Monthly Archives: January 2025

Dahomey (2024) ☆☆☆1/2(3.5/4): The return of stolen artifacts

Posted on January 5, 2025 by kaist455

Mati Diop’s documentary film “Dahomey”, which won the Golden Bear award when it was premiered at the Berlin International Film Festival early in last year, mainly revolves around a number of stolen artifacts finally returned to their home country. As … Continue reading →

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Lust, Caution (2007) ☆☆☆(3/4): A spy caught between lust and caution

Posted on January 5, 2025 by kaist455

Ang Lee’s 2007 film “Lust, Caution”, which is currently being shown again in selected South Korean theaters, is a slow but sensual period drama which works best whenever it focuses on the guarded psychology of the two very different main … Continue reading →

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Heretic (2024) ☆☆☆(3/4): A twisted test on faith

Posted on January 5, 2025 by kaist455

“Heretic” is a modest but effective horror thriller film about religion and faith. Now it may sound solemn and ponderous to you, the movie does a fairly commendable job of balancing itself between humor and suspense, and it will keep … Continue reading →

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Millennium Mambo (2001) ☆☆☆(3/4): Looking back at her messy life

Posted on January 4, 2025 by kaist455

Hou Hsiao-hsien’s 2001 film “Millennium Mambo”, whose 4K restoration version was released in South Korean theaters on the first day of this year, is an acquired taste for me just like many of Hou’s films, but it somehow engaged me … Continue reading →

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Armand (2024) ☆☆1/2(2.5/4): At her son’s school

Posted on January 4, 2025 by kaist455

“Armand”, which was selected as the Norwegian entry for Best Internation Film Oscar in last year, attempts a sort of high-wire stunt between the chamber drama films of Ingmar Bergman and the psychological thriller movies of Roman Polanski. While I … Continue reading →

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