Category Archives: Movies

Breathless (1960) ☆☆☆☆(4/4): Still bold and spirited

Posted on January 10, 2026 by kaist455

For many years, watching Jean-Luc Godard’s ground-breaking film “Breathless” has felt like homework for me. To be frank with you, I usually prefer François Truffaut’s movies to Godard’s, and I usually find many of Godard’s films rather cold, haughty, and … Continue reading →

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My Sunshine (2024) ☆☆☆(3/4): A coming-of-age drama on ice 

Posted on January 9, 2026 by kaist455

Japanese filmmaker Hiroshi Okuyama’s latest film “My Sunshine” is a modest but engaging coming-of-age drama to be appreciated for several good reasons. While the story and characters are quite familiar to say the least, the movie patiently builds up its … Continue reading →

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Poppoya (1999) ☆☆☆(3/4): The life of a station master

Posted on January 9, 2026 by kaist455

Japanese filmmaker Yasuo Furuhata’s 1999 film “Poppoya” is the story of one dedicated railway station master. While he has simply devoted himself to his menial occupation for more than 20 years without much complaint at all, he has also kept … Continue reading →

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Good Fortune (2025) ☆☆1/2(2.5/4): The trouble with an angel

Posted on January 7, 2026 by kaist455

Aziz Ansari’s first feature film “Good Fortune” is a mildly amusing comedy which could push its comic promise further before arriving at its predictable ending. Thanks to the game efforts from Ansari and several other main cast members in the … Continue reading →

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Super Happy Forever (2024) ☆☆1/2(2.5/4): Not much beyond his self-pity

Posted on January 5, 2026 by kaist455

Self-pity can be one of the most tedious things to observe. As watching the first half of “Super Happy Forever”, I kept wondering why I should pay attention to the drab and superficial presentation of its rather uninteresting hero’s self-pity, … Continue reading →

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Father Mother Sister Brother (2025) ☆☆☆1/2(3.5/4): A trio of sublime family dramas from Jim Jarmusch

Posted on January 3, 2026 by kaist455

Jim Jarmusch’s latest film “Father Mother Sister Brother”, which won the Golden Lion award at the Venice International Film Festival in last year, is as dry, humorous, and touching as you can expect from him. As doling out its three … Continue reading →

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The Muppet Christmas Carol (1992) ☆☆☆(3/4): Michael Caine as Scrooge – with the Muppets

Posted on December 25, 2025 by kaist455

There is a good reason why Charles Dickens’ 1843 novella “A Christmas Carol” has been a classic work to be remembered and cherished by many of us. Above all, this is a striking ghost story with chilly and spooky qualities … Continue reading →

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Santosh (2024) ☆☆☆(3/4): Her complicated case

Posted on December 24, 2025 by kaist455

“Santosh”, a Hindi-language film which was incidentally selected as the British entry for Best International Film Oscar in last year (It was subsequently included in the December shortlist, by the way), is a dry but engaging police procedural drama. As … Continue reading →

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Vermiglio (2024) ☆☆☆1/2(3.5/4): In a small mountain village

Posted on December 24, 2025 by kaist455

“Vermiglio”, which was selected as the Italian submission to Best International Film Oscar in last year (It was later included in the December shortlist, by the way), is an immersive experience to remember. Slowly and patiently developing the mood and … Continue reading →

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Tampopo (1985) ☆☆☆1/2(3.5/4): For making a perfect bowl of ramen

Posted on December 23, 2025 by kaist455

Japanese filmmaker Juzo Itami’s 1985 film “Tampopo”, whose 4k remastered version is currently being shown in South Korean theaters, is a first-rate food movie filled with a lot of wit and charm to be savored and then appreciated. While cheerfully … Continue reading →

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