, I would like to live in the mind of Leos Carax, purely because there are few artists throughout…
To Wong Foo, Thanks for Everything! Julie Newmar (1995)
The 1990s were a watershed moment for queer representation on screen, especially in telling stories of the LGBTQIA+ community on a more mainstream scale, often filtered through the lens of drag, which has often served as the most accessible gateway for many into understanding queer culture. There were three consecutive years where some of the…
Deep End (1970)
Deep End is a strange concoction of a film. On one hand, it is a delightfully irreverent coming-of-age drama with broad overtures of comedy that help its message come across without much difficulty. On the other, it’s a challenging, provocative and incredibly psychological film that subverts many conventions in its path to go its own…
Mirai (2018)
At the altar of Japanese animation stand two masters – Hayao Miyazaki (who is near retiring from filmmaking) and the late Isao Takahata, both of whom are almost universally considered the gold standard for an entire nation’s cinema, and the success it has seen all over the world. However, they’re not the only ones who…
Bye Bye Morons (2021)
There are a few films that find their most significant strength also being their biggest weakness, as is the case with Bye Bye Morons (French: Adieu les cons), a fascinating but flawed film by Albert Dupontel, who puts together a really compelling story, but seems to falter in one particular area: he doesn’t seem to…
Death of a Cyclist (1955)
A secluded patch of road somewhere in the idyllic countryside is suddenly the site of a major collision between a car and a cyclist, with the former striking the latter, causing an enormous accident. The occupants of the car are concerned about having possibly killed the cyclist, but decide they can’t stick around to find…
The Postmodern Pelican 