BMB (Black, Muslim and Bi) is a short film combining dance, poetry and film to express a journey of self acceptance, forging their identity as Black, Muslim, bi. Queer identities have always been a disruption to the normative narrative, and the experimental style of film tries to break free to say something that is struggling…
Having just watched The Two Faces of a Bamileke Woman, I was eager to see what Rosine Mbakam’s next project would be like. I was pleased to find Chez Jolie Coiffure continues on the themes of strong women and female-centred community. Chez Jolie Coiffure is this really enjoyable slice of life, set inside a hair…
The first thing to know about this film is the cinematography is beautiful. Just stunning. The story is as much told through the camera’s gaze on these amazing landscapes as it is on the human actors in the frame. It makes every view a vista. Whether it is the powerful growl of the sea crashing…
Just beautiful. The Two Faces of a Bamileke Woman is a love letter to the women in her family, a celebration of their strength which sheltered and nurtured her, a thanksgiving for all she owes to their sacrifices and their character. The filmmaker returns home to Cameroon after 7 years, now a new mother with…
Ok, so when I first started this blog, I envisioned covering the GFF and only occasionally posting the odd interesting film review in between times. But certain events have changed things. Can you guess what event I mean? So Covid has already changed how I interact with cinema. The pandemic is still not over, but…
A hard watch. Because this isn’t about things coming together, it is about them falling apart. A Fish Tale follows Johnny, a Ghanaian fisherman who came to Israel to learn modern fishing techniques. Over the course of 10 years, he tries with everything he has to accomplish this single task, so that he may bring…
Fascinating documentary looking the popular music of Nigeria from the 50s to the 70s. It takes in highlife and juju music, interviewing many of biggest names of their time. And through their musical legacy, seeing the history and character of Nigeria as it emerged from colonialism. So many things you don’t even know you don’t…
Absolutely exquisite. Joel Coen adapts the Shakespeare play for the screen, with a stellar cast and resplendent cinematography. With spartan yet evocative set design, filmed in black-and-white, light is used not only to frame the story, but transform scenes. In my post on French Review, I criticised Wes Anderson’s use of visual symmetry as hollow,…
What the fuck was that? Titane is a film that will leave you asking the question, what did I just see? If I had to say what it’s about, if I had to put it into words, I’d say that a psychopath, who sees themselves more mechanical than human, falls pregnant by a Chevrolet, and…
An intimate and powerful film, Flee shows the life of Amin, a gay Afghani refugee who fled to Denmark during the Afghan Civil War in the 90s. Mixing animation and archival footage, it is a memoir of Amin’s life up until he finds refuge. Simultaneously, it has contemporary scenes where Amin and the filmmaker discuss…