Scribbles and Ramblings

A few stellar recent films highlight some of Mexico’s contemporary issues and humanize the plight of citizens much more than traditional Nor...

A Man of Integrity (2017, Iran, Mohammad Rasoulof) Reza (Reza Akhlaghirad) leaves the politics of the city for a simple life in a Northern I...

The films of Lokesh Kanagaraj   Maanagaram (2017) Kaithi (2019) Master (2021) Vikram (2022) Given that recently cinema has all been about mu...

A director spotlight can provide a focused ways to look at films. One can focus on certain signposts that identify the auteurial qualities o...

Films seen or revisited as part of this spotlight: Models (1999) Dog Days (2001) Import / Export (2007) Paradise: Love (2012) Paradise: Fait...

An update to the previously posted Best Films of 2022 list. Top 12 films of 2022: 1. Pacifiction (France/Spain/Gemany/Portugal, Albert Serra...

Top 12 Korean films of all time 1. Aimless Bullet (1961, Yu Hyun-mok) Yu Hyun-mok expertly incorporates neorealism with some film noir and c...

Obaltan / Aimless Bullet (1961, South Korea, directed by Yu Hyun-mok) Over the last 2 decades, contemporary Korean films have become much mo...

Law of Tehran / Just 6.5 (2019, Iran, Saeed Roustayi) In this high-octane thriller, detective Samad (Payman Maadi, A Separation ) goes on a ...

New Order (2020, Mexico/France) Sundown (2021, France/Mexico/Sweden) Two recent films by Michel Franco take common associations of Mexican c...

I am putting up a Best Films of 2022 list more than 3 months into 2023. This delay highlights the accessibility of relevant films to view at...