1000 Women in Horror – Documentary Review
1000 Women in Horror is a fascinating feminist primer and analysis of the horror genre, chronicling its evolution from the earliest days of cinema to the present — 1895 to 2018, to be exact. The enlightening documentary covers the impressive history of women creatives who’ve focused on horror and have fully developed female-centered subgenres such as those base in experiences of abuse and rape revenge, challenging postpartem psysiological and psychological conditions, coming of age and dealing with aging, along with others that storytell about strictly female issues.
Read MoreNATCHEZ – Documentary Review
Natchez is filmmaker Suzannah Herbert’s documentary about the small Southern city with a huge history. The titular town is actually the oldest city on the Mississippi. Residents take pride in boasting their city’s two year seniority over New Orleans. Historically, Natchez has been a prosperous community, a Mississippi hub for cuture and the arts, endowed with an awesome array of beautiful historic mansions that have been cafrefully maintained through the ages. Today, Natchez is a popular destination for US and international tourists who want to view the historic mansions and experience the city’s legendary Southern charm and hospitality.
Read MoreWE STRANGERS – Movie Review
Filmmaker Anu Valia’s first feature, We Strangers, is a subversive, darkly funny and bitter narrative commentary on socio-economic racial profiling. The story centers on Ray, a young, intelligent, responsible, well-mannered Black woman who works as a for-hire house cleaner. She is diligent and thorough in her work. Her clients are well-to-do families, mostly White, who recommend her to each other, passing along her good services in the same way they’d share a recipe for pesto.
Read MoreHOLA FRIDA – Movie Review
HOLA FRIDA is a charming, beautifully animated biopic about artist Frida Kahlo’s childhood. Co-directors Karine Vezina and Andre Kadi focus on young Frida, the smart and curious girl whose indominable spirit gives her the strength to soar past her physical afflictions and imagine a world of wonders. The storytelling is deceptively simple in its understated delivery of wise advice.
Read MorePina (2011) – Documentary Review
About Pina, By Pina, For Pina In subtitling this documentary A Film For Pina, filmmaker Wim Wenders clearly announces his intention to deliver a cinematic tribute to the brilliant German dancer and choreographer, Pina Bausch, who is its leading subject and character. Wenders and Bausch were in pre-production for the film in 2009 when Bausch […]
Read MoreMovie Review of ‘The September Issue’ – 2009
The September Issue covers the preparation of Vogue Magazine’s annual style-setting issue, and profiles the book’s prima fashionista, Anna Wintour, who is arguably the most influential taste-maker in the world. R.J. Cutler follows Wintour into editorial meetings, fashion shows in Europe and to her own home, where she asks her teenage daughter’s opinion about fashion […]
Read MoreDON’T LET’S GO TO THE DOGS TONIGHT – Movie Review.
Don’t Let’s Go to the Dog’s Tonight is a very compelling first feature from actor-turned-director Embeth Davidtz. Based on the personal memoire of Alexandra Fuller, the story is set in Rhodesia (now Zimbabwe) during the final stages of the Bush War. The tale is told from the perspective of Bobo, the eight-year-old daughter of White […]
Read MoreFAMILIAR TOUCH – Movie Review
Familiar Touch is a profoundly poignant narrative about Ruth, an octogenarian women who is moving from her own home, a lovely and beloved house where she can no longer take care of herself, into an assisted living facility, where she must adjust to and accept an entirely new way of life for the rest of her life.
Read MoreADULT BEST FRIENDS – Movie Review
Adult best Friends is a charming comedy about two grown up women who’ve been best friends since childhood but find their relationship challenged because their adult selves have different needs, feelings, desires and habits than their younger selves did — and they must come to terms with that or lose each other. The film is […]
Read MoreUnBroken – Documentary Review
UnBroken is a compelling documentary that tells the story of the Weber siblings — six sisters and one brother — who, as a family, survived the holocaust by miraculously evading transport to Auschwitz, where their mother was incarcerated and murdered. A Unique Holocaust Survival Story The Weber children are the only set of seven Jewish […]
Read MoreWelcome to Cinema Citizen, an AWFJ Network Blog authored by Jennifer Merin
