Ordered the wrong wine at the bar. I am sitting alone on Valentine’s Day waiting for a friend and I look like I’ve been stood up. Last year I was with a man I didn’t love anymore. This year I lost a man I never loved. But what if? That’s the constant question on my mind. And I know the answer. We were never going to work, I was obsessed with the idea of you and the fake conversations I had with you in my head. And when we spoke it would never be the same, it would never be enough but I lured myself into a false illusion thinking that it would get better. That one day you would say you loved me even though I wasn’t entirely sure that I was in love with you. In fact I was never in love with you, it was always the idea of you, the night me we met. It was like a fucking film. Catching eyes across the dance floor, making cool conversation, letting you know I was interested, walking me all the way home, the non stop conversation, the way you kissed me at my door, the sweet start to a doomed end. It was a god damn fairytale with a realistic ending. It ended. It was never meant to be and that’s okay, it just sucks and that’s also okay. I wish I never met you but I’m still glad that I did. You were never my person and you never will be but god I’ll miss those small moments. Waking up in your bed when I never intended to stay the night. The warmth of your back against my chest. Small kisses upon my forehead. The feeling of your hair. The way I would feel your lingering stare. Your perfect arms around my frame, holding me there, in that moment, where I still am. I can’t leave and I don’t know why. If I sat in your room one more time I know it wouldn’t be right but god I wish I could spend one more night.
Fix the System, Not the Women – Review
Laura Bates explores the everyday issues that women must face in a patriarchal world as well as the deep-rooted issues that leave women constantly aware of their surroundings and living in a constant state of fear whether it is something little or something that engulfs their entire lives. This eye-opening book discusses the many ways in which women have been told to change their behaviour to adhere to a patriarchal society. We are taught that it is our fault for unwanted comments, sexual assaults, workplace harassment or murder. Bates goes on to explain that from a young age we are immediately devalued as women, the responsibility is put on women to quieten ourselves to stay safe. The real problem lies with not putting the responsibility on men to make women feel safe, instead women are told how to behave. Bates uses extracts from her ‘everyday sexism’ project where women share their stories about being violated or assaulted by men; to some these stories may be shocking. But to others we know these stories or a familiar version of these stories all too well. This is a powerful piece of work that everyone, and I mean everyone, needs to read this book.
The Banshees of Inisherin – Review
Martin McDonagh’s ‘The Banshees of Inisherin’ portrays a quant Irish island on which best friends Padraic (Colin Farrell) and Colm (Brendan Gleeson) go for a pint everyday at 2pm until one day when Colm does not show up. Seemingly out of nowhere, Colm simply decides he no longer wants to be friends with Padraic. This understated but effective comedy brings the comedic duo of Farrell and Gleeson back together. Reminiscent of McDonagh’s ‘In Bruges’ the pair bounce off each other easily in this slightly darker comedy. The rural setting of this fictional island amid civil war adds an element of tension throughout the film. As the former best friends quarrel, a war wages on in the background. Padraic lives with his sister who insists to Padraic that Colm is just in a bad mood, and he will soon snap out of it. Underneath the light-hearted comedy, Colm’s sudden dislike towards Padraic becomes more sinister. Colm decides he has no time for Padraic’s dull chatter and would rather spend his final years concentrating on his music. Things take a dark turn when Colm threatens to cut of his fingers every time Padraic attempts to make conversation with him.
The Banshees of Inisherin will leave you laughing but also questioning your potentially slightly dull long term friendships.
After Yang – Review
‘After Yang’, directed by Kogonada is a Sci-Fi/family drama which follows a family seeking help after their A.I “adopted” brother/son stops working. The film depicts the families struggle to repair the A.I, Yang (Justin H. Min), whilst dealing with their daughter who has a deep emotional attachment to her A.I brother. The family dynamic unravels as they face new obstacles on the path to fix Yang. Jake (Colin Farrell) and Kyra (Jodie Turner-Smith) initially introduced Yang into the family to teach their adopted daughter (Malea Emma Tjandrawidjaja) about her Chinese heritage, but Yang becomes a huge part of Mika’s life, and we soon learn that Yang is perhaps more advanced that ordinary A.I.
Despite the futuristic Sci-Fi setting, the film focusses on the intimate family relationships and how the failure of the A.I both forces the family apart and brings them back together again through their shared love of Yang who has brought out a deeper sense of connection within this family. Whilst questioning the potential for human feelings within A.I, it also asks its audience what it means to be human and asks us to re-evaluate these familiar relationships. In flashbacks, we see Yang getting along well within the family and exploring his potential for forming memories and feelings, whereas when he malfunctions, the family falls apart. ‘After Yang’ is a beautiful depiction of loss, family relationships and reconciliation within a Sci-Fi setting. The film was a fantastic choice for the closing gala of the Edinburgh International Film Festival.
Dream Agency – Review
‘Dream Agency’, directed by Andy Field and Deborah Pearson follows an agency of actors who recreate people’s dreams. Whether they are chasing deep trauma or just trying to figure out what a reoccurring dream means; the dream agency goes through elaborate rehearsals to recreate these dreams. We are first introduced to Janet who is trying to understand what her reoccurring dream means through the dream agency. Janet is intrigued by the work they do and quickly joins the crew as one of the actors. Janet becomes interested in the woman who features in her ‘dream.’ Janet soon discovers that the cool agency is not all it seems, the leader of the organization is hardly ever seen, and her peers seem to distrust her.
The concept of dreams is explored through ‘Dream Agency’ whether they mean anything, is there any purpose in revisiting them or is it just a scam to make people feel as if they have accomplished something by confronting their dreams. The film has been created by Forest Fringe, an Edinburgh based organization that draws on its own connections and experience in the creative industry to explore the ‘Dream Agency’ through the eyes of those who know all the ins and outs of the industry. Seeing the film through this perspective adds another dimension as the filmmaker’s perspective came across as very natural and the film flowed well overall. I would have liked to have seen a more conclusive ending and more character development for Janet, but for a first feature film this was very successful.
Fashion Reimagined – Review
‘Fashion Reimagined’ directed by Becky Hutner explores the world of fashion, sustainability, and the very real impact that fast fashion has on our world. I had the opportunity to introduce this film at the Edinburgh International Film festival 2022, in which I discussed how fashion may not be something each of us think about every day, but it impacts all our lives. Without knowing it, we make fashion decisions every day. Whether we dress head to toe in the latest microtrends or wear the same sturdy jeans that have lasted for over five years, we still contribute negatively or positively to the planet.
The film follows designer Amy Powney on her journey to create a fashion line that is completely sustainable. The film shows the difficult journey to make sure that every part of the clothes’ making process is genuinely sustainable and not just ticking greenwashing boxes. Amy comes across an incredible family run business that makes sure all the workers and animals are treated well and that the quality of the fabric is the best that it can possibly be. It gives us hope to see these thriving businesses that are making a genuine difference, but when Amy tries to retain this exact fabric, it is clear that bigger companies are less worried about the quality and sustainability of their fabrics. The difficult process of dealing with larger manufactures poses a threat to the sustainable fashion world. The prospect of making a profit appears to be more important to larger corporations, some were not even able to trace where their materials were coming from which is a huge issue for Amy’s sustainability line. Amy’s business is just one of many fashion brands trying to become more sustainable to build a better and greener world for us to live in. this is a wonderful documentary opens the viewers eyes to the realities of both the negative and positive aspects of the fashion world.
Nude Tuesday – Review
‘Nude Tuesday’ directed by Armağan Ballantyne is a brilliant comedy which is spoken entirely in gibberish! The films subtitles are hilariously written by comedian Julia Davis in response to the gibberish on screen. The film follows the chaotic day of the unhappy couple on their tense anniversary before being given the chance to work on their relationship in a unique couples therapy retreat. The middle aged, city couple stick out like a sore thumb amongst the mostly young and hippy like couples who have joined the retreat which is led by the hilariously horny ‘Bjorg’ played by Jemaine Clement. Bjorg has the energy of a horny cult leader who encourages the group to express themselves in a variety of different exercises that seem to baffle instead of help Laura (Jackie van Beek) and Bruno (Damon Herriman). The contrast of all these hilarious characters, gibberish, physical comedy, brilliant writing from Julia Davis and wonderfully directed by Armağan Ballantyne makes this one of the best comedies I have seen in 2022. The film was shown as part of The Edinburgh International Film Festival and the audience at the brand-new Everyman cinema were absolutely loving the comedy as much as I was! This feel good comedy is a must see.
Millie Lies Low – Review
‘I’m sorry I’m such a disappointment, mum.’
‘Well, we can’t all be appointments.’
‘Millie Lies Low’ directed by Michelle Savill is a beautifully told story about the pressure faced by many young people to overachieve and become the absolute best at what they do. Mille (Ana Scotney) is set to start an internship in New York but has a panic attack on the plane and stays put in Wellington, only to pretend as if she is in New York by posting extravagantly planned photos on Instagram. We see the extreme measures Mille takes to appear as if she is having the time of her life in New York whilst she is hiding in a tent, avoiding her friends, and desperately trying to get a loan for another ticket to New York. As director Michelle Savill stated (paraphrasing here) after the screening of her film at EIFF 2022, ‘smart people do dumb things’. The large posters and advertisements of Millie and her internship opportunity serve as a constant reminder of the pressure on young people in the age of technology and social media to be constantly posting and overexaggerating about our achievements. Whether it is on Instagram, LinkedIn, Facebook or Twitter, there is a constant stream of boasting posts. Millie Lies Low explores this overwhelming pressure to overperform in life and prove to the world that you are supposedly doing well. Millie refuses to believe that she had a panic attack on the plane and refuses to believe her mother’s diagnosis when she insists that Millie seeks help for her panic attacks. Millie is determined to overcome any obstacle she faces as we see with her elaborate posts and excuses to get a loan. We see from her relationship with her mother and friends that Millie may not always have been 100% true to herself on this journey to get this internship and from this realisation Millie can break free from the immense pressure of the modern world.
The Forgiven – Review
Ralph Fiennes and Jessica Chastain star in John Michael McDonagh’s ‘The Forgiven’ which unfolds like a murder mystery expect we know who the murderer is. On their way to an extravagant weekend party in Morocco, the unhappy couple run over a young boy. Too wrapped up in their own first world problems, the pair as well as the party’s hosts and guests gossip and conspire behind each other’s backs. While the frivolous weekend activities continue with little regard to the death, there is a clear class divide between the Moroccans and the rich bourgeoisie who occupy the party. Although a little too forced, the arrogance of the rich Europeans and Americans in comparison to the poorly treated Moroccan “servants” as David (Ralph Fiennes) calls themselves serves as a reminder of colonial power that still lingers within the world even in the present. Each character is somewhat alluring yet equally unlikeable, which is not necessarily bad. Some of the most interesting characters on screen can be almost villainous yet they capture the audience’s attention. However, in ‘The Forgiven’, many of the villainous character fall flat and fail to serve more purpose than ‘arrogant rich people get what they deserve’. On the other hand, the film has some beautiful cinematography and great acting from all the cast. It would be great if the story had a little bit more depth and character development but overall, it was an enjoyable watch.
Aftersun Review
The Edinburgh International Film Festival 2022 kicked off with ‘Aftersun’ directed by Scottish filmmaker, Charlotte Wells. Aftersun depicts a father/daughter relationship that shows moments of affection and love amongst the slightly fraught relationship. Wells beautifully captures the quiet moments of unspoken love between the father and daughter whilst reflecting on the less idealistic moments of the relationship. Paul Mescal portrays the young father (Calum) of Sophie (Frankie Corio) as they enjoy an all-inclusive holiday amidst flashforwards of Sophie’s future. The audience sees a mostly happy and close relationship between the father and child. Their father/daughter dynamic is almost friendly at times, as if Sophie does not see herself as a child and prefers her father’s company. At one point Sophie cringes at the prospect of ‘introducing herself’ to the other children at the hotel because they’re “like kids”, connoting the close relationship between the father and daughter. The closeness of the pair seems to fade as we see Calum’s suggested past/future that causes a strain between the two. This reflection on Sophie’s childhood exemplifies both the good and bad memories of her father. Despite their conflict, the paternal love is shown beautifully on screen.