Many of us consider ‘serious cinema’ or ‘reality cinema’ as good and the commercial mainstream productions that Bollywood churns out to be inferior, in some way, and by the looks of it detrimental to the civic health. I have come across countless articles that rant on about how there is an absolute lack of serious…
Month: September 2008
Film Review: Family Viewing (1987)
The title of the film is slightly misleading. The film is neither entertaining in the conventional sense, nor is it meant to be seen with one’s family. The film is directed by Armenian-Canadian director, Atom Egoyan, and the impact it had, at the time of its release was primarily limited to film critics. Deploying dark…
FILM REVIEW: KOYAANISQATSI (1982)
One author actually wrote about the movie: “It feels strange to be discussing Koyaanisqatsi using words since the film communicates its message purely with images and sound, utilizing no spoken dialogue at all.” ‘Koyaanisquatsi’ is a Hopi Indian word which implies ‘life in turmoil’ or ‘life out of balance’. This film, directed by Godfrey Reggio,…
FILM REVIEW: STRANGER THAN PARADISE (1984)
Jim Jarmusch’s ”Stranger Than Paradise” tells the story of a self-styled New York hipster, Willie (John Lurie) who is paid a most surprising and quite unwelcome visit by his Hungarian cousin Eva, played by Eszter Balint. When she arrives, Willie treats her with cold indifference and they spend all their time doing practically nothing. She…
FILM REVIEW: RED PSALM (Még kér a nép, 1972)
Red Psalm directed by Hungarian film-maker Miklos Jancso, is communist musical, if anything can be called that, a musical allegory, and also a cinematic metaphor. It ranks, quite personally, among the most beautiful and breathtaking films that I have ever seen. The Hungarian title means “And the People Still Ask”. This dazzling, and highly sensual,…