Author Archives: kaist455

Sentimental Value (2025) ☆☆☆1/2(3.5/4): Can she work with her filmmaker dad?

Posted on January 25, 2026 by kaist455

Joachim Trier’s new film “Sentimental Value”, which won the Grand Prix award at the Cannes Film Festival early in last year and then recently received no less than 8 Oscar nominations including the ones for Best Picture, Best Director, and … Continue reading →

Posted in Movies | Tagged , , , | 1 Comment

The Alabama Solution (2025) ☆☆☆1/2(3.5/4): The systemic failures of Alabama prisons

Posted on January 21, 2026 by kaist455

HBO documentary film “The Alabama Solution” is often sobering as presenting the alarming failures of the prison system of the state of Alabama in US. It may not surprise you much if you have ever heard about how problematic the … Continue reading →

Posted in Movies | Tagged , , , , | 1 Comment

2000 Meters to Andriivka (2025) ☆☆☆(3/4): In the middle of a battle over one Ukrainian village

Posted on January 20, 2026 by kaist455

Ukrainian documentary filmmaker Mstyslav Chernov’ latest documentary film “2000 Meters to Andriivka”, which won the Directing Award when it was premiered at the World Cinema Documentary section of the Sundance Film Festival early in last year, is a pretty grim … Continue reading →

Posted in Movies | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

Cover-up (2025) ☆☆☆1/2(3.5/4): A journalist still fighting for truth and transparency

Posted on January 19, 2026 by kaist455

Laura Poitras and Mark Obenhaus’ Netflix documentary film “Cover-up”, which was released around the end of the last year, gives an overview on the career of Seymore Hersh, a Pulitzer-winning American investigative journalist who deserves to be known more in … Continue reading →

Posted in Movies | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

The Straight Story (1999) ☆☆☆1/2(3.5/4): Lynch at his most sincerely heartfelt

Posted on January 19, 2026 by kaist455

David Lynch’s 1999 film “The Straight Story”, which happened to be shown in selected South Korean theaters along with his several other works in last week, shows Lynch at his most sincerely heartfelt. While many of his works are filled … Continue reading →

Posted in Movies | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Inland Empire (2006) ☆☆☆1/2(3.5/4): An actress under Lynchian influence

Posted on January 18, 2026 by kaist455

David Lynch’s 2006 film “Inland Empire”, which is being shown along with his several works at selected South Korean theaters, is still capable of alternatively baffling and dazzling me. Although I already watched it a couple of times, I am … Continue reading →

Posted in Movies | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

The Rip (2026) ☆☆1/2(2.5/4): The trouble with the rip

Posted on January 18, 2026 by kaist455

Netflix film “The Rip”, which was released on this Friday, is a typical crime action thriller film which will not surprise you much if you are familiar with its genre clichés and conventions. While it is relatively more competent than … Continue reading →

Posted in Movies | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Little Amélie or the Character of Rain (2025) ☆☆☆(3/4): Through a child’s viewpoint

Posted on January 16, 2026 by kaist455

Animation feature film “Little Amélie or the Character of Rain”, which recently won the Best Animation Film Award from the LA Film Critics Association, is colorfully charming as steadily sticking to its little heroine’s viewpoint. As she tries to process … Continue reading →

Posted in Movies | Tagged , | 1 Comment

The Square (2025) ☆☆☆(3/4): A star-crossed romance in North Korea

Posted on January 15, 2026 by kaist455

South Korean independent animation film “The Square” is an earnest melodrama about two very different people who cannot help but love each other despite an oppressive society surrounding them. While it is another typical tale of star-crossed lovers, the film … Continue reading →

Posted in Movies | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

The Passengers of the Night (2022) ☆☆☆(3/4): As she starts over

Posted on January 15, 2026 by kaist455

Mikhaël Hers’ 2022 film “The Passengers of the Night”, which was belatedly released in South Korea around the end of the last year, is a mild but engaging drama mainly driven by mood and emotion. Simply rolling with its several … Continue reading →

Posted in Movies | Tagged , | Leave a comment