F. Scott Fitzgerald‘s novel The Great Gatsby has been either overpraised or overdismissed. I think that both are reactionary attempts to assert one’s opinion, particularly in the realm of academic writing. I do not think that The Great Gatsby is a definitive American novel nor do I think that it is a mediocre work of idealistic fiction. Hemingway’s thoughts … Continue reading »
Latest Entries
Australian Girlhood
Gillian Armstrong‘s My Brilliant Career (1979) has often been described as a “feminist film,” and Armstrong as a “feminist director.” She directed Little Women (1994), Oscar and Lucinda (1997), and Charlotte Gray (2001) to name a few. After seeing her first feature film, My Brilliant Career (which will be the focus of this post), I cannot say that I agree with such a simplistic designation, … Continue reading »
A Quirky and Serious French Jewish-Muslim Romance
Ok, so the guy in the film is kind of Jewish, and the girl in the film is kind of Muslim. But that is one of the charms of the French film The Names of Love (2010 – French title: Le Nom des gens), which tells a story about a young woman, Baya Benmahmoud, and a much older man, Arthur Martin. It … Continue reading »
The Erotic Innocence and Experience
“When does a boy become a man?” asks 12 year old Noura. The older man looks at Noura, gives him a mysterious smile, and leaves the question unanswered. Such a question is the subject of a film Halfaouine: Boy of the Terraces (1990, Arabic title: عصفور سطح – roughly translated “Rooftop Bird”), directed by Ferid Boughedir. The story … Continue reading »
Seeking Empowerment, Selling Sex
“There is something not right with this film,” I kept saying to myself as I was watching it. The film in question is Elles (2011), a French-Polish-German production directed by Polish director, Małgorzata Szumowska. The film tells a story about a French journalist, Anne (played by Juliette Binoche), who is writing an article on the lives of … Continue reading »
The Mysterious Iris Murdoch
Recently, I saw Richard Eyre’s film Iris (2001), a biographical exploration of life and death of the novelist Iris Murdoch. I have seen it before, and the film was of particular interest to me because I enjoy novels of Murdoch very much. My first book I read of hers was The Italian Girl and ever since then I have … Continue reading »
No Explosion At All
I am extremely cautious when I hear that someone made an independent film, or as they are called in the film industry, indie. Just like anything, it becomes a brand of its own and a director or a writer wears the supposed badge of filmmaking courage proudly for all to see. Cassavetes (whose work and courage I admire immensely) … Continue reading »
