When it comes to social realism, the Belgians have produced some of the most exhilarating works (mainly due to the prolific careers of Luc and Jean-Pierre Dardenne, arguably amongst the most important filmmakers to hail from that country), and they have left a legacy that has made for some really fascinating storytelling in subsequent years….
Tag: reviews
The New Year That Never Came (2024)
Every revolution begins with just one dissenting voice – in some cases, it’s delivered as a scream, in others it is a mere whisper, but regardless of how it is announced, it signals the beginning of a journey towards change from which any return seems to be impossible, at least as far as those dedicated…
Y2K (2024)
A new year brings new possibilities, a cliched and trite concept that adorns many inspirational posters and social media statements whenever we reach the final few days of a particular year, patiently waiting to transition into the next one. However, this was not necessarily the case in the late 1990s, with the fear of entering…
Nickel Boys (2024)
“He who gets behind in a race must forever remain behind or run faster than the man in front.” There is a scene towards the end of RaMell Ross’ Nickel Boys in which the two protagonists escape their abusive boarding school, taking flight by cycling down a rural road. Not far behind them are the…
Christmas Eve in Miller’s Point (2024)
The holiday season is a challenging time for everyone, albeit for very different reasons – some find it overly commercial, whereas others feel burdened by the stress of planning festivities that are very rarely worth the time and effort, and which just prove to reiterate the fact that this period is reserved for capitalistic gain…
Babygirl (2024)
We all crave power in some way or another – it is hardwired into our nature to desire some kind of dominance, even if it is only to a very small degree. The philosophical reasons for having such impulses are inconclusive. Still, it is certain to be the result of shifting dynamics of power, and…
Vermiglio (2024)
Nestled deep within the Italian Alps sits a small village – its occupants spend their days quietly going about their routine, focusing on their day-to-day schedule. At the same time, war rages around the world, a conflict that they are not directly involved in, at least not until the arrival of a soldier in their…
Rap World (2024)
Most of the time, it is viewed as good practice to not make effusive, declarative statements about an artist or their work that give it any sense of finality, since such proclamations rarely tend to age all that well, and can be viewed as hyperbole formed in the spur of the moment, something everyone one…
There’s Still Tomorrow (2024)
How long can someone be a prisoner to their social circumstances before they reach the point where they can no longer remain silent? This is a question that many have asked for as long as society has found ways to marginalise certain communities by silencing their voices, and it has been the foundation for some…
Anora (2024)
“I chose this life, and nobody can take that choice away from me” Life is nothing but a series of decisions we make, some of them for our own growth, others for the benefit of others. However, regardless of what we choose to do, it’s up to us to determine the extent to which we…
The Postmodern Pelican 