She Spoiled It

Review: Topowa!

29/3/2021

“TOPOWA! Never Give Up” is one of the most joyful and uplifting documentaries I’ve ever seen. Join 12 musicians in the ‘Brass For Africa Teachers Band’ as they go from rehearsing in the slums of Katwe, Uganda to performing on stage with their hero, jazz legend Wynton Marsalis at the Cheltenham Festival.

Review: True North

25/3/2021

“True North” has the visual style of a PlayStation 2 cutaway scene from the early 2000s. Developed using survivor testimonies and ten years in the making, it is about growing up as a prisoner in a North Korean labour camp. It’s bleak, shocking and eye-opening. But the animation is atrocious, and one would hope it’s just a bold design choice rather than being unintentionally poor. Either way it’s certainly a very distinctive and important film which makes it definitely worth seeing.

Review: The Woman With Leopard Shoes

22/3/2021

This is a thrilling French gothic neo-noir that gives your braincells a workout the whole way through. It’s a cinematic escape room with clues abounding, and a wonderful soundscape to boot. The audience is immersed in tension and intrigue. But sadly the execution labors the point and makes the trim 80 minute run time feel much longer.

Review: Beginning

19/3/2021

“Beginning” is a hypnotic and disquieting debut feature by Georgian director Déa Kulumbegashvili. Having made waves at San Sebastian it has been selected as Georgia’s entry for the Best International Feature award at the 2021 Oscars. Shot in 35mm, the strength and intensity of the direction in particular makes for a very a striking film.

Review: Industry

15/3/2021

As someone whose day job is working at a FTSE 100 investment firm, and who has interviewed, hosted and mentored a number of grads over the years, I was particularly interested in “Industry”. This is the latest HBO/BBC TV show from Director and co-producer Lena Dunham and it’s coming to the small screen soon.

Episodes 1, 2 and 4 were available as part of the London Film Festival 2020 and these episodes discussed here.

Review: Nomadland

11/3/2021

“Nomadland” is making huge waves on the 2020 festival circuit and is the first film ever to win the top prizes at both Toronto and Venice film festivals. Writer/Director Chloé Zhao’s latest feature is based on the book “Nomadland: Surviving America in the Twenty-First Century” by Jessica Bruder. It’s a visual poem that rests our minds on a particular marginalised section of US society.

Review: After Love

8/3/2021

“After Love” is an intriguing study of how loss can unite people, even those otherwise divided by culture and geography. Long takes reminiscent of the studious eye of Joanna Hogg or Dominga Sotomayor Castillo bring complicated emotions to the fore without spoon feeding in this exquisite and intriguing film.

Review: Soul

5/3/2021

The latest offering from Disney Pixar was released on Disney+ on Christmas day 2020. As to be expected from Pixar, it’s an imaginative adventure which pulls on the heart strings and leaves us teary eyed with joy. An international cast of recognisable voices led by Jamie Foxx includes Tina Fey, Richard Ayoade, Daveed Diggs, Graham Norton and Angela Bassett.

Review: Stray

1/3/2021

As an animal lover I was nervous about watching this film. It documents life in Istanbul through the eyes of stray dogs, so had the potential to be distressing. But I needn’t have worried. This film has a lot of heart, love and compassion for both our furry friends and the people they encounter.