Author Archives: kaist455

Let the Right One In (2008) ☆☆☆1/2(3.5/4): A vampire girl on the next door

Posted on January 16, 2025 by kaist455

Is there any vampire movie as sad and poignant as the 2008 Swedish film “Let the Right One In”? This is a hauntingly chilly romance horror tale of loneliness and desperation, and I am glad to report to you that … Continue reading →

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My Best, Your Least (2024) ☆☆☆(3/4): Her pregnant student

Posted on January 15, 2025 by kaist455

South Korean film “My Best, Your Least” handles its rather sensitive social subject with more sensitivity and thoughtfulness than I expected, and I appreciate that. Mainly revolving around a complex teacher and student relationship, the movie powerfully delivers its important … Continue reading →

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Efterskole, Going to the Wonderland Korea (2024) ☆☆☆(3/4): Their freedom to look to the side

Posted on January 14, 2025 by kaist455

While watching South Korean independent documentary film “Efterskole, Going to the Wonderland Korea”, I could not help but reflect on how I was often driven by myself and my parents to do more and more study during my childhood and … Continue reading →

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Anselm (2023) ☆☆☆(3/4): Inside Anselm Kiefer

Posted on January 13, 2025 by kaist455

Wim Wenders’ latest documentary film “Anselm” is as unconventional as you can expect from him. As he did in his previous documentary film “Pina” (2011), Wenders presents the artistry of his human main subject with considerable interest and thoughtfulness, and … Continue reading →

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About Dry Grasses (2023) ☆☆☆1/2(3.5/4): Stuck in a remote snowy region

Posted on January 13, 2025 by kaist455

You should have some patience in case of the works of Turkish filmmaker Nuri Bilge Ceylan. I saw “Once Upon a Time in Anatolia” (2011), “Winter Sleep” (2014), and “The Wild Pear Tree” (2018), and they are quite long in … Continue reading →

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Umberto Eco: A Library of the World (2022) ☆☆☆(3/4): A brilliant mind surrounded by lots of books

Posted on January 12, 2025 by kaist455

When I was young and wild during the 1990s, I voraciously consumed any book good enough to intrigue my innocent and curious mind. At first, it was just a bunch of science books which were the origin of my current … Continue reading →

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Piece by Piece (2024) ☆☆1/2(2.5/4): Merely pleasant and amusing

Posted on January 12, 2025 by kaist455

Morgan Neville’s new documentary film “Piece by Piece” is merely pleasant and amusing despite some novelty in the presentation of its main human subject. As that figure in question suggests early in the documentary, it surely sounds cool to present … Continue reading →

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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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