Directed by Marlo McKenzie and Jonathan Parker, Carol Doda: Topless at the Condor transports the viewer back to San Francisco in the 1960s. Here, we meet Carol Doda, the first dancer to go topless in the booming nightclub scene. In doing so, Doda became an overnight sensation and struck a blow for gender equality (both legally and…
‘It’s not our pub anymore, innit?’ No, it’s something far better. Directed by Ken Loach, The Old Oak is a pub that’s hanging on by a thread. Barely holding together, the place is still seen as a community hub and its humble owner, TJ Ballantyne (Dave Turner) does his best to keep things running. But the neighbourhood…
There’s joy in pulp romances. Having grown up watching soap operas, I have a genuine fondness for the trials and tribulations of the rich and famous, especially as their scandals are uncovered and secrets are revealed. It’s through this lens that I can enjoy Strictly Confidential, a twisty tale of truth and lies from first-time filmmaker…
Reviving the classic franchise, The First Omen takes the viewer back to the beginning and introduces us to Margaret Daino (Nell Tiger Free), a young American woman sent to Rome where she intends on dedicating her life to the church. However, as she begins her journey towards the Cloth, she begins to encounter a demonic presence that…
By Robert Bellissimo Writer/Director Liliana Cavani based The Night Porter on real events. She had been making a documentary for Italian TV on prison camps when she met a woman who was a concentration camp survivor, whose lover was an SS Nazi Officer. He had been executed by the Americans. This woman had moved to…
In Someone Like You, rural architect Dawson Gage (Jake Allyn) has always been in love with London Quinn (Sarah Fisher), even if she hasn’t felt the same. Now, a decade later, the two finally seem to be on the same page romantically… when suddenly tragedy strikes and that opportunity is lost. But Dawson yearns to find…
“Please, let it all out. That’s what I’m here for.” In The Listener, directed by Steve Buscemi, we eavesdrop on callers to an emotional support helpline. I view such services (and I have volunteered at one many years ago) as emotional first-aid. That is not meant to denigrate such work. Indeed, first-aid often saves lives….
In Transition, Australian filmmaker and journalist Jordan Bryon gives the world an entirely different view of the Taliban regime during the fall of Afghanistan. Having gained incredible access to a Taliban unit, Bryon and his videographer, Teddy, give an authentic view of life under their oppressive regime. However, at the same time, Bryon’s journey with the military…
When people think about Toronto, the music scene isn’t always what comes to mind. Known as Hollywood North, the Six has been seen as a hotspot for moviemaking, often drawing attention first. Or, maybe it’s seen as a sports town. With four teams inhouse, many view this as a central city for major league sports….
“How do I know what I want? But my future is not bleak.” Yuni, from Kamila Andini, is a coming-of-age story that deals with the conflict between personal aspirations and societal expectations. These are issues in nearly all cultures, but they seemed to be heightened in many places that have very defined roles for women,…
