Author Archives: kaist455

Squaring the Circle: The Story of Hipgnosis (2022) ☆☆☆(3/4): The story of one album art design studio

Documentary film “Squaring the Circle: The Story of Hipgnonsis” presents the story of one British album art design studio which gave us some of the most iconic album covers of all time. Although I do not know that much about … Continue reading

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Tchaikovsky’s Wife (2022) ☆☆(2/4): The Passion of Tchaikovsky’s Wife

They say misery loves company, but, after watching Kirill Serebrennikov’s “Tchaikovsky’s Wife”, I am wondering whether Russians love misery more than it wants. Here is a relentlessly grim, solemn, and miserable film which does not have much sense of human … Continue reading

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Wicked Little Letters (2023) ☆☆☆(3/4): A little problem in their town

“Wicked Little Letters” is a lightweight comedy film coupled with a bit of mystery. While it is not that difficult for us to guess the answer to the mystery inside the story even before its half point, the movie remains … Continue reading

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Petrov’s Flu (2021) ☆☆1/2(2.5/4): A baffling Russian flu fantasia

Kirill Serebrennikov’s “Petrov’s Flu” is a boldly self-indulgent mess you may admire for good reasons. Mainly revolving around one plain hero who happens to have a serious case of flu, the movie freely and whimsically goes back and forth between … Continue reading

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Challengers (2024) ☆☆☆1/2(3.5/4): Are they ready to serve?

Luca Guadagnino’s new film “Challengers” is quick, deft, and passionate in its every serve, and I like that a lot. Electrifyingly and humorously bouncing along one very complicated situation among its three main characters, the movie alternatively amuses and thrills … Continue reading

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They Shot the Piano Player (2022) ☆☆1/2(2.5/4): The disappearance of Francisco Tenório Júnior

How much I actually came to learn about Francisco Tenório Júnior? That was a lingering question left in my mind after I watched animated docudrama film “They Shot the Piano Player”, which was mainly about the real-life disappearance and presumed … Continue reading

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The Breaking Ice (2023) ☆☆☆(3/4): A quiet triangle in one cold Chinese city

“The Breaking Ice”, which was selected as the Singaporean entry for Best International Film Oscar in last year, is a somber but poignant drama about three different young people who happen to be stuck together during several cold winter days … Continue reading

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Unknown Narrative (2023) ☆☆(2/4): A jumbled dream movie

South Korean independent film “Unknown Narrative” could be named “Unfathomable Narrative” instead. It is supposed to be your average dream movie reminiscent of many other similar films such as David Lynch’s “Mulholland Drive” (2001), but any of its variously confusing … Continue reading

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A Traveler’s Needs (2024) ☆☆☆1/2(3.5/4): Hong and Huppert meet again

Isabelle Huppert, who recently had her 71st birthday in last month, is one of the most interesting movie actresses I have ever seen. With that consistently distinctive persona of hers, she has steadily fascinated and impressed us for more than … Continue reading

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Yannick (2023) ☆☆☆(3/4): One nutty interrupter

French film “Yannick” is a little one-joke comedy film which may often amuse you with the increasingly absurd situation surrounding its main characters. Despite its rather short running time (67 minutes), the movie does as much as intended without wasting … Continue reading

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