Foreign

Director Mike Leigh has created a paradigm of an individual who makes the act of complaining into an art form; “Pansy” (inappropriately named; Shakespeare’s favorite flower; there is nothing favorable about this woman) depicted with poisonous angst by Marianne Jean-Baptiste; her pulverizing hatred for herself, spews forth from a mouth tainted with abhorrence for mankind; the world is her enemy …

This film, more than any in recent memory, testifies to the miraculous, transformative power of filmmaking and the unswerving tenacity of a writer/director, producer who prevailed in his pursuit to create a beautifully-crafted, viciously realistic political thriller based on the 2022 civil unrest blistering across Iran after the death of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini; she was imprisoned for “inappropriate dress”. Director …

In Saturday’s New York Times, columnist Michelle Goldberg address the “sexual politics” of the upcoming film “Babygirl” starring the ubiquitous actor, Nicole Kidman. I have not seen the film but have experienced the others mentioned: “Wicked”, “Nightbitch”, “The Substance”, “Anora”, all centering around female empowerment, control over the “male gaze” and the vicissitudes vanquished in their triumph. History, religion, culture …

“This is the end-for me, the beginning of life”. Dietrich Bonhoeffer’s (1906-1945) last words on the day he was hung by the Nazis, April 9th, at 39 years of age, days before the end of the war. It was a tragic conclusion to a life lived without regret; a life where a darkened shadow of doubt never interfered with the …

Cillian Murphy steps as far as possible away from his Academy Award winning performance as prodigious J. Robert Oppenheimer; he is a struggling Catholic coalman, father of four daughters, caught in a righteous dilemma revolving around his local convent, led by “Sister Mary” (Emily Watson is a worthy, threatening adversary). Based on the novel by Claire Keegan, directed by Tim Mielants, …

“THE SEED OF THE SACRED FIG” (IRAN, FRANCE, GERMANY) DIRECTOR, MOHAMMAD RASOULOF “Never trust the obvious” resonates continuously from the supposed “guilty” to the obvious “innocent”; soaked in the restricted city, Tehran, hounded by paranoid rules, a family flounders in this positively frightening political drama, that dares to challenge viewers sensitivities until the spell-binding conclusion and the discovery of the …

“MY FAVORITE CAKE”  (IRAN, FRANCE, SWEDEN & GERMANY) DIRECTORS, MARYAM MOGHADDAM, BEHTASH SANAEEHA Time does not dictate “affairs of the heart” and you do not choose the subject of desire; it just happens and “My Favorite Cake” is a refreshing, joyous connection between a chance meeting of two individuals “forever young”. FOUR STARS!!!! “GHOST TRAIL” (FRANCE, GERMANY, BELGIUM) DIRECTOR, JONATHAN …

“THE PIANO LESSON” (US) The Washington brothers (Malcolm, director, John David, actor) give immediate license to August Wilson’s 1987 play of the same title.  And an iconic, macabre exorcism, that will satisfy those lusting for the “horror” tremors. FOUR STARS!!!! “THE ART OF JOY” (ITALY/UK)  DIRECTOR, VALERIA GOLINO) For devotees of “length” this over five-hour film should satisfy your lusty, …

We have been doused/soused with a plethora of movies dealing with the vicissitudes of alcoholic women: “Days of Wine and Roses”: “Woman Under the Influence”, “When a Man Loves a Woman”, “28 Days”, “To Leslie” but we’ve never come across “Rona” a blue-haired, twenty-nine-year-old harridan, whose demonic side is birthed in every inebriated phase; Saorise Ronan, also a producer tackles …

Lee Miller (1907-1977) was a woman of prodigious substance, a feminine force, a rule bender, barrier basher and a lifelong, in tandem with Gertrude Bell (1868-1926), destroyer of the male, testosterone dominated universal sphere. She had it all: luminous beauty, sophistication in qualitative abundance, lover and muse of Man Ray (1890-1976); inquisitive intellect that transcended gender bias; as a realistic …