Tag Archives: The Holocaust

Life Is Beautiful (1997) ☆☆☆1/2(3.5/4): As a clown as well as a father

Posted on June 15, 2025 by kaist455

I cannot help but marvel at what is so cheerfully, masterfully, and touchingly done in Roberto Benigni’s 1997 Oscar-winning film “Life Is Beautiful”, which was re-released in South Korean theaters early in this month. This is a very special film … Continue reading →

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The Brutalist (2024) ☆☆☆1/2(3.5/4): An ambitious piece to behold and admire

Posted on February 9, 2025 by kaist455

Brady Corbet’s latest film “The Brutalist” is an ambitious piece to behold and admire. While often boldly trying to emulate the style and form of those Hollywood classic epic drama films of the 1950-60s, it also brings a considerable amount … Continue reading →

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A Real Pain (2024) ☆☆☆1/2 (3.5/4): A tour about pain

Posted on January 17, 2025 by kaist455

“A Real Pain” really amused and touched me more than once, and that is quite an achievement in my trivial opinion. While it initially seems fairly simple as a familiar buddy road comedy-drama film, the movie is often surprisingly funny … Continue reading →

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Occupied City (2023) ☆☆☆(3/4): The past and present of one European city

Posted on November 20, 2024 by kaist455

Steve McQueen’s documentary film “Occupied City” is an ambitious piece of work alternatively interesting and demanding. For more than 4 hours, the documentary simply shows and tells the old past of a heap of different spots in Amsterdam of the … Continue reading →

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Perisan Lessons (2020) ☆☆1/2(2.5/4): A mock language for survival

Posted on December 19, 2022 by kaist455

“Persian Lessons”, which was Belarus’ official submission to Best International Film Oscar in last year but then was disqualified due to its technical ineligibility, is about one man who survives the Holocaust via a mock language invented by himself. Although … Continue reading →

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The Survivor (2021) ☆☆☆1/2(3.5/4): A boxer who survived

Posted on May 17, 2022 by kaist455

Barry Levinson’s new film “The Survivor”, which was released on HBO Max a few weeks ago, patiently and thoughtfully presents the guilt and trauma of one Holocaust survivor. While never sentimental or exploitative in its stark depiction of the evil … Continue reading →

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Misha and the Wolves (2021) ☆☆☆(3/4): A Holocaust story too good to be true

Posted on August 16, 2021 by kaist455

Netflix documentary film “Misha and the Wolves”, which was released in last week, presents a real-life story which is surely stranger than fiction for good reasons. Mainly revolving around an unbelievably dramatic tale from one old woman, the documentary initially … Continue reading →

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Those Who Remained (2019) ☆☆☆(3/4): Between two different war survivors

Posted on February 14, 2021 by kaist455

“Those Who Remained”, which was the Hungarian entry for Best International Feature Film Oscar and then made the December shortlist in 2019, is a dry and melancholic character drama unfolded between two different survivors of the World War II. Calmly … Continue reading →

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The Painted Bird (2019) ☆☆1/2(2.5/4): A gruelingly hollow piece of work

Posted on December 25, 2020 by kaist455

“The Painted Bird”, which was selected as the Czech entry for the Best International Feature Film Oscar in last year (It was included in the December shortlist although it was not nominated in the end, by the way), is a … Continue reading →

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Jojo Rabbit (2019) ☆☆1/2(2.5/4): An uneven World War II comedy by Taika Waititi

Posted on January 5, 2020 by kaist455

Taika Waititi’s latest comedy film “Jojo Rabbit”, which won the Grolsch People’s Choice Award when it was premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival in last September, is a typical case of whimsical mixed bag. While it has some nice … Continue reading →

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