Festivals
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Berlin 2013: ‘The Spirit of ’45’ review
★★★★☆ One of only a handful of high profile British films featuring at this year’s 63rd Berlinale (more’s the pity), Ken Loach returns to the documentary fray this year with The Spirit of ’45 (2013), representing something of a labour of love for its acclaimed director. Exploring Britain’s sociopolitical evolution from the poverty and uncertainty…
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Berlin 2013: ‘Layla Fourie’ review
★★☆☆☆ Swedish/South African director Pia Marais has garnered a small, yet loyal following on the festival circuit thanks to her assured debut The Unpolished (2007) and its confident follow-up At Ellen’s Age (2010). Her third feature, Layla Fourie (2013), thus finds itself in competition for the top Golden Bear prize at this year’s Berlinale. Sadly, this highly…
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Berlin 2013: ‘Vic + Flo Saw a Bear’ review
★★☆☆☆ Denis Côté’s Vic + Flo Saw a Bear ( Vic et Flo ont vu un ours, 2013) is the follow-up to the experimental French Canadian director’s zoo doc, Bestiaire (2012). A detached and ultimately soulless portrayal of the rehabilitating limbo of post-prison reintegration, Côté’s offbeat and darkly comic drama is a near-impenetrable enigma of…
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Berlin 2013: ‘Fynbos’ review
★★★☆☆ Harry Patramanis’ Fynbos (2012) is an enigmatic parable for modern South Africa’s evolution away from its troubled past. A tense and atmospheric thriller-of-sorts, Patramanis’ assured debut captivates through its hypnotic rhythm, yet remains a strangely unsatisfying experience – a great pity. Stood on a rundown street corner, Meryl (Jessica Haines) disposes of the contents…
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Berlin 2013: ‘A Single Shot’ review
★★★☆☆ Based on Matthew F. Jones’ dark and atmospheric novel of the same name, David M. Rosenthal’s A Single Shot (2013) finally makes it’s debut at this year’s Berlin Film Festival. Staring US actor Sam Rockwell and boasting an enticing supporting cast that includes William H. Macy, Kelly Reilly and Jason Isaacs, A Single Shot…
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Berlin 2013: ‘For Marx’ review
★★★★☆ A starkly-shot Russian addition to the Berlinale’s Forum section, Svetlana Baskova’s For Marx (Za Marksa, 2013) might not have much cinematic polish, but what it lacks in looks it makes up for with a thorough exploration of geopolitical themes, wrapped in a pithy, compelling drama. A group of hardy steel workers decide to establish an…
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Berlin 2013: ‘The Nun’ review
★★☆☆☆ Guillaume Nicloux’s The Nun (La Religieuse, 2013) is based upon French philosopher, art critic and writer Denis Diderot’s controversial novel of the same name. Previously adapted by Jacques Rivette, whose daringly derogatory adaptation was originally banned by the French censors for its controversial representation of the church, The Nun’s infamous story has all the…
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Berlin 2013: ‘Paradise: Hope’ review
★★★★☆ Originally conceived as one 130-minute feature film, Paradise: Hope (2013) sees 60-year-old Austrian director Ulrich Seidl (2007’s Import/Export) complete his trilogy of films inspired by Odon von Horvath’s 1932 play Faith, Hope and Charity. The final chapter in the trilogy leaves us with the remaining young girl of the three women whose stories comprise…
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Berlin 2013: ‘Don Jon’ review
★★★☆☆ Tackling the sensitive and provocative issue of pornography addiction is a brave move for any director, even more so if it’s your debut feature and one that’s sure to receive heavy scrutiny due to your impressive resume of on-screen acting roles. This is the mammoth undertaking Joseph Gordon-Levitt has handed himself with Don Jon…
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Berlin 2013: ‘In the Name Of’ review
★★☆☆☆ Malgoska Szumowska’s In the Name Of (W imie, 2013) is first out the blocks in the race for this year’s Golden Bear prize. An uneven, yet innovative examination of love through the constraints of the Catholic church, Szumowska’s follow up to the underwhelming Elles (2011) is a patchy affair that asks its audience to…