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Tense and harrowing, Insyriated immerses you in a Damascus apartment under siege from bombing, snipers and personal violence. Continue reading
Insyriated (2017)
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The Killing of a Sacred Deer (2017)
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More akin to Dogtooth than The Lobster, The Killing of a Sacred Deer takes time to show its hand but when it does, it slowly and surely builds to a devastating conclusion. Continue reading
24 Frames (2017)
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A cinematic meditation and lyrical farewell from the Iranian director Abbas Kiarostami that calmed my mind, reduced my heart rate and brought me to tears. Continue reading
Spoor (Pokot) (2017)
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This oddball Polish genre non-conformist feature by Agnieszka Holland had lots to like about it but ultimately felt like less than the sum of its parts. Continue reading
The Party (2017)
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This clever and stylish black-and-white satire from Sally Potter plays out like a drawing-room comedy with on point performances from the cream of British actors. Continue reading
Only the Brave (1994)
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Alex (Elena Mandalis) is now one of my favourite characters ever. She’s the kind of tough girl I would have been scared of at school. Greek, working class and a misfit, her only choice is to push back. Continue reading
April’s Daughter (Las Hijas de Abril) (2017)
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This is masterful storytelling by Mexican writer-director Michel Franco, showing the insidious damage an oppressive relationship can create. Continue reading
The Teacher (2016)
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Beautifully crafted, with an authentic 80s Communist aesthetic, The Teacher is a lesson in the power of the collective. Continue reading
Los Perros (2017)
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Dogs are a repeated and, I suspect, metaphorical motif in this Chilean drama by Marcela Said about the complicity of the middle-class in avoiding accountability for the atrocities committed under Pinochet. #MIFF2017 Continue reading
Ana, Mon Amour (2017)
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Child’s Pose, Romanian Cãlin Peter Netzer’s 2013 searing exploration of maternal love, is one of my favourite films. Ana, Mon Amour treads similar ground but, in its more epic, complex and ambitious scope, ultimately fails to engage. Continue reading
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