Lemora: A Child’s Tale of the Supernatural (1973; dir. Richard Blackburn)
This film bears comparison with the similar Let’s Scare Jessica to Death (1971; dir. John D. Hancock), but has stylistic parallels with a number of …
04 Feb
Providence (1977; dir. Alain Resnais)
Providence (1977; dir. Alain Resnais)
Released just before commercial cinema began its descent into adolescent sensationalism, Resnais’ masterpiece of meaning, time and truth garnered numerous awards and recognition throughout Europe, …
22 Dec
Art as Cinema: a metaphor
Art as Cinema: a metaphor
A metaphor for modern cinema can be formed from analogues in the world of painting. It divides films into three unconnected groups. A very small, select …
18 Nov
Lisa e il diavolo (1974; dir. Mario Bava)
Lisa e il diavolo (1974; dir. Mario Bava)
Cinema is necrophilia. The act of desiring now aged or decayed faces, trapped by the illusion of action that seems to exist in the present …
07 Nov
A Prize of Arms (1962; dir. Cliff Owen)
A Prize of Arms (1962; dir. Cliff Owen)
This tense, nervous film succeeds in creating a threatening, silent world where its main protagonists are watched, suspected and hindered in their attempts to steal …
03 Nov
The impossibility of objective writing within currently accepted narrative processes
The impossibility of objective writing within currently accepted narrative processes
Television and cinema are capable, within the single framework of a film, of presenting a multitude of disparate social, cultural and political perspectives. The essential …
02 Nov
Gli orrori del castello di Norimberga (1972; dir. Mario Bava)
Gli orrori del castello di Norimberga (1972; dir. Mario Bava)
This is one of Bava’s less personal works but it still manages to convey his understanding of the cinematic spectacle, which informs a number of …
30 Oct
Never mind the racism, here’s the bollocks!
Never mind the racism, here’s the bollocks!
Last night Channel 4 broadcast The Event: How Racist Are You?, which replicated an exercise into racial awareness and discrimination by ex-schoolteacher Jane Elliott. Regardless …
27 Oct
Terrore nello spazio (1965; dir. Mario Bava)
Terrore nello spazio (1965; dir. Mario Bava)
Contrary to popular belief, independent, commercial-minded cinema can be a fertile ground for intelligent, probing filmmakers, and chief amongst them is Italian helmer Bava. Although …
28 Sep
‘Hukkunud Alpinisti’ hotell (1979; dir. Grigori Kromanov)
‘Hukkunud Alpinisti’ hotell (1979; dir. Grigori Kromanov)
Like Es ist nicht leicht ein Gott zu sein (1989; dir. Peter Fleischmann) – which we reviewed here – this Estonian film is based on …
Tag: subjective