A rigorous and brutal documentation of Russian brutality in Ukraine, Intercepted’s absences stir the worst recesses of the human imagination.
Polyphonic Russian Voices, Deftly Intercepted
Tag: Berlinale
Another End. We’ve Got Black Mirror at Home.
Piero Messina’s science-fiction Another End fails to inspire interesting questions or interest the viewer visually. It’s a bust, live from Berlin Film Festival.
Young Hearts Run Free. It’s Alright.
Coming-out stories in Generation are a dime-a-dozen. Thankfully Anthony Schattman’s Young Hearts rises above the crop thanks to its authentic performances.
Sleep With Your Eyes Open. Postcards from the Past
Sleep With Your Eyes Open uses an elastic narrative form to paint an ironic portrait of Chinese migrant life in Brazil, to both its benefit and detriment.
Brief History of a Family: Failson v. Social Climber
The problems with China’s one-child policy are laid bare in Jianjie Lin’s effective and creepy debut Brief History of a Family, live from Berlinale Panorama.
Too Many Cooks Spoil La Cocina
La Cocina uses its kitchen-setting as a springboard for a grand Statement on America. But it ruins the main dish by adding too many flavours.
Small Things Like These. Faux Terence Davies
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.
Underseen Festival Favourites 2023
Taking stock of all the excellent films that have played at festivals in 2023 that you most probably haven’t heard of yet. From Cannes, Berlinale, and more.
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.
Berlinale 2023 Perspektive Deutsches Kino: German Soft Power
The explicitly German section of the Berlinale, Perspektive Deutsches Kino is a fascinating example of film festival soft power diplomacy.