🍿 Monster, 2023 - ★★★★
Wholesome. A multi-faced story that highlights strong bonds. I felt that the different views for the same story pretty much reflects how a story develops from multiple people’s eyes in real life which usually doesn’t work on movies. Monster was an exception and this was a really good match with this approach. Liked the movie a lot.
Stocked up from my (current) favourite roastery. Friedhats from Amsterdam.
First listen of the year
I should not eat more sweats, I should not eat more sweats, I should not eat more sweats, I should not eat more sweats.
It was nice to have a couple of sweets for a bunch of days during the holidays, but I think my system is falling apart with all the sugar.
🍿 Broken Vein, 2025 - ★★★½
Very realistic. I mean, a bit too realistic. I have seen people go through similar situations, react the same way (not to that extend but close enough). A great portrait of what being in deep dept in Greece feels like. Felt really anxious watching this film and i attribute that to the movie’s great direction as my psyche was immersed. I can’t finish the review by not mentioning two things: One, this is a classic Oikonomidis movie. The curse rate is through the roof so be prepared. Two, there were some times in the film that were a bit stereotypical and some others that could be left out. I don’t think the director did wrong leaving them in but there was a lot of opportunity to do more to elevate the film (by cutting scenes). I don’t think they were a missed opportunity but rather the movie had me “directing” on top of it which makes the movie fascinating.
🍿 The Discreet Charm of the Bourgeoisie, 1972 - ★★
A bit fun. Not white amount. Supposedly dark comedy but wasn’t really funny tbh and I love dark comedy’s. Not a bad watch though.
🍿 Kokuho, 2025 - ★★★★
This movie is a masterpiece. As a westerner that is not attuned with kabuki it’s performance elements, this movie took me into understanding, to a minimum of course, of what this art theatricality represents. That makes the performances exceptional; to take a viewer that has no clue about an art form to “feel” a little of what is this all about. This was a long movie. A life story of Kikuo. It’s very tricjy to put a life’s story on film as it can get long and boring. In Kokuho though every single element selected was meticulously crafted and selected yet very detailed but not boring. I really liked this movie.
#TIFF66
🎵 The Souvenir Cassette and Further Live Adventures, by After Dinner haco-sound.bandcamp.com
🍿 Silent Friend, 2025 - ★★★★
Really wholesome. Really loved the characters and the connection they all developed with nature and accepted or were being driven by nature’s life. Cinematography and direction were extremely well made too
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🍿 OBEX, 2025 - ★★★½
Awesome film. Loved the concept, the DIY element, the storyline and the graphics. A great demonstration that all that is needed for a good film is creativity and passion. Watched this at Thessaloniki Film festival after midnight and for didn’t loose interest for a moment. Now I’m off to watch Albert’s other works.
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🍿 Sunfish (& Other Stories on Green Lake), 2025 - ★★
Nice film. Enjoyed watching it. The connections of characters being around the lake and their storylines were interesting. Nice shooting and directing too. Not a ground breaking film but really cute
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🍿 We Believe You, 2025 - ★★★★ (contains spoilers)
This review may contain spoilers.
An amazing film. Minimalist make which makes it even greater. Really powerful dialogues and actor performances. The whole theater was stunt.
Spoiler notes I was stocked when the husbands lawyer was making her statement and the camera was focused only at Myriem Akheddiou (Alice - mother). During this shot she performed for us all the emotions that this mother was going through when being exposed to such tough words. The dialogs were so great that when Laurent Capelluto (the father) was making his statement convised me for a second that he was innocent.
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🍿 The Anything, 2025 - ★
Really poor. The single star is for the good camera work. This improv should not have been a film. Could be a good youtube documentary. Great marketing.
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🍿 Memory of Princess Mumbi, 2025 - ★★★
This was the first film I watched with such extensive use of AI. This moment was monumental for me when I hypothesise that we will be seeing more and more movies coming out that are made using AI. I felt good when coming out of this film. Yes you can use AI to do the work for you, but as even mentioned in the movie, your signature is the editing and AI can do as much without you editing. Even though the film was, i think, pretty diy most aspects of the film were well presented. I do feel that the transitions of scenes of the film were fast which to my eyes it does resembles our current way we browse the internet and interact with technology
On a last note, I also liked the genuine enthusiasm that the the film had. I might be wrong on this but I do also feel that the film did had an characteristic “African” expression of joy, which to my ignorant eyes is a regional trait maybe?
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🍿 Satisfaction, 2025 - ★
Lots of playbook practices to be compelling. Problem is, for me these tricks are passé nowadays.
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🍿 KIKA, 2025 - ★★½
Nice film. Everything was correctly made. But just that. I liked the Kika’s turn at the end, or maybe her desperation that lead her to seek some sort of outbreak. Wish I could see it more clearly during the movie. Maybe it was there and I didn’t see it.
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🍿 Don’t Let the Sun, 2025 - ★★½
Loved bits from this film. Acting was great, imagery was great, consent was good. I just think that storytelling was a little disconnected; a bit awkward in transition. I liked it he film though
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Everyone what’s to be different but no one wants to change
Can’t attribute the quote to the original author but heard it by William Tyler at the Ambient country show podcast from the Flow State Newsletter. Great listen.