history drama – ALLIANCE OF WOMEN FILM JOURNALISTS

MAGELLAN – Review by Diane Carson

April 13, 2026April 19, 2026 Diane Carson Amado Arjay Babon, Ângela Azevedo, Artur Tort, Ferdinand Magellan, gael garcia bernal, history drama, Lav Diaz, Magalhães, Magellan

Filipino writer/director Lav Diaz tackles the historical, controversial Portuguese explorer Ferdinand Magellan in his challenging but fascinating Magellan, (Magalhães). Renowned as the first European to circumnavigate the Pacific Ocean, setting sail in 1519 (58 years before English explorer Francis Drake), Magellan had already participated in colonizing expeditions. The first voyage presented in the film, led by Alfonso de Albuquerque in 1511, resulted in Magellan’s being wounded during the seizure of the port city Malacca, on the prized strait navigated by traders between China and India. Undeterred and determined to resume his imperialistic forays as soon as he secured financial patronage, Magellan (Gael Garcia Bernal) returns to Portugal with an indentured Cebuano slave he baptizes as Enrique (Amado Arjay Babon).

Reviews

MUNICH: THE EDGE OF WAR – Review by Susan Granger

January 27, 2022January 29, 2022 Susan Granger Ben Power, Christian Schwochow, George MacKay, history drama, Jannis Niewohner, jeremy irons, Munich – The Edge of War, netflix, Robert Harris, world war II

Based on the 2017 best-seller by British novelist Robert Harris, Ben Power’s revisionist historical thriller revolves around two estranged Oxford University colleagues and their efforts to halt Hitler’s intended invasion of Europe. The sinister WWII story begins in 1932, when we first glimpse champagne-drenched best pals Hugh Legat (George McKay), Paul von Hartman (Jannis Niewohner) and Paul’s carefree Jewish girl-friend Lena (Liv Lisa Fries) cavorting at a garden party.

Reviews

MUNICH – THE EDGE OF WAR – Review by Diane Carson

January 22, 2022January 23, 2022 Diane Carson Ben Power, Christian Schwochow, George MacKay, history drama, Jannis Niewohner, jeremy irons, Munich – The Edge of War, netflix, Robert Harris, world war II

In Munich – The Edge of War German director Christian Schwochow dramatizes the September 1938 meeting of the top echelon of Germany and Italy, England and France leading to a non-aggression pact meant to ensure peace. The hope driving negotiations and self-delusion is that appeasement will satisfy Führer Adolf Hitler as he prepares to annex the Sudeten German territory of Czechoslovakia.

Reviews

FANNY LYE DELIVER’D – Review by Marina Antunes

July 22, 2020July 24, 2020 Marina Antunes 0 Comments Charles Dance, Fanny Lye Deliver’d, history drama, Maxine Peake, Thomas Clay

Maxine Peake and Charles Dance star as Fanny and John Lye, Puritans who live with their young son Arthur, on a remote farm in the English countryside. John spends his time overseeing the day-to-day operation and a strict religious home while Fanny toils ceaselessly to serve her husband and son — until unexpected visitors upend their lives..