Sergei Paradjanov and Yuri Ilyenko: A Ukrainian Rhapsody
Sergei Paradjanov and Yuri Ilyenko, Ukraine cinema’s dynamic duo.
THE NAVIGATOR: A MEDIEVAL ODYSSEY
The black plague, time travel and religious mania–need I say more?
A STORY OF THE FOREST: MAVKA
This 1981 folklore based Ukrainian film can be called the spiritual successor to Sergei Paradjanov’s classic SHADOWS OF FORGOTTEN ANCESTORS
BLOOD, SWEAT AND CHROME–THE WILD AND TRUE STORY OF MAD MAX: FURY ROAD
Is it worth reading? If you have any interest whatsoever in MAD MAX: FURY ROAD the answer is a resounding yes.
A PRAYER FOR HETMAN MAZEPA
With the conflict between Russia and the Ukraine exploding, I say it’s an opportune time to revisit this 2002 feature, which offers a most unorthodox treatment of the skirmish
THE LAWNMOWER MAN
A 1992 movie that, hard though it might seem to believe thirty years later, once seemed pretty cool
Ivan Reitman: 1946-2022
Say what you will about Ivan Reitman, but he knew how to make movies
ROBOT CARNIVAL
Nothing less than 1980s-era Japan’s answer to FANTASIA
FANTASTIC PLANET
After THE YELLOW SUBMARINE this is the premiere example of feature-length psychedelic animation
THE TREASURE PLANET
A 1982 Bulgarian animated feature (apparently the first such film) that takes Robert Luis Stevenson’s immortal novel for quite a ride