Tag Archives: social drama

fresh, authentic, human (film: Red Rocket – Sean Baker, 2021)

I didn’t miss the opportunity to watch ‘Red Rocket‘ (2021) because it is the previous film by Sean Baker, the director of ‘Anora’. This was one of the revelations of the year for me and not only for me, as … Continue reading

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dangerous relationships (film: Notes on a Scandal – Richard Eyre, 2006)

I’m not sure why the creators of the film ‘Notes on a Scandal‘ (2006) insisted on adding a disclaimer at the end of the credits that claims that ‘any resemblance to real people or events is coincidental’. The disclaimer is … Continue reading

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the nightmare of Cinderella (film: Anora – Sean Baker, 2024)

‘Anora‘, Sean Baker‘s film that won the Golden Palm at Cannes this year, begins as a romantic story whose protagonist is a Cinderella who is a stripper and prostitute, and continues as a violent drama that takes place in the … Continue reading

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Modern Times Square (film: La Cocina – Alonso Ruizpalacios, 2024)

‘La Cocina‘ (2024), the bold and unusual film by Mexican director Alonso Ruizpalacios, immediately reminded me of Charlie Chaplin’s ‘Modern Times’. Both films have one memorable scene that visually and symbolically represents all that is wrong with the dehumanization of … Continue reading

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broken dreams (film: Stroszek – Werner Herzog, 1977)

Made in 1977, ‘Stroszek‘ is one of the most special films of Werner Herzog, one of the few very special directors who were part of that unique generation of filmmakers who made German (West German) films into some of the … Continue reading

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a wonderful late movie by Ozu (film: Ukigusa / Floating Weeds – Yasujirô Ozu, 1959)

Made in 1959, ‘Ukigusa / Floating Weeds‘ is part of Yasujirô Ozu‘s final group of six color films. It is a remake of a silent movie made by Ozu in 1934. The Japanese master was apparently a late adopter of … Continue reading

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a simple love story by master Aki Kaurismäki (film: Kuolleet lehdet / Fallen Leaves – Aki Kaurismäki, 2023)

The 2023 ‘Kuolleet lehdet‘ (‘Fallen Leaves‘ in international distribution) is a formidable display of minimalist virtuosity by Finnish maestro Aki Kaurismäki. The director, who is also the author of the original screenplay, seems to be responding to a challenge. What … Continue reading

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born to be wild (film: The Bikeriders – Jeff Nichols, 2023)

I have never ridden a motorcycle in my life. I have very little in common and know next to nothing about the bikers gang culture (or counter-culture). That is why I consider that the performance of ‘The Bikeriders‘, produced in … Continue reading

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breaking taboos (film: The Children’s Hour – William Wyler, 1961)

By the time Bill Wyler adapted it in 1961, Lillian Hellman‘s play ‘The Children’s Hour‘ and its big screen adaptations already had a history of nearly three decades. The play itself was the first major hit on Broadway and the … Continue reading

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young and angry in the city (film: Les cousins – Claude Chabrol, 1959)

After ‘Le beau Serge’, that I had watched a few days ago, I now saw ‘Les cousins‘ (1959), the other film in the diptych that launched Claude Chabrol‘s career and was one of the first successes of the French New … Continue reading

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