Author Archives: kaist455

The Parts You Lose (2019) ☆☆☆(3/4): His loss of innocence

Posted on October 9, 2019 by kaist455

“The Parts You Lose” is a simple but haunting coming-of-age drama revolving around a young deaf boy who happens to be involved in one very tricky circumstance. While its melancholic presentation of his gradual loss of innocence is familiar to … Continue reading →

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White Rabbit (2018) ☆☆☆(3/4): Meet Vivian Bang

Posted on October 9, 2019 by kaist455

“White Rabbit” is basically another plain tale of youth in confusion and uncertainty, but it distinguishes itself to some degree although it is not so far from other similar recent films such as Lena Dunham’s “Tiny Furniture” (2010). Through its … Continue reading →

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Maiden (2018) ☆☆☆1/2(3.5/4): Sailing Away

Posted on October 8, 2019 by kaist455

Documentary film “Maiden” presents a fascinating real-life story about a group of brave and strong women who attempted to show the world that girls can do anything. Although they naturally faced many troubles and obstacles including sexism from the very … Continue reading →

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Knife+Heart (2018) ☆☆☆(3/4): Who’s killing her gay porn actors?

Posted on October 7, 2019 by kaist455

French film “Knife+Heart” is a cheerfully gaudy and goofy mix of cheap gay porn flicks and campy giallo horror movies of the 1970s. Although it is a bit shame that the movie does not try to be something more than … Continue reading →

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Transit (2018) ☆☆☆(3/4): An anachronistic period drama by Christian Petzold

Posted on October 6, 2019 by kaist455

Christian Petzold’s new film “Transit” is interesting to watch for a number of reasons. While initially intriguing us with its deliberately anachronistic period background, the movie gradually draws us into its melancholic human drama around one desperate guy, and we … Continue reading →

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Billy Lynn’s Long Halftime Walk (2016) ☆☆(2/4): A soldier’s long day

Posted on October 6, 2019 by kaist455

“Billy Lynn’s Long Halftime Walk” attempts to do many things together, but it seems as confused and distracted as its conflicted wartime hero. On one level, it aims to be a sincere war drama, but then it also wants to … Continue reading →

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Toni Morrison: The Pieces I Am (2019) ☆☆☆(3/4): Morrison on her life and career

Posted on October 5, 2019 by kaist455

I must confess that the works of Toni Morrison, a great African American female author who sadly passed away two months ago, have been a glaring blind spot in my reading list. Although I came to know a bit about … Continue reading →

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The Traitor (2019) ☆☆1/2(2.5/4): An Honorable Traitor

Posted on October 5, 2019 by kaist455

“The Traitor”, which was recently selected as the Italian entry for Best International Feature Film Oscar, is a sprawling crime drama film which is not wholly successful in its ambitious but flawed narrative. While occasionally fascinating us with its compelling … Continue reading →

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Maggie (2018) ☆☆☆(3/4): A sweet and whimsical comedy featuring a talking catfish

Posted on October 4, 2019 by kaist455

South Korean independent film “Maggie”, which actually means ‘catfish’ in Korean, a sweet and whimsical comedy which gives us a number of odd and quirky moments to be savored while also quite sensitive and thoughtful about its subjects. As we … Continue reading →

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Our Body (2018) ☆☆☆1/2(3.5/4): Running after her

Posted on October 3, 2019 by kaist455

As your average chubby overweight guy, I frequently exercise at a local gym for getting healthier, and my eyes sometimes cannot help but notice how fit and muscular some guys at the gym look. Whenever I briefly stare at their … Continue reading →

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