One of the hallmarks of a truly extraordinary story is its ability to be adapted countless times, including instances where it is mangled and reconfigured into entirely different contexts while still retaining some degree of resonance to the original work. This is precisely why artists like William Shakespeare and Franz Kafka have remained so incredibly…
Tag: books
The Mystery of Marie Rogêt (1942)
Few authors earned their reputation more than Edgar Allan Poe, and his status as the quintessential master of the macabre, his style being embraced as some of the most important literature ever to be written in Gothic horror and mystery. Pinpointing his most challenging and disturbing work is a challenge, but one of the strongest…
Eleanor the Great (2025)
If you could be anyone for a day, who would you choose to be? No doubt the answer would run the gamut, from historical figures to world-renowned icons, or perhaps a more humble individual would choose something not quite as intense but still nonetheless meaningful. The truth is, we yearn to achieve the impossible, even…
Kontinental ’25 (2025)
By this point, there is no reason to resist proclaiming Radu Jude one of the most essential, radical voices in contemporary cinema. Watching his work is akin to seeing Jean-Luc Godard and his cohorts essentially rewrite the cinematic lexicon, capturing the cultural zeitgeist in a way that has never been done before – and Jude…
Don’t Let’s Go to the Dogs Tonight (2025)
Every writer at some point feels the urge to be the one to compose the novel that encapsulates the entirety of their country or culture’s history, believing that they are capable of creating the definitive work, whether they are willing to openly admit it or not. In terms of literature from Southern Africa, there are…
As You Like It (1936)
While it is never mandatory, as every work should be able to stand on its own without necessarily having to be reinvented in different contexts, one of the most objective signs of a truly great playwright is not only if their work stands the test of time, but can be adapted to different eras or…
The Cry of Granuaile (2022)
Why do we look towards the past? Is it to reflect on events that have happened in the hopes of learning from them, or simply because its generally a more pleasant experience to luxuriate in a time to which we obviously cannot return, but which still provides a sense of comfort while connecting us to…
The Dresser (2015)
“All the world’s a stage, And all the men and women are merely players; They have their exits and their entrances; And one man in his time plays many parts” Starting a discussion on a film with a quote by William Shakespeare (as well as possibly his most famous piece of writing, or at least…
Dance First (2023)
The act of paying tribute to some cherished artist or public figure in the form of a film is a pretty challenging endeavour, particularly because it requires a writer or director to stand at a structural crossroads, choosing their preferred approach to examining their life’s story. Do you explore it from start to finish (the…
Fancy Dance (2024)
For many of us, family and culture are amongst the most vital aspects of our identity, since without them we would likely be adrift in a confusing world without any clear direction. However, life tends to be quite unpredictable, and challenges are bound to emerge at the most inopportune moments, when fate begins to encroach…
The Postmodern Pelican 