The Trouble with Nature is a hilarious, unique, and witty debut film from Danish director Illum Jacobi. This periodic drama follows Eighteenth Century philosopher and scholar Edmund Burke on an imagined voyage through the French Alps in search of evidence for the concept he invited and published in his 1757 book A Philosophical Enquiry into the Origin of Our Ideas of the Sublime and Beautiful. Burke was a Whig politician, an educated white man who invented the concept of the sublime, which refers to something that possess such greatness … Continue reading LIFF: ‘The Trouble with Nature’ is Clever and Humorous

The recent recipient of the Audience Award for Best Film at LFF, Another Round (Druk) marks the return of Thomas Vintenburg and Tobias Lindholm (co-writer) to the silver screen to deliver their best collaborative piece yet. It explores existentialism, identity and (you’ve guessed it) substance abuse and is being disputed as Vinterburg’s best work since Festen. This Swedish-Danish drama will be representing Denmark as their nomination for the International … Continue reading LFF 2020 – Making the Most of Moments in ‘Another Round (Druk)’

The Whaler Boy is an intimate and immersive coming of age story that follows a naive teenage boy, from a remote whaling village in Russia, on his journey to find love. At its heart, Philipp Yuryev’s debut film explores human connection, boarders, longing, and the sacrifices one will make to get what they don’t have. This simple yet entrancing film is a slow-burner that feels … Continue reading LIFF: Loneliness and Love in ‘The Whaler Boy’

A semi-naked blonde boy stands motionless outside his family home, seemingly frozen in position. Buzzing from the summer insects intensifies, and the boy is no longer a boy – he is a man who suffers from intense nausea and won’t tell his flatmate why. This is Ben (Matthew Fifer), and he’s got a long journey ahead of him.   Cicada is a symphony of fact and fiction … Continue reading LFF 2020 – ‘Cicada’ Reflects on Fact and Ficition

Coming of age films have the rare opportunity of exploring all facets of the young adult experience: the good, the bad, and the ugly. However, apart from notable examples like Moonlight, nonwhite teenagers are rarely given the opportunity to have their teen experiences shown on screen. The center of the genre is mostly white teens, which makes any story with a predominantly or completely nonwhite … Continue reading AFI 2020 – Found Family and Femininity in ‘She Paradise’

The portrayal of disabilities in media is akin to a game of Russian roulette. Portrayals can range from slightly tone-deaf to some form of maudlin plea to downright vile demonization depending on what disability the film, show, or book focuses on. Rarely, if ever, does the disabled person in question receive any form of development, and instead they’re used as a learning tool for other … Continue reading AFI 2020 – ‘Sound of Metal’ as a Study in Healing

This short was presented by Women X as part of the Selfhood Stories collection, a section focusing on films that ‘explore the strength of individual human beings as they respond to difficulties and hardships.’ For the Woman On The Floor is a powerful film that covers the aftermath of a sexual assault and the personal ways of dealing with this trauma. It is the inventive … Continue reading WXFF 2020 – Using Mixed Media to Tell a Painful Story in ‘For the Woman On The Floor’

I have problems with my appearance. I don’t always feel this way – some days, I think I look great. Some days, I can’t stand to look at myself in the mirror. Sometimes I have an issue with stomach fat; other times, it’s the porosity of my skin. Somehow, the issue always changes. The person reading this probably has problems with their appearance. Not liking … Continue reading FrightFest 2020 – ‘Woman of the Photographs’: The First Masterwork of the Decade

Synopsis: “When Englishness is the only choice left on the menu, it’s breakfast for one in this dark, comic monologue for film about loneliness, mental health, disenfranchisement and surviving off the unappetizing remnants of English Identity” This award-winning dark comedic monologue addresses the problematic English identity and what happens to those who refuse to move with the times. Full English is highlighted by Women X … Continue reading WXFF 2020 – ‘Full English’ Explores Identity and Isolation