Camp X-Ray Written and directed by Peter Sattler USA, 2014 Director Peter Sattler leads us down the path of purported empathy and compassion in his debut film, Camp X-Ray, only to come up short in depicting the relationship between a female soldier assigned to Guantanamo Bay and a man she befriends who has been imprisoned there …
“You can’t understand until it happens to you.” Roya, played by Mahnaz Afshar, listens to this line left on her answering machine repeatedly. It is a part of her husband, Ali’s, confession to his infidelity with one of Roya’s piano students, with whom he’s run off. Ali sees himself as a victim of his passion, …
Facing Mirrors Directed by Negar Azarbayjani Written by Negar Azarbayjani and Fereshteh Taerpoor Iran, 2011 For time immemorial, Iran has been synonymous for many things – most of them pejorative, none of which has to do with cinema. However, Iran’s cinematic reputation has reached a prestige that was hitherto unprecedented in 2011, with films like …
Every thirty days, I like to post a list of my favorite films I’ve recently watched. Here are the best films I’ve seen throughout the month of September. This list is based on movies theatrically released here in Canada, and I do not include what I have seen at film festivals. **** 1: The Turin …
At the end of each month, the Sound On Sight staff will band together to write an article about their favourite scenes in films released. Here are our favourite scenes from the month of February. **** A Separation – Opening scene A Separation opens with a simple but wonderful stationary shot that quickly sets everything …
The BAFTAs is one of those award ceremonies you can count on the go against the norm. Always the one to celebrate more independent films and the actors, actresses and directors snubbed by the Academy Awards have a chance of a nomination. In light of the forthcoming awards ceremony on Sunday 12 February, here are …
At the end of each month, the Sound On Sight staff will band together to write an article about their favourite scenes in films released. Here are our favourite scenes from the month of January. – The Grey – In media res Near the end of Joe Carnahan’s admirably ambling survival thriller, the energy begins …
Its that time of the year again in when everyone prepares their Oscar predictions, because let’s be honest for a moment – the best part of the Oscars is placing your bets on who’ll win and hopefully walking away from a long and usually boring ceremony with some extra cash in your pocket. This morning …
We’re still halfway though award season and so here comes another awards ceremony; only this one we actually care about (unlike the Golden Globes). The winners for the 2012 London Film Critics Circle Awards have been announced and thanlfully these critics actually know what they’re doing. Michel Hazanavicius’ silent film The Artist continues its near …
A Separation Written and directed by Asghar Farhadi Iran, 2011 A Separation is one of those multi-purpose titles that suggests many different conditions under examination in this richly textured film. The most obvious separation is the dissolution of the marriage between two main characters, Simin (Leila Hatami) and Nader (Peyman Moadi). Simin has a visa …
With more movies in limited and general release than ever before, 2011 was a ridiculously crowded year for both casual and discerning moviegoers alike. One by-product of the glut is a refreshing lack of consensus; so many films have been championed in so many corners – while those same films get trashed in others – …
A Separation Written and directed by Asghar Farhadi Iran, 2011 A Separation is one of those multi-purpose titles that suggests many different conditions under examination in this richly textured film. The most obvious separation is the dissolution of the marriage between two main characters, Simin (Leila Hatami) and Nader (Peyman Moadi). Simin has a visa …