Luxembourg, Luxembourg – Film Review | La Biennale di Venezia 2022

Based on an important event in director Antonio Lukich’s life, Luxembourg, Luxembourg tells the story of twin brothers Kolya & Vasya setting out on a journey to see their long-absent father, who’s found sick in Luxembourg, one last time. Everyone has a different bond with their parents, but when a parent leaves early on in …

Spre Nord (To The North) – Film Review | La Biennale di Venezia 2022

Romanian director Mihai Mincan debuts his first feature fiction film at Venice Film Festival this year. An ambitious story based on true events that happened almost twenty years ago, but still feel just as relevant today. The film opens with two men in wild waters, grasping onto floating barrels. They look petrified, and most likely …

Ti mangio il cuore (Burning Hearts) – Film Review | La Biennale di Venezia 2022

An old feud between two rival families is rekindled by a forbidden love: the one between Andrea (Francesco Patanè), reluctant heir of the Malatesta, and Marilena (Elodie), beautiful wife of the boss of the Camporeale clan. A fatal passion that sets the two clans at war again. But Marilena, banished by the Camporeale and prisoner …

Blanquita – Film Review | La Biennale di Venezia 2022

Blanca, an 18-year-old foster home resident, is the key witness in a scandal involving kids, politicians and rich men taking part in sex parties. Yet, the more questions are asked, the less clear it becomes what Blanca’s role in the scandal exactly is. Blanquita is based on a year- long investigation of the ‘Spiniak Case’, …

Eternal Spring – Film Review | Melbourne Documentary Film Festival 2022

In March 2002, a state TV station in China was hijacked by members of the outlawed spiritual group Falun Gong. Their goal was to counter the government narrative about their practice. In the aftermath, police raids sweep Changchun City, and comic book illustrator Daxiong, a Falun Gong practitioner, is forced to flee. He arrives in …

Waterman – Film Review | Melbourne Documentary Film Festival 2022

As someone who isn’t familiar with the world of surfing, this documentary about five-time Olympic medalist and Native Hawaiian Duke Paoa Kahanamoku was a revealing and beyond inspiring viewing that defies time and legacy. Majestically narrated by Jason Momoa, the film takes us on a journey through the many highlights of Duke’s professional life. He’s …

Still Working 9 to 5 – Film Review | Doc Edge Festival 2022

“Everyone was very nervous about the movie, because it had three female leads” – Lily Tomlin In the 1970’s, 1/3 of working women were secretaries. The pay was terrible, the bosses could routinely harass and talk down to their employees and there was very little if nothing a woman could do to move up. Eventually, …

Long Live My Happy Head – Film Review | Doc Edge Festival 2022

Gordon is an adorable Scottish man from Edinburgh. He’s a comic book artist who is working on several autobiographical books about how he’s living with this looming cloud over his head. At 32 he was diagnosed with an inoperable brain tumor and he hasn’t stopped fighting. Seven years later, he is writing and drawing what …

Les pires (The Worst Ones) – Film Review | Festival de Cannes 2022

During the summer, four teenagers from the Picasso projects in Boulogne-Sur-Mer, get street cast to star in a feature film. Everyone claims they picked “the worst ones”, but while filming we get a closer look at who they really are. Director/writers duo Lise Akoka & Romane Gueret wonderfully blend filmmaking and storytelling on- and off-screen, …

The Island – Film Review | IFFR ’22

An upside down Robinson Crusoe story Doctor Robinson Crusoe is enjoying his time alone on a secluded island. He has his iPad and not a care in the world. He has time to himself in which to reflect, the weight of the world has gotten to him and he needs a break. When a ship …