film & tv

January 10, 2025

Exploring Nepal through its tradition of multiple genders and matriarchal values

The 88-minute film explores Nepal’s matriarchal heritage through the figure of Ajima, a grandmother goddess in the Tantra tradition who embodies wisdom, protection and fertility

17-year-old Jefferson He reviews the 2024 documentary Ajima and 6 Gender Identities

January 03, 2025

Is The Wild Robot the best animated movie of 2024?

As much as I’m looking forward to becoming an adult, I’m obviously completely terrified. After almost 18 years of constant familial care, I feel like an astronaut soon to be jettisoned from the shuttle, left to float in the vast expanse of space. When I sat down to watch a children’s animated movie, I wasn’t expecting it to capture these feelings so perfectly

17-year-old Justin Sau sheds a tear at Dreamworks’ latest offering, a heartfelt coming-of-age story

January 03, 2025

Wicked: a visually stunning musical that lives up to the hype

Personally, I was really excited to see the film adaptation, because Wicked was the first stage musical I ever saw. I went with my mom when I was six, and was completely awed. I wanted to find out how the film compared with the Broadway show: better or worse? Or was the all marketing and the Wicked-themed candles just a way of getting into the heads of ‘theatre kids’?

15-year-old Klara Hammudeh reviews Wicked, the film adaptation of the hit Broadway musical

December 12, 2024

Best of 2024: Five must-read articles from the Culture section

Every article published in the Culture section this year has had its own spark, but a few stand out for their exceptional writing, unorthodox subject, worldwide relevance – or all three. As editor of the section, I’ve compiled a list of five articles that I think everyone should read, presented in chronological order

17-year-old Justin Sau shines a spotlight on his favourite Culture articles from the past year

November 29, 2024

Why Speak No Evil 2024 fails to outshine the original

Conversely, while watching Speak No Evil from 2024, I was glued to the screen due to the amount of chaos and improbability. Now, while I still believe the remake doesn’t hold a candle to the original, it allowed me to reevaluate my appreciation for the Danish film

17-year-old Maria Mitko reviews a recent American remake of a Danish psychological thriller

November 22, 2024

How I dived into the heart of American capitalism from a theatre seat

In three hours and fifteen minutes (including two intervals), we witness a sweeping epic of 150 years of American history. It starts with the arrival from Bavaria of Henry Lehman to Ellis Island in New York in 1844, soon followed by his two brothers

15-year-old Klara Hammudeh reviews a rerun of Sam Mendes’ award-winning play The Lehman Trilogy

August 01, 2024

Revisiting Amy Winehouse: Unpacking the biopic Back to Black

Back to Black’s vivid portrayal of Amy Winehouse has reignited the debate over the ethics of biographical filmmaking, while challenging audiences to confront the complexities of fame, addiction, and artistic brilliance. In death as in life, Amy defies easy categorization, leaving an untouchable mark on music and memory alike

15 year-old Sofia Vorobei asks if the recent movie does justice to the iconic singer Amy Winehouse

July 11, 2024

A Japanese volleyball film that’s too fast for its own good

Haikyu!! The Dumpster Battle is an exhilarating romp for well-versed fans, but for those who are going in blind, or have forgotten much of the anime, it can be confusing. With a limited runtime, the audience is left to fill in the gaps of many individual rivalries and character relationships

17 year-old Justin Sau reviews the animated volleyball movie Haikyuu!! The Dumpster Battle

July 04, 2024

Seeking closure: why open-ended movies are frustrating

Unlike traditional movies, which typically tie up loose ends, these films often leave many questions unanswered. While some argue that this ambiguity allows characters to leap off the screen and into our imaginations, I find it puzzling rather than enlightening

16 year-old Klaudia Bacza expresses her dissatisfaction with open-ended films

June 27, 2024

The creation and evolution of Superman

‘It’s a bird! It’s a plane! It’s… Superman!’ Perhaps the most iconic superhero ever created, spawning millions of comic books, films, television shows and merchandise, the Last Son of Krypton has captured hearts and imaginations all over the world for decades

17 year-old Justin Sau explains how the ‘Man of Steel’ created the superhero genre, 90 years ago

June 27, 2024

Passion. Tension. Match point.

The film is not really about tennis, but about the tense, to-and-fro relationship that tennis represents. That sense of tension only adds to the desire-ridden love triangle that Italian director Luca Guadagnino paints in his sexy sports drama Challengers

18 year-old Anatolii Mishustin reviews Challengers, a romantic tennis drama filled with desire

May 16, 2024

Dev Patel’s directorial debut goes bananas

In the world where John Wick and its imitators dominate the action movie genre, Dev Patel picks up a camera, directs and stars to deliver a unique piece full of passion and flare. Monkey Man might not push the boundaries of the genre, but it has everything to become an action cult classic

18 year-old Anatolii Mishustin reviews Monkey Man, a gritty action movie with a rush of adrenaline

May 02, 2024

Hollywood, please stop making movie musicals!

While stage-to-screen adaptations attempt to capture the essence of the original stories, there is a lingering sense that something is lost in translation – the raw and real energy of live theatre. Hollywood’s attempt to please everyone continually leaves no one satisfied

17 year-old Abigail Gonzalez Zavala bemoans the adaptations of stage musicals to film

April 25, 2024

An adventurous meditation on love soaked with Italian magic –La Chimera review

Every frame of Italian director Alice Rorhwacher’s La Chimera (a chimera is an illusion or invention of the mind) is permeated with the mythical magic and dizziness of the scorching Italian sun. It manages to be fantastical, amusing, and romantic all at once

18 year-old Anatolii Mishustin on the captivating and dreamy Italian film

March 22, 2024

Netflix’s release strategies are dangerous to auteur cinema

As the 2023 award season comes to an end, Netflix has once again gained global recognition for its original content. But could the streaming giant in its pursuit of acclaim pose a danger to the future of cinema?

18 year-old Anatolii Mishustin explores the dangers of a never-ending stream of content

March 15, 2024

A medium for kids? Why we should award more Oscars to animated films

Many anime films have received universal praise for their unique storytelling, emotional depth, and thought-provoking themes, yet are largely ignored in other categories at the Oscars. As one of the leading authorities on film, the Academy must spearhead the effort to challenge preconceived notions that animation can’t be taken seriously

17 year-old Justin Sau on the greater recognition animated films deserve

March 08, 2024

Dune: Part Two achieves the impossible, delivering the grandest space opera to date

Dune: Part Two is a testament to what the medium of cinema stands for. Breaking the boundaries of the sci-fi genre, the film results in one of the best sequels in history

18 year-old Anatolii Mishustin reviews the second installment a sci-fi great

March 01, 2024

Miyazaki’s perfect blend of magic and existentialism –The Boy And The Heron Review

Beautiful both visually and story-wise, The Boy And The Heron is a must-watch. It is suitable for every age as almost everyone will find something in the film to relate to

18 year-old Anatolii Mishustin on tantalising cinematography in an emotive animated film

February 23, 2024

Simple, sexy film that brings new life to the rom-com genre. Anyone But You Review

Charming leads, an intriguing set-up and a “parent trap” meets enemies-to-lovers trope, what more is there to wish for?

17 year-old Anatolii Mishustin on the explosive chemistry of the newest grand rom-com

February 09, 2024

Media depicting women holds one main aim: Giving a space for women to be judged

Defining a woman starts with using words like ‘trailblazer’ and ‘independent’ and ‘controversial’. A set of words is quite a small frame to describe everything that a person could be

16 year-old Sanjana Senthil’s award-winning essay on Women’s Rights

February 02, 2024

What’s the whole buzz about? The Grammy Awards explained

As we approach the 66th edition of the Grammy Awards, held annually by the Recording Academy, here are the things you need to know to fully appreciate the upcoming ceremony

15 year-old Klara Hammudeh looks under the red carpet of Recording Academy awards

January 26, 2024

Why I hated Poor Things but will watch it again and again

The star-studded cast movingly invokes the sense of the uncanny, something that lies at the heart of this modern ‘Frankenstein’ tale

17 year-old Sofiya Tkachenko on female depictions in Yorgos Lanthimos’s film

January 12, 2024

Has the movie industry transformed into a risk-averse machine?

As the tsunami of reboots and remakes continues to threaten to overwhelm us, it's crucial to recognize the consequences of this trend. While nostalgia can provide moments of joy and familiarity, it should not be a substitute for genuine creativity

16 year-old Justin Sau criticises the culture of remakes

January 12, 2024

Messy biopic where only battlefields shine: Napoleon review

Joaquin Phoenix and Vanessa Kirby put on grand performances that are still not enough to save the film from coming across as bloated

17 year-old Anatolii Mishustin reviews the latest box office disappointment

January 05, 2024

She is your mirror, and both of you will mirror our reality: May December review

Netflix dropped its Oscar contender, an eerie drama by Todd Haynes which delivers a slow-burner that hits you in the guts

17 year-old Anatolii Mishustin on the masterfully crafted new film

December 22, 2023

A film equivalent to a long hug encapsulates the Christmas spirit. The Holdovers review

The story of three unlikely individuals finding a family bond in uncertain circumstances is medicine for a broken heart. And with its emotional warmth and sentimentally cheerful ending, ‘The Holdovers’ still touches on severe topics of grief and depression - and does that quite well

17 year-old Anatolii Mishustin on a future Christmas classic

November 10, 2023

Is Hollywood saved now the writers’ strike has ended?

Strikes of actors and writers have cost the industry over $6 billion. After all the developments, many teenagers who dream of putting their stories on the big screens began to wonder: is entering the writing industry a good choice?

17 year-old Anatolii Mishustin explores the aftermath of the writer’s strike

November 03, 2023

"We can drive systemic change" - Filmmaker urges youth to take action in climate crisis

A feature documentary in production, ‘1.5 Degrees of Peace’, aims to start conversations in the fields of climate justice, peace and disarmament through the power of storytelling

17 year-old Sofiya Suleimenova interviews Kasha Slavner

October 27, 2023

It’s Haunting. Killers Of The Flower Moon review

Released last week, ‘Killers Of The Flower Moon’ delivers an ultimate epic of love, betrayal, and the nature of evil - unveiling this dark, twisted chapter in American history

17 year-old Anatolii Mishustin praises new film from Martin Scorsese

August 09, 2023

Oppenheimer review: Three-hour long biopic nothing short of mind-blowing

In unity with cinematography, sound design, and the soundtrack Nolan creates a horrifically immersive experience which controls every atom in the viewer's body

17 year-old Anatolii Mishustin reviews Nolan’s newest blockbuster

July 28, 2023

Barbie review: A must-watch, the allegedly ‘anti-men’ pink extravaganza will make you cry

Barbie is a must-watch for everyone, for young and for old, for women and men. It’s a beautiful story with a powerful message which will leave you thinking about your own experiences and understanding of the patriarchy and how it in fact isn’t about horses

17 year-old Sofia Radysh reviews the record-breaking box office film

July 21, 2023

Actors joined striking writers to save Hollywood as we know it

With actors’ walk-outs – including at the notable premiere of Oppenheimer in London, where Cillian Murphy, Matt Damon, Emily Blunt, and Florence Pugh all left the theatre – and arrested productions, the entertainment industry is suffering colossal stock price losses

17 year-old Sofiya Tkachenko reports on the ongoing strike

July 14, 2023

'Barbenheimer': is this the most important box office battle in a decade

Barbie is winning, and it is hardly surprising. After all, one film is about dealing with mortality, the sense of self purpose, and challenging American elites, and the other one is a historical thriller titled Oppenheimer

17 year-old Anatolii Mishustin on ‘counterprogramming’ movie marketing

June 30, 2023

A story that will keep you webbed to the seat. Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse review

The sequel takes everything the audience loved about the first Spider-Verse movie and turns it up a notch – if not more

17 year-old Anatolii Mishustin reviews the latest addition to the Marvel Cinematic Universe

June 30, 2023

Rare glimpse into 21st century politics of sex and desire. The Right to Sex review

Amia Srinivasan’s collection of six nonfiction essays is an impressive debut. Writing about rape culture, student-professor relationships, prostitution, and pornography, Srinivasan is unafraid to linger near the precipice of taboo

17 year-old Sophie Elliott reviews the 2022 Orwell Prize shortlisted book

June 23, 2023

Animal testing made its way onto the big screen. It may be a sign of change

Guardians of the Galaxy vol. 3 is more than a great movie - it also offers insight into cruelty disguised as animal testing

17 year-old Sofia Radysh on animal testing

April 07, 2023

Navalny should not have been a winner of an Oscar award

This movie being recognised and celebrated is unacceptable, no matter how good the quality of it might be. Such distinguished organisations with influential platforms like the Academy should consider the context of the movie before representing it

16 year-old Sofiya Tkachenko on the political messages of award-winning films

March 24, 2023

Babylon’s storytelling of early Hollywood failed to hit the mark - it instead made me gag

While I am not a particular fan of graphic and aggressive movies, I was excited for Babylon. So obviously, my expectations were high, and I decided to throw away my initial biases against Babylon and its gruesomeness. So what did this three-hour long extravaganza provide me with? Nothing but disappointment.

Sofia Radysh's take on the all-star Hollywood film Babylon

August 15, 2022

Bat girls for life? — Nothing about Batgirl said ‘cancel worthy’

Movies are not viewed as a piece of art anymore, they are investment assets. If something doesn't work out they can simply be dumped

16 year-old Sofia Radysh reports on what Batgirl’s cancellation could mean for the film industry

August 10, 2022

Ersatz Austen of cheap laughs and romance. Persuasion review

The greatest failing of Netflix's film is that it neither commits to being a faithful adaptation of Austen’s regency, nor a modern rendering loosely based on original content

16 year-old Sophie Elliott reviews streaming giant's take on Austen’s classic novel

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