By this point, the concept of films about young filmmakers has become a legitimate sub-genre in itself, with many directors telling stories of their early childhood and how they came to appreciate the beauty and magnificence of cinema, intertwining elements of the coming-of-age drama with a more specific look at the process of falling in…
Tag: cinema
Sanatorium Under the Sign of the Hourglass (2024)
“Reality is as thin as paper and betrays with all its cracks its imitative character” – these evocative words were written by Bruno Schulz in the late 1930s, and while the concept may not have existed in its entirety at the time, many scholars of postmodernism cite this as one of the most notable examples…
Nickelodeon (1976)
While in principle it is not a good practice to speak ill of those who have passed, we often find that certain stories resonate slightly more once someone has died. After his death a few years ago, there were countless stories about the genius of Peter Bogdanovich, perhaps the person many of us would choose…
The Proposition (2005)
There are some offers you simply can’t refuse – not because they are appealing, but rather since they seem to be the only choice when it comes to survival. This is what we find John Hillcoat beautifully negotiating in The Proposition, a film written by Nick Cave, who takes a momentary sojourn from being the…
The Best Films of 2025
Every year when putting together my list of the best films of the past twelve months, I attempt to find one cohesive theme that connects them all – a quote, a song or even an abstract concept, anything that can bind together what always ends up being a very dynamic and often wickedly offbeat year…
I Only Rest in the Storm (2025)
In the early 1970s, Tom Zé released an album that featured a particular song, “O Riso e a Faca” – it’s not widely considered one of his most famous compositions, nor one that is regularly discussed beyond the occasional mention. Despite this, the message at the heart of the song (the title translating as “the…
The Seashell and the Clergyman (1928)
There is a reason why the 1920s are considered one of the best decades for French art – it was a renaissance of sorts in all areas, including literature, visual arts and music. Cinema was not lagging far behind, and while Hollywood was making the most substantial leap towards it becoming one of the primary…
His and Hers (1961)
For some, the concept of domestic bliss is an ideal to which they are willing to work, while for others, it is nothing more than a myth perpetuated by decades of cultural lecturing and blatant marketing, which the nuclear family was seen as the ultimate aspiration, and anything less was seen as a sign of…
Resurrection (2025)
How do you describe a work of art that was created for the specific purpose of avoiding any kind of categorisation or broad interpretation? Bi Gan is a genius and a menace, and has seemingly committed his entire artistic career to exploring the human condition in ways that are both incredibly invigorating and profoundly frustrating,…
The Secret Agent (2025)
Is it ever truly possible to run away from the past? The idea of escaping from your own life and seeking a fresh start is often viewed as a result of needing to cover up some controversial and potentially immoral activities that are better left behind – but in some cases, it is necessary for…
The Postmodern Pelican 