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Balloon (2018) – A Remarkable True Escape
In one sentence: Balloon tells the astonishing true story of two families who attempt to escape across the Iron Curtain in a homemade hot air balloon. Mark Twain once said “Truth is stranger than fiction, but it is because fiction is obliged to stick to possibilities; truth isn’t”and no quote could ring truer for German…
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Nuremberg (2025) Review – Power, Psychology and Accountability
In one sentence: Set in the aftermath of the WWII, Nuremberg follows American psychiatrist, Douglas Kelley, tasked with assessing captured Nazi leaders, as psychological power games and moral dilemmas shape the world’s first attempt to prosecute evil through law. When I first learned of Nuremberg, I was not convinced it would be a movie for…
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Summer in February (2013) Review – When Art and Love Collide
In one sentence: Summer in February follows two close friends in pre WWI Cornwall whose bond is tested when a young woman enters their creative circle, igniting desire, rivalry and tragedy. Period British dramas were as popular as ever at the time Summer in February was released. Downton Abbey dominated television and Dan Stevens had…
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Maggie’s Plan (2015) Review – A Rom-Com That Knows Life Is Complicated
In one sentence: Maggie’s Plan follows a single woman determined to become a mother on her own, whose carefully laid plans unravel when she falls for a married academic. Romantic comedies often follow a familiar formula and can feel overly predictable. Too frequently, women are portrayed as waiting for a man to arrive before their…
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The Mastermind (2025) Review – A Crime Film That Moves at a Crawl
In one sentence: Set in the 1970s, The Mastermind follows a failed architect whose bungling attempt at an art theft leaves him on the run. Josh O’Connor is one of the most in-demand actors of the moment and seems to be releasing films at a remarkable pace. One of his latest is The Mastermind, a…
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On Swift Horses (2025) Review – When Longing Outpaces Action
In one sentence: On Swift Horses is a post-war American drama following Muriel and Julius as they navigate repression, risk, and emotional longing in the aftermath of the Korean War. Based on the book by Shannon Pufahl, On Swift Horses brings together some of the most talked-about actors of the moment in a quiet, beautifully…
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Savages (2025) Review – When Animation Takes on Deforestation
In one sentence: Savages is a stop-motion animated film that turns deforestation and overconsumption into an expressive and striking narrative. We hear a great deal about how overconsumption drives deforestation and climate change, but the makers of My Life as a Courgette bring this urgent issue to the screen in an unexpected and striking way;…
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The Ticket (2016) Review – A Modern Moral Fable
In one sentence: The Ticket is a modern moral fable in which a blind man’s newfound vision forces him to confront his life. Growing up, many of us encountered Aesop’s fables and their clear moral lessons, yet overtly moralistic films are relatively rare in contemporary cinema. Modern storytelling often favours ambiguity, inviting audiences to draw…
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The Call of the Wild (2020) Review – A Journey Back to Instinct
In one sentence: The Call of the Wild follows Buck the dog as he adapts to the harsh Yukon wilderness and discovers his primal instincts. Jack London’s The Call of the Wild is a story that has endured for over a century and Disney’s adaptation proves why it continues to resonate. Using modern technology alongside…
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Troll (2022) Review – A Nordic Legend Goes Large
In one sentence: Troll is a Norwegian creature feature that brings ancient folklore and large-scale action together in a dramatic, monster-driven narrative. Cinema has always had a fondness for creature features and the ongoing success of the Kong and Godzilla franchises proves that audiences still enjoy watching things get bigger, louder and more destructive. Norway…
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