Tag Archives: Real-life figure

Soundtrack to a Coup d’Etat (2024) ☆☆☆1/2(3.5/4): A Cold War plot behind jazz

Documentary film “Soundtrack to a Coup d’Etat”, which was recently nominated for Best Documentary Oscar, is a superb presentation of the hidden aspects of a political turmoil in Africa during the early 1960s. While it is simply a collage of … Continue reading →

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Caravaggio’s Shadow (2022) ☆☆☆(3/4): An artist between the holy and the secular

“Caravaggio’s Shadow”, which incidentally came to South Korean theaters in last month, is fascinated with what inspired Michelangelo Merisi da Caravaggio (1571 ~ 1610), who was one of the best artists in Italy around the early 17th century. Although he … Continue reading →

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The Apprentice (2024) ☆☆1/2(2.5/4): The early years of one deplorable figure

Ali Abbasi’s latest film “The Apprentice” looks into the early years of one deplorable figure who has been exerting toxic influences over not only the American society but also the whole world during last several years. While it surely drew … Continue reading →

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

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

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

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

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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Harbin (2024) ☆☆(2/4): A piece of dry and mediocre seriousness

South Korean film “Harbin” is so serious and ponderous that it often forgets engaging or entertaining its audiences. I do understand that it attempts to be a grim and gritty period drama about one famous real-life national hero and his … Continue reading →

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Made in England: The Films of Powell and Pressburger (2024) ☆☆☆1/2(3.5/4): Scorsese on Powell and Pressburger

In my trivial opinion, you must stop and then listen if you ever encounter Martin Scorsese lecturing on movies. While he is surely one of the greatest filmmakers of our time, he is also one of the most knowledgeable movie … Continue reading →

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Music by John Williams (2024) ☆☆☆1/2(3.5/4): The title itself is already enough for us, you know

Documentary film “Music by John Williams”, which is currently available on Disney+, looks over the long, illustrated career of one of the best film composers of our time. Since he rose to prominence around the late 1960s, John Williams has … Continue reading →

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