Language of Life film review by UK film critic William Curzon. Starring Rebecca Horne, Janet Amsden directed by Holly Janem. HOME | FILMS | REVIEWS Language of Life Film Review average rating is 4 out of 5 Critic: William Curzon | Posted on: May 20, 2026 Directed by: Holly Janem Written by: Holly Janem Starring: Rebecca Horne, Janet Amsden Language of Life follows Lyla (Rebecca Horne), a lost and lonely young teenager, as she meets Marion (Janet Amsden), a wise and older woman who offers a sense of wisdom. Set in a cemetery early one Sunday morning, the two share a surprising but life-changing conversation. The piece is a simple yet poignant tale of bereavement, about choosing not to bury your feelings despite how difficult grief is to navigate in the wake of loss. Language of Life is not an easy watch, as it deals with themes of bereavement, which may be emotionally overwhelming for some viewers; however, it's clearly crafted with an understanding and care for these themes. Despite its incredibly brisk runtime, the themes and ideas connect almost instantly, and you may find yourself invested in its emotional power as a viewer. The screenplay is incredibly powerful and engaging, thanks to its emotional nuance and compelling dialogue that drive its themes and performances to impressive heights. While you don't learn much about the two central characters outside of their grief and anxieties, it's hard not to be emotionally invested. It's a lovely short piece, with a heartfelt message and a wonderful script to boast. From a technical standpoint, the piece can suffer from a washed-out colour grade, which detracts from the visual aspect of the experience; however, the camerawork is mostly impressive. Amber Amare, serving as the film's cinematographer, primarily shoots the piece from a plethora of close-ups to showcase both central characters' singular conversion, never losing sight of the driving force of the narrative. The boxed-in 4:3 aspect ratio is another commendable formal decision, as the experience feels incredibly intimate, with both central characters almost consistently at the centre of the frame. The intimacy and delicate material make the experience incredibly worthwhile, and it never fails to tug at the heartstrings. Jack Yeo, serving as the film's composer, delivers a wonderfully understated but nuanced musical score with heart-warming motifs that anchor the more intimate moments of acceptance. While most of the runtime lacks music and relies heavily on stillness and the performances, the use of music is suitably implemented into the narrative. Despite the film's budget constraints, the filmmaking feels incredibly well executed with a clear understanding of how to convey its simple yet powerful narrative. The two central performances from Rebecca Horne in her portrayal of Lyla and Janet Amsden in her portrayal of Marion are astounding examples of two performers who can elevate simple pieces of dialogue to incredible heights. Rebecca Horne offers a more naive and innocent portrayal of a younger individual navigating grief, and Janet Amsden portrays a wiser and experienced understanding of how to choose to embrace one’s grief and move forward. It's an incredibly powerful and unforgettable message that may linger in viewers' minds long after the credits roll. While the narrative is incredibly simple and brisk, the piece is an excellent example of how the sheer passion for the material can elevate a smaller production. Language of Life is a delicate and nuanced portrayal of a singular conversation between two individuals navigating grief at different stages of their lives. While it may suffer from a washed-out colour grade, the two central performances anchor the material, making it an emotionally devastating portrayal of grief. Buy UKFR Banner Space About the Film Critic William Curzon Short Film < All Reviews Next Film Review >

Valor and Memory film review by UK film critic Jason Knight. Starring Hans Van De Ven, Carl Molesworth, Ann Lee, Emma Jane Hanks directed by Bill Einreinhofer. HOME | FILMS | REVIEWS Valor and Memory Film Review average rating is 4 out of 5 Critic: Jason Knight | Posted on: Aug 31, 2024 Directed by: Bill Einreinhofer Written by: Bill Einreinhofer Starring: Hans Van De Ven, Carl Molesworth, Ann Lee, Emma Jane Hanks An engaging documentary about the First American Volunteer Group of the Republic of China Airforce, who were pilots from the United States Army Air Corps who helped China defend against the Japanese invasion during the Second World War. These pilots also became known as the Flying Tigers. Through a rich collection of archive footage, photographs and interviews, this feature tells the fascinating story of how the Flying Tigers contributed to the battle during WWII and secured their place in history. The film starts from the very beginning, when American pilots volunteered to go to China when it was been targeted by Japan and so did numerous Chinese American citizens. It examines in detail how these highly motivated individuals worked hard on Chinese soil to prepare for combat. And the roles were also reversed when Chinese citizens came to the U.S. in order to train as pilots and fight the war. The viewer will gain a great deal of knowledge from the interviewees, who consist of present-day experts and people who participated in this historical times. Some of them are author and historian Carl Molesworth, author Ang Lee, Hans Van De Ven, Phd from Cambridge University, Emma Jane Hanks, who was 1st Squadron Nurse for the American Volunteer Group, Ho Weng Toh, a Chinese Air Force Pilot and Billy Beck Oakley, an American pilot. Having all these individuals sharing their knowledge and experience results in a series of amazing stories that are told through the perspective of the Americans and the Chinese. As mentioned, there are plenty of photos and archive footage and these would primarily be military-related, showing soldiers, planes, ships and politicians and viewers will get a decent insight into the events that took place. The presence of Melvin McMullen and Harry Moyer is a highlight, two Flying Tigers Veterans who visited China in 2023 and were warmly welcomed. Another thing that stands out is that facts of the events during the war are revealed through letters by John Emil ''Pete'' Petach Jr., who lost his life defending China during the war while serving as a Flight Leader for the American Volunteer Group. This is a rather informative documentary that provides a detailed account of the accomplishments of the Flying Tigers, their contribution towards victory in the Second World War and history and viewers will become familiar with individuals who performed very brave and challenging actions. Perhaps one of the film's most crucial points is that it observes that a long time ago, the United States and China (who currently have unstable relations between them) firmly collaborated for a common goal and learned from each other. Buy UKFR Banner Space About the Film Critic Jason Knight Indie Feature Film, Documentary < All Reviews Next Film Review >

Find the best UK film festivals including the annual UK Film Review Festival. Top film festivals across the UK partner with us to promote their film event. Film Festivals Arguably one of the most exciting aspects of the movie industry are the film festivals which appear all over the world, promoting the best and newest movies from tenured filmmakers as well as up-and-coming filmmaking talent. Indeed, the sheer amount of film festivals which can now be attended in the UK, and internationally, is staggering - meaning blocking out the calendar will leave your annual leave completely decimated! However, what you lose in holiday entitlement, you gain in choice, because there is pretty much a movie festival for every genre out there! Here at UK Film Review we like to scour the globe (by which we mean social media) for the most diverse and eclectic mix of film festivals happening around the world, and promote them here. Much like our Film Reviews and Movie Trailers , we do not discriminate on any kind of budget or scale. The events you see here are simply ones we think our beloved readers will find most interesting, and hope to bring them to your attention. If you would like UK Film Review to become an official Media Partner for your film festival, use the form at the bottom of the page to drop us a message. Spaces are limited. FIND OUT MORE FIND OUT MORE FIND OUT MORE FIND OUT MORE FIND OUT MORE FIND OUT MORE FIND OUT MORE FIND OUT MORE FIND OUT MORE FIND OUT MORE FIND OUT MORE FIND OUT MORE FIND OUT MORE FIND OUT MORE FIND OUT MORE FIND OUT MORE FIND OUT MORE FIND OUT MORE FIND OUT MORE Film Festivals Articles & Reviews Our team of dedicated film critics also attend many of these film festivals, writing up reviews of the events themselves, as well as the films which make up the programmes. You can follow our Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram pages to stay up to date with these kind of goings on. If you are an organiser of a film festival and would like one of our team to attend, please send a luxury gift basket to...just kidding. Please use the contact form to get in touch and let us know what kind of coverage you would like. Similarly, if you want to promote your event here, feel free to drop us a line for consideration. We have several ways in which we can help and want to work with festival planners to help make their events a splash. Top Films to See at the 2026 Bath Film Festival Chris Olson Sep 7 3 min read Top Films to See at the 70th BFI London Film Festival Chris Olson Sep 4 3 min read Interview with Sabine Mondestin of Open World Toronto Film Festival Chris Olson Sep 2 5 min read Dracula: The Night Around Us (2026) Film Review William Curzon Aug 31 3 min read Hy3na (2026) Film Review William Curzon Aug 31 3 min read Ithaqua Film Review - Aug 29 2 min read TESTIMONIALS FROM FILM FESTIVAL ORGANISERS In 2017, Chelmsford Film Festival launched the first ever film festival in Chelmsford which was a huge success. I can say without hesitation that a large part of our success was due to the support of UK FILM REVIEW. In the build up to the 4-day festival, UK Film Review marketed the event to their audience and also directly engaged with filmmakers to discuss the benefits of submitting to our new festival. Throughout this process, we were in constant contact with Chris Olson to adapt our marketing strategy and react to the changing responses. Now as we prepare for our second year, we look forward to working with UK Film Review and cementing the fantastic relationship that has come out of CFF. Carl Mackenzie Co-Founder and CEO of Chelmsford Film Festival

Ticket to Paradise film review by UK film critic Brian Penn. Starring George Clooney, Julia Roberts directed by Ol Parker. HOME | FILMS | REVIEWS Ticket to Paradise Film Review average rating is 3 out of 5 Critic: Brian Penn | Posted on: Sep 25, 2022 Directed by: Ol Parker Written by: Ol Parker, Daniel Pipski Starring: George Clooney, Julia Roberts Rom-com movies stir many different emotions for those who care to watch them. Fans of the genre love stories that tug at the heart strings and expose their more sensitive side. The best ones make us laugh, cry and then smile as the customary happy ending is served with a generous helping of sentiment. The warm glow of satisfaction is all we need for the full thumbs up. This new film by Ol Parker just about nails it but owes much to the star power of the leads. Lily Cotton (Kaitlyn Dever) has just finished law school but is dreading graduation day as her divorced parents are seated next to each other. David (George Clooney) is a successful architect whilst Georgia (Julia Roberts) is an art dealer of some renown. They trade insults and go their separate ways, much to the relief of Lily who jets off to Bali before starting work at a Chicago law firm. However, the estranged couple join forces when they realise Lily has not only fallen in love with Bali but also the local seaweed farmer Gede (Maxime Bouttier). Georgia is determined Lily should not make the same mistake she made 25 years previously. David grudgingly agrees as they land in Bali for the wedding. However, the experience makes them re-evaluate their own relationship as Lily's nuptials approach. Ol Parker directed ‘Mama Mia! here we go again’ and has applied the same principle here. Grab some A-listers and take them to a spectacular location. In this case it's Australia's Gold Coast convincingly standing in for Bali. There's no question the formula works but relies on the obvious chemistry between Clooney and Roberts. They are a charming combination and rapidly assuming a mantle once held by Cary Grant and Katherine Hepburn. Take them out of this film and we are left with just the location and a mediocre script. The plotline relies on a tried and trusted rom-com device; the divorced couple who seemingly hate each other but deep down inside are still madly in love. Lily is a reminder of the one thing they got right and find solace in a shared history. There's something predictable but also very comforting about ‘Ticket to Paradise’. It finishes on a high with a few laughs along the way thanks to George and Julia. Buy UKFR Banner Space About the Film Critic Brian Penn Theatrical Release < All Reviews Next Film Review >

The Mourning Of film review by UK film critic Jason Knight. Starring Natalia Villegas, Julio Cesar Cedillo directed by Merced Elizondo. HOME | FILMS | REVIEWS The Mourning Of Film Review average rating is 4 out of 5 Critic: Jason Knight | Posted on: May 29, 2025 Directed by: Merced Elizondo Written by: Merced Elizondo Starring: Natalia Villegas, Julio Cesar Cedillo A short drama written and directed by Merced Elizondo and starring Natalia Villegas and Julio Cesar Cedillo. As the title suggests, this film is about loss. Maribel (Villegas), a young woman who is attending one funeral after another. This is not because many loved ones have passed away. It is because she is dealing with loss and has decided that going to funerals might heal her emotional wounds, might help her deal with her grief. So she repeatedly goes to funerals of strangers and blends in, offering her sympathy to the attendees and experiencing the service, much to the disapproval of Tomas (Cedillo), a priest who is aware of her unconventional activities. This is certainly an unusual and intriguing story: a person who has lost someone believes that going to funerals will help, whether that is to mourn, to deal with the loss, to make themselves feal better by comforting the mourners and be comforted by them, or maybe all of these. As interesting as this seems, it is also shocking and questionable: why would a person decide to relive an event (funeral) that acknowledges the end of the life of a person that they cared about? It seems irrational that someone who is mourning would willingly and repeatedly go through the same procedures that they went through when their loved one passed away. Why would they want to relive those painful moments? Perhaps thinking about this is what makes the plot of this short stand out. Regarding the technical side of things, the film gains a lot thanks to the wonderful cinematography by Matheus Bastos and the creative editing by Jonathan Cuartas. The audio elements are another plus, containing pipe organ music and the addition of Lacrimosa by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart and Ave Maria by Franz Peter Schubert were great choices. Maribel is quite an intriguing character and she is the center of the story. She has suffered a devastating loss and does not appear to know how to handle it. For months, she has been attending funerals of people she did not know and going through the same experiences and as a result, in some ways, she seems to be stuck in time. A terrific performance by Villegas clearly shows the heavy pain she is dealing with. Tomas is very uncomfortable with her actions, however, he is sympathetic towards her and tries to convince her that she needs to stop what she is doing and move on. Loss is a key theme here, particularly the complexities of dealing with loss, along with self-reflection and moving on. A heavy drama about the issues of having to face a loss. The film examines an unusual way of mourning and does not seem to determine whether that way is right or wrong. The final message might be that sometimes, people resolve to uncommon solutions in order to make themselves feel better. Buy UKFR Banner Space About the Film Critic Jason Knight Short Film < All Reviews Next Film Review >

One Night Stand film review by UK film critic Patrick Foley. Starring Tom Sidney, AJ Jones, Lauren Darbyshire directed by Michael Long. HOME | FILMS | REVIEWS One Night Stand Film Review average rating is 2 out of 5 Critic: Patrick Foley | Posted on: Apr 21, 2025 Directed by: Michael Long Written by: Michael Long Starring: Tom Sidney, AJ Jones, Lauren Darbyshire It’s hardly an original observation that intimidation, bullying and desperation are rife in the acting profession – and these experiences are usually twice as bad for new recruits. One Night Stand tells the story of a despotic school ran by a depraved, jealous teacher – a snapshot of the disturbing manner in which lines can be blurred before they are crossed. Thomas (Tom Sidney) is warned by his teacher Geoff (AJ Jones) that he has to improve in acting class or his place is under threat. Taking an unusual interest in his relationship with fellow student Jess (Lauren Darbyshire), Geoff gives Tom the chance to impress in class by acting out a scene in which the two have had a one-night stand. But the scene takes an unpleasant direction as Geoff insists on an ever-more sinister escalation. One Night Stand is an uncomfortable look at power dynamics in the acting world. Viewers are shown how the jealous, sexual whims of a teacher are played out in his treatment of two students, under the pretence of helping them achieve something great. Thomas is isolated and threatened with expulsion from the class unless he improves – with a clear edict to follow his teacher’s commands. Geoff’s interest in Jess results in her being placed in a vulnerable position – being forced to strip in front of the class and put up with second-hand intimidation from her scene partner. Yet neither feel in a position to push back against their teacher – nor do other students in the class feel a need to step in until things have gone too far. The plot does a solid job of demonstrating how manipulators can gradually escalate abuse in front of others, especially in environments that they can control. However, it may have benefitted from additional context that is missing from the story. Viewers are intentionally left in the dark about the actual nature of the relationship (or lack thereof) between Tom and Jess. It is an interesting omission from director/writer Michael Long which makes Geoff’s obsession with the pair more elusive. Some extra background to the pair themselves would however have been welcome, and without this one is left wondering why neither feel able to stand up to their tormenter sooner or empathise with Tom quite as easily. For a film that gets into some really dark territory, it also feels like a larger point is needed to be underlined than the film commits to. The continuation of Geoff’s dominance of his students and ability to maintain his reign of terror over his class can be taken as a commentary on the resilient nature of abusers in the acting space – a notable unfortunate truth that is well documented. But the film feels like more of a snapshot than a story, and seems to suggest that this dynamic is a wheel that will keep on turning. If this is the film’s point, there have been better and more insightful examples of how such individuals and actions are excused than One Night Stand ever really gets into. And with characters that are quite one-note and contextless, the film is unlikely also to leave much of a lasting impression. Buy UKFR Banner Space About the Film Critic Patrick Foley Digital / DVD Release, Short Film < All Reviews Next Film Review >

Musica Ovunque film review by UK film critic Swati Verma. Starring NayT 3D directed by Francesco Calabrese. HOME | FILMS | REVIEWS Musica Ovunque Film Review average rating is 3 out of 5 Critic: Swati Verma | Posted on: Oct 5, 2021 Directed by: Francesco Calabrese Written by: Francesco Calabrese Starring: NayT 3D Musica Ovunque starts with a road journey. It is an indication that the music video wants the audience to engage with the content provided to them. The artist in the video goes through an experience that transmits him to a different world where he becomes a specimen in research by Aliens. The musical item talks about happily co-existing with other creatures that live on Earth. Humans cannot live with their egoistic nature thus they should not think of themselves as Supreme Being and try to adjust to every situation. It is a continuous battle between the internal self and the outside environment. It depends on us whether we can choose the right option which would be suitable for each species. The red, white, and purple light used in various sections in the music video has connotations of varied experiences of the protagonist as he embarks on the journey. God is present all through his path to guide the hero. The audience also gets an idea and learns the life lessons learned in the video while watching it. The viewers tend to hail for the lead character of the musical piece and wish to go on a similar trip themselves. Buy UKFR Banner Space About the Film Critic Swati Verma Short Film < All Reviews Next Film Review >

Seagram film review by UK film critic Swati Verma. Starring Loki Pickering, Connor Wheaton, Paul Burt directed by Matthew Hornibrook. HOME | FILMS | REVIEWS Seagram Film Review average rating is 3 out of 5 Critic: Swati Verma | Posted on: Mar 19, 2024 Directed by: Matthew Hornibrook Written by: Matthew Hornibrook, Tom Lowe Starring: Loki Pickering, Connor Wheaton, Paul Burt The writer-director Matthew Hornibrook along with his Co-writer Tom Lowe work with the action genre incorporating the romantic reason to construct a story where the male protagonist Seagram (Loki Pickering) takes revenge from Taylor (Connor Wheaton). The plot of the short film revolves around Seagram a modern- day gunslinger, who sets out to find the culprits who murdered his girlfriend and avenge her. Seagram begins with Taylor the villain narrating the story to the viewers sitting in the forest at night with fire lit around him. This is a smart move by the makers to increase the degree of audience engagement with content. The nonlinear pattern of Seagram helps the viewers interact with different characters as it moves to various subplots to add realism, relatability, and depth to this dark vengeance saga. The set design, the combination of black, white, blue, and red colours, lighting, sound, dialogues, costume, hair, makeup, and props are aptly designed to suit the genre as well as the theme of the movie. The fight sequences between York, Seagram, and Taylor are made interesting for the audience to watch by combining some of the hand combats and gunshots. In the performance department, Loki Pickering plays the titular role. Seagram suffers from heartbreak as he has lost the love of his life and wants to fight to get justice for her. Pickering portrays the right mix of emotions like anger, tears, love, and trauma giving an insight to the audience into Seagram’s plan to take revenge on Taylor and other people involved. Connor Wheaton plays Taylor the antagonist of the film who kills Seagram’s girlfriend for his selfish motive. The makers choosing Wheaton’s character to tell the tale provides the time for the audience to understand Taylor as well as other characters through his point of view and decide who to support in the climax. Wheaton utilises voice modulation, body language, facial expressions, and eyes as both a storyteller and a villain. Paul Burt plays York who is in Taylor’s team. Seagram tracks down his hiding place and defeats him to find out more about the man responsible for his girlfriend’s death. Burt’s character arc is constructed appropriately with long hair, and tattoos so that the viewers can relate to York as well as the plot point. Tony Bligh plays the role of the contact who leads Seagram first to York followed by the big fish Taylor. Though Bligh has very short screen time he helps the male protagonist fulfill his dramatic need. Seagram talks about always making the right choices in life because wrong choices tend to lead people into trouble leaving no alternatives of coming back seeking for any positive improvements that can make one’s future better for both self as well as the loved ones. The short film reiterates the importance of trust, love, and being respectful in any relationship because there can be several reasons to give up on each other but finding the strength within to stand by the person one is in love with no matter what the situation proves to be the real strength. Buy UKFR Banner Space About the Film Critic Swati Verma Short Film < All Reviews Next Film Review >

Departure film review by UK film critic Jason Knight. Starring N/A directed by Takayuki Yoshikawa. HOME | FILMS | REVIEWS Departure Film Review average rating is 4 out of 5 Critic: Jason Knight | Posted on: Jun 8, 2023 Directed by: Takayuki Yoshikawa Written by: Takayuki Yoshikawa Starring: N/A A short animated film with plenty of fantasy and technology and also beauty. This wonderful computer-animated short has a narrative that is separated into two storylines that alternate between them. One follows a young woman as she wakes up in her home and gets ready to go out. The other is more...enchanting. It involves a robot in the form of a young woman, who is initially sitting on a throne inside a large church. The cyborg then gets up and proceeds to walk across the large hall, picking up a large mirror and accidentally breaking it. What follows is a great deal of imagination. The two storylines are quite different from another. As mentioned, the one with the robot is the one that contains fantasy and science fiction, while the other is normality, a person preparing to go out, nothing extraordinary. Therefore, it could be said that the film keeps on switching between fantasy and reality. There are similarities, most notably that both stories have a protagonist who is a young woman (even an artificial one) and both characters appear to be in the process of achieving a goal (one is to go out, the other more significant). The scenes with the woman in her home are interesting, however the ones with the robot are more impactful due to the exciting and magical things that take place, which involve a machine that selects and plays CDs, countless of butterflies, laser beams and a powerful explosion of colours. What is the film trying to communicate? It appears to be exploring themes regarding artificial intelligence and religion and about the achievement of something remarkable. If one does not wish to understand the intended messages, they will still be rewarded by what they see and hear. Visually, the film looks great. The computer animation looks terrific and bears resemblance to the Final Fantasy video game series. The point-of-view shots are effective and the lighting and use of colours creates quite a show, particularly during the climax. Regarding the audio, the music that is heard throughout is beautiful and dynamic, with wonderful piano melodies. There are no spoken words, only texts that appear briefly, which is not a bad thing, however, there are creative sound effects. This short takes the viewer on a five-minute-long mesmerising journey. The message that it attempts to deliver might be open to interpretation but what is certain is that this film had a great deal of work put into it and the animation and score prove that. Buy UKFR Banner Space About the Film Critic Jason Knight Short Film, Animation, World Cinema < All Reviews Next Film Review >

I Don't Know Where, but Together film review by UK film critic Patrick Foley. Starring Federico Cesari, Francesco Cicconetti, Naomi Oke directed by Luca Finotti. HOME | FILMS | REVIEWS I Don't Know Where, but Together Film Review average rating is 3 out of 5 Critic: Patrick Foley | Posted on: Sep 28, 2021 Directed by: Luca Finotti Written by: Luca Finotti Starring: Federico Cesari, Francesco Cicconetti, Naomi Oke Fashion, colour and vibrancy are the themes that summarise I Don’t Know Where, But Together (Non So Dove, Ma Insieme) , an Italian production from the fashion viral-video director Luca Finotti in a collaboration with Italian label MSGM. The short commercial film is filled with enthusiasm and optimism, and very much a product of its time following a brutal and difficult year. The youthful cast venture around the sunny streets of Milan making the most of their freedom, whilst of course decked out in the latest outfits curated by the fashion brand funding the whole venture. Relationships are established and teased throughout, as the 6 friends converge on a late-night outdoor party. Whilst I Don’t Know Where, But Together is clearly a commercial film designed to advertise the products of the MSGM fashion label, it at least features a creative storyline and striking cinematography that makes it a succulent, sugar-rush of a watch. Perhaps vivacious production was to be expected given the purpose of the film, and it being a creation of fashion-video specialist Luca Finotti – but it makes a welcome shift from the overly pretentious melodramatic style the genre is known for. Rather than present an unobtainable standard that works to entice viewers through desire to be a part of something exclusionary, the diverse and carefree group presented will remind audiences of their own loves and friendships – eliciting positivity and enthusiasm. The film imitates pop music videos – to such a degree viewers would be forgiven for wondering whether this was the pieces’ actual purpose. The synchronisation of music and imagery works in the film’s favour, effectively amplifying the sense of fun and excitement the film exudes. No dialogue is featured in the piece, with Finotti instead allowing his cast to tell their story through emotions and actions alone – a wise choice considering his casting call went out over Instagram and intentionally focused on non-actors. Ultimately the film is limited in that it is primarily an advert for a brand, and whilst clearly creative and original, is ultimately designed to sell clothes. The values it presents are progressive, inclusive and positive – but you can’t shake the feeling that they would be cast aside in a second for MSGM to add a zero onto their bank balance. You can’t blame Finotti, the cast, or the label to be fair to them, for commercialism. But not matter how enthusiastic or hopeful the film, there’ll always be a hint of cynicism where big money is involved. Buy UKFR Banner Space About the Film Critic Patrick Foley Short Film, Digital / DVD Release, LGBTQ+, World Cinema < All Reviews Next Film Review >

Tack (Live and Let's Live) film review by UK film critic Jason Knight. Starring Ngozi Udenna, Yannick Davidson Annoh, Kelly Joseph, Peter Charles directed by Patrick Kidochukwu Iwe. HOME | FILMS | REVIEWS Tack (Live and Let's Live) Film Review average rating is 3 out of 5 Critic: Jason Knight | Posted on: Feb 18, 2023 Directed by: Patrick Kidochukwu Iwe Written by: Patrick Kidochukwu Iwe Starring: Ngozi Udenna, Yannick Davidson Annoh, Kelly Joseph, Peter Charles A gay couple face consequences when their relationship is disclosed. Two Nigerian young men, George (Joseph) and John (Charles) are in a homosexual relationship, which they are keeping secret. Eventually, John's mother (Udenna) and George's brother David (Annoh) find out about it and things get dramatic, particularly with John's mother. Eventually, the disapproval leads to very devastating events. This short Indie-Nollywood film tells an emotional story about homophobia and the consequences that it can lead to. The screenplay explores the happiness that George and John are feeling when they are with each other and the healthy relationships they have with loved ones. Things take a turn for the worse when the romance is discovered and George has to deal with his brother's negative opinion about it, while John is torn apart by the effect the revelation is having on his mum, which causes him to resort to a terrible action, that in turn makes George commit a very brave act. There is a great deal of drama and confrontations throughout and there are tender scenes. It is obvious that filming was done on a low budget, however the result is not bad and although sometimes the acting is not very convincing, it is generally decent and particular praise goes to Udenna's performance. Music is almost constantly present and it includes some wonderful piano melodies. There are plenty of aerial shots and they look quite good. The main theme here is homophobia, how it affects gay people and the ones who care for them. Other areas that are explored include family, support and religion. The film strongly points how wrong homophobia is and how brave people can be when it comes to saving others. Buy UKFR Banner Space About the Film Critic Jason Knight Short Film, World Cinema, LGBTQ+ < All Reviews Next Film Review >

Embrace Disruption film review by UK film critic Jason Knight. Starring Johanne Chagnon directed by Johanne Chagnon. HOME | FILMS | REVIEWS Embrace Disruption Film Review average rating is 4 out of 5 Critic: Jason Knight | Posted on: Aug 20, 2024 Directed by: Johanne Chagnon Written by: Johanne Chagnon Starring: Johanne Chagnon An experimental animated short film by Canadian filmmaker Johanne Chagnon. The writer of this review had the pleasure of reviewing another project by Chagnon, that being the 2022 short Decharnement and those who are familiar with that one will most likely notice the similarities in terms of the surreal figures, the movements and the use of sound effects. Watching this four-minute short is like viewing three screens simultaneously, as it is basically a constant split screen that divides the screen into three images of equal size, with a grey surrounding and two frozen lightning bolts. Two images are on the left, one on top of the other and the other is on the right. Throughout the film, the image on the bottom left displays a figure that appears to be a giant heart with human arms and legs and the image on the right displays what seems to be some sort of flower that also has arms and legs. The top left image depicts these two figures, although, in contrast to the other images, the figures in that image are always still. While the top right image is still, the other two are quite active with the two entities performing a variety of movements. The flower being spends most of the film executing movements that resemble dancing, while the heart one seems more dramatic, like lying on the floor as if in peril. While this is happening, their dark surroundings alter, with occurrences such as white hands and a white face appearing in the heart image and the flower entity being duplicated and fire appearing around it. There is no speech and the audio consists of a variety of sound effects that include heavy breathing, coughing, thunder and brief piano and electronic music. What does this all mean? Since there are no words (spoken or written) to help comprehend, it might be up to the viewer to make sense. Generally, negative themes appear to be present such as dying (the heart going down in agony) and destruction (the fire). Trying to interpret messages among all that is seen could be a challenge and that would be part of what makes this short so intriguing. Understanding what the film is attempting to communicate is not essential when it comes to defining it as an admirable piece of work and that is primarily because of the visuals. The animation looks wonderful thanks to the creative use of colours and the movement looks very smooth. The rich sound effects are another element that adds to the surreal experience. Chagnon has utilised her creativity in order to make another interesting short that is a pleasure to watch, even without trying to understand it. Considering her ideas, one should look forward to her next project. Buy UKFR Banner Space About the Film Critic Jason Knight Short Film, Animation < All Reviews Next Film Review >