My Favourite Films of 2023

There are two sections: New in 2023 (new releases, festival films, etc) Older films discovered for the first time Films are listed alphabetically within each section. 1. New in 2023 (new releases, festival films, etc) 20 Days in Mariupol [Mstyslav Chernov, 2023, Ukraine] “20 Days in Mariupol” is one of the most painful films I …

My Favourite Films of 2017

It's been a pretty awful year in politics, so I find looking back at my year in film is a pleasant diversion. The following is a list of my current 2017 favourites, but before I go through them, there are a few special film-related highlights to mention: In January I hosted a Q&A with producer …

A fleeting glance at Take Care of your Scarf, Tatjana…

One of my favourite films by Finnish director Aki Kaurismaki, and a brilliant example of how less is more. This is a black and white, ultra deadpan, minimalist comedy which, below its surface, has an abundance of heart. Lana Wilson in Senses of Cinema:- A’60s road comedy about two middle-aged men in a vintage Cadillac …

…minor observations on Le Havre and things Kaurismaki

My short review of Le Havre published online in One Hundred Words magazine [no longer available]:- To step into an Aki Kaurismaki film is to enter a unique, peculiar, intriguing and quite extraordinary universe. It’s one where dialogue is sparse, acting as muted and inexpressive as possible; where the colours have a distinctly retro feel; there …