Two films at Locarno display how often the practice of Christianity contradicts the principles of kindness and empathy found in the New Testament.
Christianity Clash
Festivals
Reviews and dispatches exploring the best new cinema premiering around the world.
Asphalt Guerrilla. The Paradoxes of AI Punk Filmmaking.
The use of artificial intelligence in Edgar Pêra’s Asphalt Guerrilla may be inspired by good intentions, but it bodes poorly for the future of documentaries.
Dreaming of a 1994 Honda Civic
A modest yet touching documentary, Emil Langballe’s Petrolheads examines addiction, mental illness and the redemptive power of friendship and cars.
Coming of Age, Sicilian-Style
Coming-of-age movies in recent years are usually snoozy; Giovanni Tortorici’s whipsmart funny Ketticè is the wonderful exceptional to that rule.
“The universe doesn’t care about us, it doesn’t even know we’re here” — Axel Bertha on Against Nature
Axel Bertha talks to us about his debut feature Against Nature, casting non-professional actors and being mentored by Carlos Reygadas.
The Unknown. Getting Lost in Arthur Harari’s Enigmatic Puzzle.
Controversial at Cannes, the Karlovy Premiere of The Unknown (L’Inconnue) reveals a mysterious and beguiling experience, starring Léa Seydoux.
Martha’s Folly
Small yet powerful, Five Years, Four Months takes an almost structuralist approach to grief, showing one mother’s unending journey to find her missing son.
The Kids Are Not Alright
Miroslav Terzić’s follow up to Stitches (2019) is a devastating exploration of the infinity cruelty of children that makes Adolescence look like Bluey.
Truly Cringe
My Friend the Porn Star appears to be curious about the porn industry, but it rarely leaves the rarefied air of very specific Viennese friend groups.
Anyone Can Be a Hero in The Last Chance
In a deeply cynical world, the moral clarity of WW2 escape drama The Last Chance is extremely refreshing.