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 […]
Her Body 2023
From Olympic Dreams to Cinematic Reality In 2023, Czech director Natálie Císařovská brought to life the story of Andrea Absolonová in Her Body (Její tělo). Based on the true events of Absolonová’s life, the film portrays her life from the perspective of an Olympic diver to an adult film actress. The story is intricately concerned […]
High Society 2018
A Study of South Korea’s Social Landscape High Society (2018) directed by Byun Hyuk, tells the story of Jang Tae-joon (Park Hae-il) a university instructor who aspires to a political career, and his wife, Oh Soo-yeon (Soo Ae), a deputy curator at an art gallery. Together, they try to climb the social ladder and, in […]
The Taste of Money
A Glimpse into the World of the Elite The 2012 film The Taste of Money, directed by Im Sang-soo, critically explores the lives of the upper class in South Korea. The film focuses on the Yoon family, a multi-billion South Korean conglomerate, power structures within the family, as well as the complex relationships that the […]
Serve the People
The Film That Stirred a Nation Serve the People (인민을 위해 복무하라), which premiered in February 2022, became a cultural sensation almost immediately after its release. It was directed by Jang Cheol-soo and takes place in a fictional socialist country akin to 1970s North Korea. It centers on Mu-gwang (Yeon Woo-jin), a soldier who is […]
A Frozen Flower
A Frozen Flower: When Anticipation Met Scandal As of 2008, South Korean cinema had begun its journey toward a global identity. The Hallyu wave was gaining momentum, with domestic and international audiences eager to experience bold and beautifully made films. This was the backdrop for the initial announcements for A Frozen Flower (Ssanghwajeom). The initial […]
Dirty Work
Dirty Work: The Comedy That Hid Its Own Bruises When Dirty Work hit theaters in 1998, it arrived with the energy of a prank nobody was sure they were ready for. Marketed as a crude revenge comedy led by the late Norm Macdonald, the movie seemed on the surface like a vehicle for cheap laughs. […]
Pompeii
Pompeii: When the Lava Cooled, Real Lives Began When Paul W. S. Anderson’s Pompeii erupted onto screens in 2014, it promised to be a grand mix of ancient tragedy and modern spectacle. With sweeping sets, fiery destruction, and a love story set against one of history’s most infamous disasters, it sought to bring the Roman […]
Wet Woman in the Wind
Wet Woman in the Wind: When a Small Film Became a Big Conversation Sometimes cinema doesn’t just stay in theatres—it trickles out into streets, conversations, and even the way people dress or joke online. Wet Woman in the Wind (Kaze ni nureta onna), released in 2016 as part of Nikkatsu’s revival of the Roman Porno […]