Tag: Identity
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A DIFFERENT MAN
“A Different Man” is a 2024 psychological dark comedy drama from Aaron Schimberg that plunges into the tangled web of identity, self-worth, and society’s gaze. The film’s unsettling yet moving story fuses drama, biting satire, and body horror. Sebastian Stan leads as Edward, a struggling actor whose severe facial disfigurement leaves him isolated and yearning…
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PERMISSIVE (NSFW)
“Permissive” is a gritty and downbeat British drama from 1970, directed by Lindsay Shonteff and written by Suzanne Mercer, one of the few female screenwriters active in the late 1960s counterculture film scene. Set against the backdrop of London’s early 1970s rock culture, the film offers an unflinching, melancholic look at groupie culture, moral disillusionment,…
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DIE SPALTE aka MAKING OF A PROSTITUTE (NSFW)
“Die Spalte,” also known as “Making of a Prostitute,” is a film from 1971, written by Gustav Ehmck and Christian Rolf, and directed by Ehmck himself. This film is a notable example of the German New Wave, a movement known for portraying raw and controversial subjects, and “Die Spalte” certainly exemplifies this genre. The film…
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THE KILLING OF A CHINESE BOOKIE
“The Killing of a Chinese Bookie” is a 1976 character-driven neo-noir film directed by John Cassavetes, who is known for his focus on improvisational realism and deep psychological themes. The story follows Cosmo Vitelli (played by Ben Gazzara), the suave yet weary owner of the “Crazy Horse West,” a small, seedy strip club in Los…
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SHORT FILM: WANDER TO WONDER
“Wander to Wonder” is a 2023 short stop-motion animation film directed by Nina Gantz and written by Simon Cartwright, Daan Bakker, and Stienette Bosklopper. It won the BAFTA Award for Best British Short Animation and was nominated for Best Animated Short Film at the 97th Academy Awards. The film features Terence Dunn as Billy Budd,…
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THE EMPIRE STRIKES BACK aka STAR WARS: EPISODE V – THE EMPIRE STRIKES BACK
“The Empire Strikes Back,” also known as “Star Wars: Episode V – The Empire Strikes Back,” is the 1980 second installment in the Star Wars saga and the fifth episode in its chronological order; it is often regarded as one of the best sequels—and films—in the Star Wars Saga. The film, directed by Irvin Kershner,…
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A PÁTY JEZDEC JE STRACH aka AND THE FIFTH HORSEMAN IS FEAR
“a pátý jezdec je Strach,” aka “And the Fifth Horseman Is Fear,” directed by Zbyněk Brynych, is a 1965 Czechoslovak psychological drama set during the Nazi occupation of Prague. It is a chilling, surreal, and Kafkaesque meditation on totalitarianism, internalized terror, and the dehumanization of individuals under a regime of fear. Rather than depicting overt…
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JAG ÄR NYFIKEN – EN FILM GULT aka I AM CURIOUS (YELLOW) NSFW
“I Am Curious (Yellow)” (Jag är nyfiken—en film i gult) is a groundbreaking 1967 Swedish film directed by Vilgot Sjöman. It is known for its bold blend of political commentary, experimental storytelling, and explicit sexuality. The film became a lightning rod for controversy upon its international release, particularly in the United States, where it was…
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BLUE JEAN
“Blue Jean” is the 2022 debut feature film by British director Georgia Oakley. The film is a poignant drama and quietly powerful character study set against the backdrop of Thatcher-era Britain in the late 1980s. The film explores themes of identity, secrecy, and resistance in a time of political oppression and widespread homophobia, particularly focusing…
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AMERICAN HUSTLE
“American Hustle” is a 2013 crime drama and dark comedy directed by David O. Russell. It’s a partly fictionalized retelling of the FBI’s 1970s “Abscam” sting operation, focusing on cons, ambition, deception, and the blurred lines between truth and illusion. The story begins with Irving Rosenfeld (Christian Bale), a small-time con artist who runs scams…
The Other Cinema 