She Spoiled It

Review: April and the Extraordinary World

15/8/2020

Steampunk! Scientists! Women in STEM! “April and the Extraordinary World” (“Avril et le monde truqué”) (2016) is an exciting adventure with a strong theme of nature vs humans.

Review: Fanny Lye Deliver'd

13/8/2020

Muddy and misty with a violent streak, “Fanny Lye Deliver’d” is about a woman at a crossroads that will determine her future, in a country facing the same thing. Although some directorial choices make it feel stiff in places, tensions are nonetheless high. Maxine Peake delivers a chilling performance in this horror folktale about puritanical religion and personal liberation.

Women as disposable objects in "The American"

11/8/2020

This 2010 film, directed by Anton Corbijn, stars George Clooney as an assassin called Jack who wants to get out of the profession but carries out one more job. He travels to a small village in Italy to build and deliver a bespoke weapon.
While there he forms a relationship with a sex worker Clara (Violante Placido), tries to avoid being assassinated himself, and is generally melancholy.

Review: Petite Fille (Little Girl)

9/8/2020

This intimate and charming documentary by French director Sébastien Lifshitz follows 7-year-old Sacha and her mother Karine. They battle for her Sacha’s acceptance as a trans girl, and for a normal childhood. With a focus on family, support and identity this is a heart-filled and compassionate film which shows audiences what life can be like for a trans child.

Interview with “Astronaut” director Shelagh McLeod

7/8/2020

“Astronaut” (2019) is an uplifting and encouraging drama about Angus (Richard Dreyfuss), an ageing widower coming to terms with his failing physical health and life in a care home. He always wanted to be an astronaut so despite his age, physical condition, and protests of those around him, he enters a competition to go on a commercial space flight.

I had the opportunity to speak with director Shelagh McLeod about her directorial debut and pursuing passions later in life. This interview was conducted for www.InTheirOwnLeague.com

Review: Garden State and mental health

5/8/2020

“Garden State” (2004) is a mixed bag for a number of reasons. But some aspects of its depiction of mental health are very well portrayed, especially for its time.

Review: Saint Frances

3/8/2020

“Saint Frances” is a smart, funny, touching and stigma-busting comedy which shows that the grass is not always greener on the other side. Written by Kelly O’Sullivan (who also plays the lead), it’s unafraid to be bold but it’s also tender and has something important to say.

Review: Blindness (how not to deal with an outbreak)

1/8/2020

Content warning – rape

Fernando Meirelles’s 2008 film “Blindness” is a thriller which shows us exactly how not to deal with an outbreak.

When people across a major American city start to suddenly lose their sight it quickly becomes apparent that whatever is causing this is contagious. With no other symptoms the sufferers are rounded up and put into quarantine. They have no contact with the outside world and are simply locked up in isolation with no doctors, no support and only meagre rations.

Review: Radioactive