Tag: UK
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SACRED HOUSES: THE MAREEL, SHETLAND ISLANDS, UK
The Shetland Islands, a remote archipelago in the North Sea north of the Scottish mainland, had one cinema, The North Star in Lerwick, which was converted into a music venue in 1989. In complete transparency, I worked extensively with a band called “Idlewild” during their early days. They were strong advocates for remote concerts in…
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DOCTOR ZHIVAGO
“Doctor Zhivago” is a 1965 sweeping historical romance and political epic directed by David Lean, adapted from Boris Pasternak’s controversial Nobel Prize-winning novel, with a screenplay written by Robert Bolt. Set against the backdrop of World War I, the Russian Revolution, and the Russian Civil War, the film follows the personal and romantic turmoil of…
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THE ROCKY HORROR PICTURE SHOW
“The Rocky Horror Picture Show” is a 1975 musical, comedy, and horror film written by Richard O’Brien and directed by Jim Sharman, who also co-wrote it. The film, based on O’Brien’s 1973 stage play of the same name, has become a cultural phenomenon despite initially being a box office flop upon its release. The film…
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THE ELEPHANT MAN
“The Elephant Man” is a biographical drama released in 1980, directed by David Lynch. The film features John Hurt in the role of John Merrick, known as the “Elephant Man.” Anthony Hopkins plays Dr. Frederick Treves, while Anne Bancroft portrays Mrs. Kendal. The cast also includes John Gielgud as Mr. Carr Gomm, Wendy Hiller as…
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SHORT FILM: WILD SUMMON
“Wild Summon” is a 2023 natural history fantasy film directed by Karni (Arieli) and Saul (Freed), which reimagines the life cycle of a wild salmon through the lens of human experience. The film follows a female salmon who, upon reaching maturity, embarks on a perilous journey from the river to the open sea and back…
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IF…. (NSFW)
“if….” is a 1968 British satirical drama directed by Lindsay Anderson and is regarded as one of the defining films of 1960s British cinema. Blending realism with surrealism, the film is a scathing critique of institutional authority, class privilege, and societal repression, set against the rigid backdrop of an English public (private) boys’ school. It…
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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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IN BRUGES
‘In Bruges’ is a 2008 dark comedy-drama written and directed by Martin McDonagh in his feature film debut. It blends sharp wit, brutal violence, and emotional depth, a hallmark of the former playwright. Set against the picturesque medieval backdrop of Bruges, Belgium, the story centers on two hitmen who lay low after a job gone…
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MONTY PYTHON’S THE MEANING OF LIFE
Monty Python’s The Meaning of Life is a 1983 sketch-based satirical comedy that attempts—with tongue firmly in cheek—to answer one of the most profound philosophical questions of all time: What is the meaning of life? Directed by Terry Jones with the animated sequences directed by Terry Gilliam, who also directed the opening short film “The…
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PINK FLOYD: LIVE AT POMPEII
Pink Floyd: Live at Pompeii is a 1972 concert documentary film featuring the legendary rock band Pink Floyd (David Gilmour, Roger Waters, Richard Wright, and Nick Mason). It features Pink Floyd performing a live set in the ancient Roman amphitheater of Pompeii, Italy. Unlike traditional concert films, it captures the band playing without an audience,…
