This surrealist film, directed by Luis Bunuel and Salvador Dali, made in 1930, continues to shock, repel, scandalize cinema goers for over seventy-five years now. When L’Age d’Or had its first public showing in 1930—and its only public screening until 1979—it caused a riot. The film premiered at Studio 28 in Paris on November…
Author: VoxParadox
FILM REVIEW: Családi Tüzfészek (Family Nest) (1979)
Family Nest is a Hungarian film, directed by Bela Tarr in 1979, which shows the domestic problems of Laci (László Horváth), a soldier who has just returned home, and his wife Irén (Laszlone Horvath), set among the backdrop of an increasingly lackadaisical bureaucratic system and troubles of getting a flat sanctioned from the government. He…
Give me “MAGIC”!
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…
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,…
A Look Gay/ Lesbian Expression in Indian Films: Fire, Mango Souffle and Bomgay
Traditionally, the Indian film industry, especially Bollywood, has turned a blind eye toward the issue of gay and lesbian culture in India. A few notable films have made it past the narrow-minded ostracism of the masses, and made the country and the world take notice of certain issues that we cannot shelter ourselves from. India…
REELING THE REAL: A look at the technique of Realism in Indian Cinema.
While the orthodoxies of Neo-Realistic elements have died out in recent years in Indian cinema, it has given rise to a new technique, a new form, a new element to ensure the participation of the masses. Have you ever seen on-screen, in a movie, the sight of someone defecating near the railway tracks in the…
Short Film: FALLEN ART (2004)
FALLEN ART by Tomek Baginski.The film was made in 2004. This is an example of genius. One of my favorite short animated films.