Small Things Like These may highlight a vital decades-long human rights abuse but is sadly let down by its derivative imitation of Terence Davies’ best work.
Small Things Like These. Faux Terence Davies
Category: Competition
Christian Petzold Changes Pace with the Breezy Relationship Drama Afire
A perfect cast and a breezy tone, intermingling with moments of horror and danger, characterise Afire, a more low-key effort from Christian Petzold.
Limbo (Not that One or that One) Gives the Ossie Outback the Breaking Bad Treatment
This Australian desert noir is more interesting than its title, but would’ve worked a whole lot better as a TV series.
Bad Living and Living Bad at Berlinale 2023: Four Enigmatic Hours of Maternal Misery
Haughty mothers haunt a draughty hotel in João Canijo’s Bad Living and Living Bad, playing in both Competition and Encounters at the Berlinale 2023.
You Have to Try Very Hard to Appreciate Angela Schanelec’s Music
Despite a fine flair for creating aesthetically pleasing images, Music is a thoroughly singular filmmaking experience hard to genuinely love.
Yes, Past Lives Is as Good as They Say
Usually Sundance-hype films are overheated and underwhelming. The sly, smart Past Lives is a brilliant exception to the rule.
Tótem Piercingly Asks If Love is Enough
A family celebration provides the setting for a haunting coming-of-age tale, courtesy of auteur to watch, Lila Avilés. Golden Bear winner?
The Boring Travails of Disco Boy
Disco Boy remakes Claire Denis for a self-indulgent, ponderous slog through the Nigerian delta with the completely wrong cast.
Accept No Pleasure in the Manodrome
Move over Joker? There’s a new angry white man in town, courtesy of Jesse Eisenberg in the blistering, problematic, increasingly enjoyable Manodrome.
Member BlackBerrys?
BlackBerry takes you back to the halcyon days before the iPhone became the ubiqutious smartphone in this entertaining rise-and-fall tech sotry.