Category: Independent
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SHORT FILM: LUCIFER RISING
“Lucifer Rising” is an experimental occult short film by Kenneth Anger, filmed in parts during the 1960s, completed in 1972, and released in 1980. It is a visual and symbolic invocation of the archetypal figure Lucifer, reimagined not as the devil of Christian tradition, but as a bringer of light, rebellion, and enlightenment—a creative, cosmic…
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LADY BIRD
“Lady Bird” (2017) is a coming-of-age dramedy set in Sacramento, California, during the early 2000s. Written and directed by Greta Gerwig in her solo directorial debut, the film centers on the final year of high school for Christine “Lady Bird” McPherson (Saoirse Ronan), a spirited and headstrong teenager who yearns for more than her middle-class,…
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SZERELMEM, ELEKTRA aka ELECTRA, MY LOVE
‘Electra, My Love’ (Szerelmem, Elektra) is a 1974 visually stunning and politically charged Hungarian film directed by Miklós Jancsó. Known for his long takes and choreographed movement, Jancsó reinterprets the classic Greek myth of Electra as an allegory of revolution, oppression, and hope. The film is notable for being shot in just 12 long takes,…
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IVANSXTC (NSFW)
‘Ivansxtc’ is a 2000 adaptation of Leo Tolstoy’s The Death of Ivan Ilyich set in the fast-paced, hedonistic world of Hollywood. Directed by Bernard Rose, it is a scathing critique of the entertainment industry, wealth, and self-destruction, shot in a cinéma vérité style that enhances its raw, documentary-like feel. The film opens with the sudden…
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WE NEED TO TALK ABOUT KEVIN
“We Need to Talk About Kevin” is a 2011 psychological drama based on Lionel Shriver’s novel. The film, directed by Lynne Ramsay, explores the complex and unsettling relationship between Eva (Tilda Swinton) and her son Kevin (Ezra Miller), ultimately leading to a tragic and devastating event. The story unfolds in a non-linear format, jumping between…
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BLOOD FEAST
Blood Feast (1963) is an American exploitation horror film directed by Herschell Gordon Lewis, often credited as the first gore film in cinematic history. Starring Mal Arnold, William Kerwin, Connie Mason, and Lyn Bolton, the film is notorious for its graphic violence, crude special effects, and over-the-top performances. Despite its low budget and lack of…
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EQUINOX
Equinox (1970) is an American independent horror fantasy film directed by Jack Woods and Dennis Muren, starring Edward Connell, Barbara Hewitt, Frank Bonner, and Robin Christopher. Originally filmed as a 1967 short titled The Equinox…A Journey into the Supernatural, the project was expanded into a feature-length film and released in 1970. The film follows four…
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SHADOWS
“Shadows” (1959) is an independent drama film directed by John Cassavetes. The film is celebrated for its improvisational style and unflinching exploration of race relations, identity, and personal relationships in late 1950s New York City. Set against the Beat Generation’s vibrant Manhattan scene backdrop, “Shadows” follows the lives of three African-American siblings: Ben, Hugh, and…
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SHORT FILM: THE GIRL CHEWING GUM
The Girl Chewing Gum (1976) by John Smith is a short experimental film that deconstructs the relationship between film, reality, and directorial control. The film begins with a commanding voiceover directing various elements of an everyday street scene in Dalston, East London. The voice, resembling that of a film director, orchestrates the movement of people,…
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WANDA
“Wanda” (1970) is an independent film directed, written by, and starring Barbara Loden. The film, which has a stark, minimalist style, tells the story of a drifting, disaffected woman trying to navigate her bleak existence in working-class America. Loden’s film stands as a landmark of feminist cinema, capturing the aimless life of its central character…
The Other Cinema 