Author Archives: kaist455

James White (2015) ☆☆☆1/2(3.5/4): He is a mess – and his mother is sick

Posted on October 2, 2017 by kaist455

Patiently following and observing its flawed young hero, “James White” shows us a painful but inevitable process of late maturation. He has looked away from what he does not want to deal with for years, but then something happens to … Continue reading →

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Columbus (2017) ☆☆☆1/2 (3.5/4): Of Architecture and Romance

Posted on October 1, 2017 by kaist455

During the two weeks of April 2010, I went around here and there in Chicago for getting to know more of the city, and one particular thing I still vividly remember is the various architectural styles observed from numerous buildings … Continue reading →

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First They Killed My Father (2017) ☆☆☆1/2(3.5/4): A girl in the Cambodian Genocide

Posted on September 30, 2017 by kaist455

“First They Killed My Father”, which is currently available on Netflix, is a dark, harrowing tale of survival filled with quiet but powerful moments of horror and sadness. Based on the memoir of the same name by Loung Ung, the … Continue reading →

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Kedi (2016) ☆☆☆1/2(3.5/4): Cats in Istanbul

Posted on September 28, 2017 by kaist455

If you adore cats like me, you will find that documentary film “Kedi” is a sheer delight right from its first scene. Looking here and there around the streets and alleys of Istanbul, the documentary presents a vivid glimpse into … Continue reading →

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David Lynch: The Art Life (2016) ☆☆☆1/2(3.5/4): Lynch on his early art life

Posted on September 27, 2017 by kaist455

As one of the most fascinating filmmakers in our time, David Lynch has dazzled and confounded us with his odd surreal style during last 40 years. Since he made a striking impression on the audiences with his first feature film … Continue reading →

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Strong Island (2017) ☆☆☆1/2(3.5/4): Remembering his brother – and how he was killed

Posted on September 25, 2017 by kaist455

Calmly examining one case of senseless killing and the resulting anger and grief, documentary film “Strong Island”, which is currently available on Netflix, makes its intention very clear to us right from the beginning. It wants us to see how … Continue reading →

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Icarus (2017) ☆☆☆(3/4): The biggest doping scandal in sports history

Posted on September 24, 2017 by kaist455

Bryan Fogel’s documentary film “Icarus” begins with one story and then goes into the other story. While the former is mildly fascinating, the latter is more compelling in comparison, and the documentary wisely lets the latter take the center, as … Continue reading →

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I Can Speak (2017) ☆☆☆(3/4): She wants to speak…

Posted on September 23, 2017 by kaist455

South Korean film “I Can Speak” is more serious than its trailer suggests. When I watched the trailer, I thought it was merely another silly comedy film, but then I heard that it is about a certain serious historical subject … Continue reading →

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Brad’s Status (2017) ☆☆☆(3/4): On his insecure status

Posted on September 23, 2017 by kaist455

Going through the 34th year of my life at present, I sometimes wonder whether I am fine with my current status. While I recently managed to settle on a modest but stable job after several years of personal confusion and … Continue reading →

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Keep Quiet (2016) ☆☆☆1/2(3.5/4): The repentance of an anti-semite Jewish Hungarian

Posted on September 19, 2017 by kaist455

Joseph Martin and Sam Blair’s documentary film “Keep Quiet” presents one extraordinary human story. Here is a man who has tried to reach for repentance and redemption since he confronted a hidden truth which shattered what he had fervently espoused … Continue reading →

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