Category Archives: movies

dignity and debauchery (film: The Forgiven – John Michael McDonagh, 2021)

Posted on September 30, 2026 by admin

‘The Forgiven‘—the 2021 film by writer-director John Michael McDonagh—holds all the makings of an intriguing movie capable of captivating fans of exotic thrillers, as well as viewers interested in cross-cultural encounters or the moral dimensions of taking responsibility. McDonagh’s screenplay … Continue reading →

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an empress corseted by her era (film: Corsage – Marie Kreutzer, 2022)

Posted on September 28, 2026 by admin

‘Corsage’, the 2022 Austrian film written and directed by Marie Kreutzer, is not just another entry in the “Sissi-mania” genre. True, the central figure is Empress Elisabeth (Sissi) of Austria-Hungary—Franz Joseph’s wife and a tragic figure who continues to fascinate … Continue reading →

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the long lasting traces (film: Źeby nie było śladów / Leave No Traces – Jan P. Matuszynski, 2021)

Posted on September 26, 2026 by admin

I first noticed the Polish director Jan P. Matuszynski a few years ago thanks to his excellent 2016 film ‘Ostatnia Rodzina‘ (released in English as ‘The Last Family‘), which brought to the screen the story of a highly original painter … Continue reading →

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Raskolnikov in Paris (film: Pickpocket – Robert Bresson, 1959)

Posted on September 22, 2026 by admin

1959 was a year of great changes in French cinema. François Truffaut and Alain Resnais shook up the Cannes Film Festival with ‘The 400 Blows ‘and ‘Hiroshima Mon Amour‘, respectively; Chabrol won the Golden Bear in Berlin with ‘The Cousins‘; … Continue reading →

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hunters’ island (film: The Most Dangerous Game – Irving Pichel & Ernest B. Schoedsack, 1932)

Posted on September 20, 2026 by admin

The 1932 ‘The Most Dangerous Game’ represents an interesting chapter in the history of American cinema—a film that can be considered a precursor to several highly popular genres of adventure, horror, and entertainment movies. Two directors are credited on the … Continue reading →

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life and love in the convenience store (film: Clerks – Kevin Smith, 1994)

Posted on September 16, 2026 by admin

One of the significant cinematic phenomena of the 1990s was the success of several independent American films made on very low budgets. These films launched filmmakers who would go on to become household names, well-integrated into the industry, created interesting … Continue reading →

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the loneliness of angels (film: Meet Joe Black – Martin Brest, 1998)

Posted on September 11, 2026 by admin

I wonder if any of the screenwriters (and there were quite a few, as the script passed through many hands) for Martin Brest’s 1998 film ‘Meet Joe Black‘ ever read Mihai Eminescu’s Luceafărul (The Evening Star). Most likely not, given … Continue reading →

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Almodóvar faces a crisis … and survives it with another wonderful film (film: Amarga Navidad – Pedro Almodóvar, 2026)

Posted on August 19, 2026 by admin

Almodóvar in crisis? Almodóvar repeating himself? Did Almodóvar make a boring film? What are you talking about? ‘Amarga Navidad‘ (‘Bitter Christmas‘ in the English distribution), the most recent film written and directed by Pedro Almodóvar, is interesting, profound, colorful, strange, … Continue reading →

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the great Catherines (film: Sage femme – Martin Provost, 2017)

Posted on August 13, 2026 by admin

The 2017 ‘Sage femme‘ (the title of the English distribution was ‘The Midwife’) by Martin Provost was a pleasant surprise and it is not clear to me why the film was underappreciated at the time by part of the public … Continue reading →

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prequel to a legend (film: Robin Hood – Ridley Scott, 2010)

Posted on August 11, 2026 by admin

The mistake that many film critics and viewers who follow their opinions about Ridley Scott‘s films with real or imaginary historical figures make, in my opinion, is their rigid and inaccurate categorization. The veteran director, who is approaching 90 years … Continue reading →

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