Tag Archives: World War II

The Last Vermeer (2019) ☆☆☆(3/4): Better to be a forger than a traitor

Posted on January 25, 2022 by kaist455

“The Last Vermeer” is a modest period drama film which becomes compelling whenever its untrustworthy but undeniably fascinating real-life figure enters the screen. Here is an unabashedly opportunistic dude who cleverly duped many others including the Nazis during the World … 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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The Wife of a Spy (2020) ☆☆☆(3/4): A dry but compelling historical drama by Kiyoshi Kurosawa

Posted on April 5, 2021 by kaist455

Kiyoshi Kurosawa’s latest film “The Wife of a Spy”, which won the Silver Lion award at the Venice International Film Festival in last year, is a dry but compelling historical drama set in Japan during the World War II. While … 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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Shadow in the Cloud (2020) ☆☆1/2(2.5/4): There is something on the bomber…

Posted on January 9, 2021 by kaist455

“Shadow in the Cloud” is a rather amusing mix of fantasy and war action film with some feminist touches to be appreciated. Although the resulting mix is not entirely successful on the whole, it is at least anchored well by … Continue reading →

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A Hidden Life (2019) ☆☆☆1/2(3.5/4): A meditative resistance

Posted on December 26, 2020 by kaist455

Terrence Malick’s latest film “A Hidden Life” is a meditative drama film which calmly and austerely explores its religious/spiritual themes via the real life of one ordinary man who chose to stick to his belief despite being aware of the … 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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Ghosts of War (2020) ☆☆(2/4): Soldiers stuck in a predictable haunted spot

Posted on September 3, 2020 by kaist455

“Ghosts of War” looks like an interesting hybrid of two different genres at first, but it ultimately lets us down a lot. While you may be entertained a bit by how different genre elements clash with each other for a … Continue reading →

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Beanpole (2019) ☆☆☆1/2(3.5/4): Two women after the war

Posted on August 16, 2020 by kaist455

Russian film “Beanpole”, which was selected as Russia’s submission to Best International Film Oscar in last year, is a bleak and harrowing film about two women who are irrevocably damaged by their wartime experiences. While it is often quite difficult … Continue reading →

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Greyhound (2020) ☆☆1/2(2.5/4): An average World War II drama starring Tom Hanks

Posted on July 19, 2020 by kaist455

“Greyhound”, which was initially supposed to be released in US theaters in last month but then released instead on Apple TV+ in last week due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, reminds me again of what a good movie star actor … Continue reading →

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