France

LOVE AT FIRST CHILD: Sparklingly Generic
LOVE AT FIRST CHILD: Sparklingly Generic

Love at First Child offers nothing new in the romantic comedy genre, but some laughs and chemistry between the leads make it a pleasant watch.

The Beginner's Guide: Claire Denis, Director
The Beginner’s Guide: Claire Denis, Director

The characters in her films don’t say much, but Claire Denis still manages to create worlds where communication arrives in other forms.

MOKA: Motherhood, Grief & Revenge
MOKA: Motherhood, Grief & Revenge

Moka is a French slow burning drama that occasionally conjures some suspense, which makes it fascinating in its own way.

PICKPOCKET: Crime & Punishment Of The Mundane
PICKPOCKET: Crime & Punishment Of The Mundane

Pickpocket (1959) is an intricately staged, intimate character study from Robert Bresson – solidifying itself as one of his greatest works.

IN THE SHADOW OF IRIS: The Outline Of A Great Thriller Ultimately Fades With A Whimper

In the Shadow of Iris has inklings of greatness, but it suffers from a muddled plot and some questionable casting and production choices.

SLACK BAY: Madcap... Or Simply Maddening?
SLACK BAY: Madcap… Or Simply Maddening?

An open mind and a willing heart are needed to appreciate Slack Bay’s zaniness; it’s a lot of fun when the initial peculiarities settle.

A WOMAN'S LIFE: Endlessly, Unremittingly, Relentlessly Bleak
A WOMAN’S LIFE: Endlessly, Unremittingly, Relentlessly Bleak

A Woman’s Life shows the hardships women endure throughout their lives relentlessly and without optimism, and is depressing as a result.

JEANNE DIELMAN 23, QUAI DU COMMERCE 1080 BRUXELLES: Mystery & Insight In Everyday Work
JEANNE DIELMAN 23, QUAI DU COMMERCE 1080 BRUXELLES: Mystery & Insight In Everyday Work

We take a look at Chantal Akerman’s Jeanne Dielman, 23 Quai Du Commerce, 1080 Bruxelles, which deals with the mundane in a truly unique way.

ART OF COURAGE: Creative Activism For All
ART OF COURAGE: Creative Activism For All

After the Paris terrorist attacks, two aerial artists worked tirelessly to spread a message of hope. This short film, Art Of Courage, details their story.

RAW: A New Age Ravenous Tale
RAW: A New Age Ravenous Tale

Julia Ducournau’s debut RAW doesn’t deserved to be labelled as “barf bag” cinema, as this is one of the best horror debuts in recent memory.

Nine Lives: The One Where Kevin Spacey Plays A Cat
NINE LIVES: The One Where Kevin Spacey Plays A Cat

At times brimming with invention and at other moments leaving you confused as to who this is for, Nine Lives doesn’t fully deliver.

THAT MAN FROM RIO: Where the International Thriller Meets Madcap Comedy
THAT MAN FROM RIO: International Thriller Meets Madcap Comedy

A dazzling picture that’s as comedic as it is entertaining, bursting with a Brazilian energy that brings to mind the Bossa Nova rhythms of Sergio Mendes.

PERSONAL SHOPPER: A Techno-Gothic Puzzle That Demands Your Attention
PERSONAL SHOPPER: A Techno-Gothic Puzzle That Demands Your Attention

Personal Shopper is the rare film that is unclassifiable in terms of genre, refusing to neatly fit in to the preconceptions of a horror film, as well as lacking a distinctive explanatory reading.

BLACK GIRL: Vocal Cinema
BLACK GIRL (1966): Vocal Cinema

One of the first films from Sub-Saharan Africa to make waves on the international stage, Black Girl remains nothing less than masterful.

The Beginner’s Guide: Jacques Demy, Director

In our latest beginner’s guide, we take a run-down through the films of Jacques Demy, a French director who triumphed in the musical genre.