Distant Voices, Still Lives (1988)

“The one thing I can’t bear now is atmospheres. I can come into a room full of people and I can tell you who’s had the row. I always say: if I’ve upset you, just come out with it. If you cold-shoulder me, I instantly see him [my father] sitting in the corner of the […]

High Heels (1991)

High Heels (1991) is like Pedro Almodóvar inviting the audience to a boutique shop to peruse and sample. Melodrama is the purpose for being there, but the pleasure lies in admiring and marvelling at all the wares: the wigs, the hairstyles, the dresses, the shoes, the gloves, the earrings. High Heels has a striking colour […]

Sweet Home (1989)

As a Japanese horror movie, Sweet Home (1989) has a cult following because it was released with a tie-in horror computer game from Capcom, which became the inspiration for the original Resident Evil video game. As an entry in director Kiyoshi Kurosawa’s filmography, it’s different to the disturbing, eerie horror movies that would make his […]

Tokyo Story (1953)

The canon of great movies can sometimes feel imposing. During the first twenty minutes of Tokyo Story (1953), as the elderly couple settle into their eldest son’s home during their visit to Tokyo, I did think, “This is one of the most acclaimed movies?” Less a reaction to the film being boring or bad, but […]

Murina (2021)

Deep down in the blue. A morning errand dive for teenager Juljia (Gracija Filipović) and her father Ante (Leon Lučev). The type of father whose moods cloud and control the household. Underneath the water, he can’t say anything, demean and insult. They both carry spearguns to catch eels. Underwater is also where Julijia finds escape […]