Independent Cinema for Everyone

Nostalgia

Reviewed by Nigel Watson
Returning to his hometown of Naples after living abroad for 40 years, Felice Lasco walks the streets and alleyways of his old neighbourhood. Nothing much has changed except his mother Teresa (Aurora Quattrocchi) has sold their old home and is living in a gloomy apartment where … Continue Reading

Starting with a premise, Women Talking presents us with a single phrase: “What follows is an act of female imagination”. 

Taken from the novel by Miriam Toews, director and screenwriter Sarah Polley adapts a story of an isolated religious community (they refer to themselves as a colony), with a … Continue Reading

A train smashes into a car and sends it cartwheeling into the sky. That scene in Cecil B. deMille’s ‘The Greatest Show on Earth’ made the audience gasp, amongst them, and the most awestruck, is the young Sammy Fabelman. Ironically, Sammy’s parents had to virtually drag him into the cinema … Continue Reading

As a former grungy, and slightly pretentious, fine art student I have long been a fan of Nan Goldin’s photography. Goldin’s honest, unflinching but also loving style of photography has spoken to generations of photographers and artists. Breaking conventions of photography and portraiture and serving up a real … Continue Reading

Over the last few years, Japanese culture has exploded into the UK mainstream, and cinema is no exception. This year, on its 20th birthday, the Japan Foundation Touring Film Programme 2023 celebrates “the evolution of Japanese cinema”, encompassing past, present and future. Established in 1972, the Foundation aims to establish … Continue Reading

A searing portrait of racial inequality, Till tells the true life story of teenager, Emmett Till. The film, directed by Chinonye Chukwu, joins him at age 14. Emmett lives happily in 1950’s Chicago with his mother, Mamie Till-Mobley. We are immersed in this special mother and son relationship from the … Continue Reading

Set in the rich and vibrant Catalonian countryside, Alcarràs is the story of the collision between modernisation and tradition, and the disintegration of a close-knit family, living a seemingly idyllic lifestyle. 

Made up of a cast of non-professional actors, there is a glorious authenticity to the performances, and the … Continue Reading

With Tár screening at Plymouth Arts Cinema this week, Helen Tope takes a deep dive into classical music in cinema. 

Dramatic swathes of score, larger-than-life personalities – it’s little wonder that cinema has repeatedly turned to classical music for inspiration. While it is hard to imagine … Continue Reading