Himas
In the beginning, no one imagined that Himas would blur the lines between art and the most intimate forms of survival. Set in the constantly frozen nearness of the Himalayas, Himas is not only a film but a psychological expedition in itself, with the snow both as a setting and a character. However, the exquisite […]
Bramayugam
The Anticipation Prior to the Enchantment When Bramayugam was first announced, the audience for Malayalam cinema did not just get excited; they got obsessed. After decades of dramatic and crime roles, Mammootty was going to be acting in his first major gothic horror. It was going to be something special, a film based on the […]
Much Loved
The Price of Truth, On Screen and Off Few films have dared to face societal hypocrisy as boldly as Much Loved (2015), directed by Nabil Ayouch. Set in Morocco and banned in its own country before release, it tells the story of four sex workers living in Marrakech — women both condemned and desired, invisible […]
Leap Year
When Timing, Travel, and True Emotion Converge There is a predictable pattern in romantic comedies: meet, fall in love, clash, and reunite. Leap Year (2010), directed by Anand Tucker and starring Amy Adams and Matthew Goode, took that formula and turned it into something more tender. More than a love story set in the beautiful […]
Hotel Coppelia
Movies can serve various purposes: some are made to entertain, while others stick in your memory long after you have finished watching. In this regard, Hotel Coppelia (2021), directed by José María Cabral, falls in the latter category. It sheds light on history and the endurance of the human spirit, exploring the Dominican Civil War […]
Blue Is the Warmest Colour
When Love on Screen Became a Mirror of Real Life Few films have blurred the boundaries between performance and reality quite like Blue Is the Warmest Colour (2013). Directed by Abdellatif Kechiche, the French coming-of-age romance follows the passionate yet turbulent relationship between Adèle and Emma — two women whose love story unfolds with raw, unfiltered emotion. […]
Maharot
When the Trailer Teased More Than Romance The trailers for Maharot on Vivamax promised copious coming-of-age adult narratives centered on risky relationships, moral complexities, and the tensions that lie between overt social constructs and underlying desires. Online fans speculated whether the narrative was a bold romance or one that addressed concepts of shame, judgment and […]
Blockers
The Anticipation Before the Chaos Social media was set abuzz the time the film Blockers was announced in 2018. Blockers was scheduled to be the directorial debut for Kay Cannon, 2018 social media was set abuzz the time the film Blockers was announced in 2018. Blockers was scheduled to be the directorial debut for Kay […]
She’s Lost Control
A Quiet Storm Beneath the Surface Anja Marquardt’s She’s Lost Control (2014) was a quiet film. It was neither a box office success nor a contender for any major awards. For those who, by chance, came upon it, this quiet indie film became a haunting mirror reflecting isolation, vulnerability, and control — or the lack […]
Mae Bai
Love, Cobra, and Forbidden Realms Mae Bia, or Mae Bai or Mae Bia, is a Thai supernatural romance-horror film, directed by Somching Srisuparp, released in 2001. Mae Bia follows the story of Chanachol (Akara Amarttayakul), a man who has been living abroad for a long time and upon his return, embraces Thailand’s culture. He is […]