She Spoiled It

Review: Citizen Penn

1/4/2021

As one-sided and irresponsible documentaries go this one takes the biscuit. Director Don Hardy ignores all moral and ethical discussion about unaccountable humanitarian efforts or white people taking it upon themselves to play God in developing countries. Instead he favors fawning over Sean Penn and his charity. Yes they did good, but did they also do harm in the process? This entirely one-sided documentary never questions any of their actions so we’ll never know.

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: Citizen Penn

Review: Topowa!

Review: True North

Review: The Woman With Leopard Shoes

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