5 Films Inspired by the Brothers Grimm Fairy Tales (Snow White & The Sleeping Beauty)

Brothers Grimm's fairy tales are now part of our collective imagination (I will not use Jung's term “collective unconscious” since it is a bit problematic). Isabel dos Santos, the author of the article about Brothers Grimm “Reluctant Romantics”, writes: “Throughout the entire world, fairy tales have for generations played a significant part in children’s upbringing … Continue reading 5 Films Inspired by the Brothers Grimm Fairy Tales (Snow White & The Sleeping Beauty) →

Joker (Tod Phillips, 2019) “Pathological Struggle for Recognition”

Editor’s Note: Since the film is in the cinemas at the moment while I am writing this article, I will not reveal any details about the film's plot, and I will certainly not write a value judgment of the film. Whether the film is enjoyable or not in the final verdict is a matter of … Continue reading Joker (Tod Phillips, 2019) “Pathological Struggle for Recognition” →

In Paul Verhoeven’s Words: “A Leap into the Unknown”

Verhoeven compared making RoboCop with making Elle and once said that the experience was a “leap into the unknown”. He elaborates it in an interview: So you go to an unknown part of the world where you don't know the people, and that's frightening. But also, at the same time, if you do it, it turns … Continue reading In Paul Verhoeven’s Words: “A Leap into the Unknown” →

Black Swan (Darren Aronofsky, 2010) “Dionysiac Union With Art”

Aronofsky’s Black Swan follows the mental disintegration of the ballet dancer Nina, who gets a part in the production of Tchaikovsky’s Swan Lake. She is fragile, innocent, fearful and pure, but lacks the feel for playing the Black Swan, while she is a perfect cast for the White Swan. In the performances of Tchaikovsky’s ballet, … Continue reading Black Swan (Darren Aronofsky, 2010) “Dionysiac Union With Art” →

Game of Thrones “Dany’s Agony: Purification Through Fire”

Targaryen alone in the world is a terrible thing. Aemon Targaryen Daenerys Targaryen is at Dragonstone, isolated and refusing to eat, looking worn out, pale, exhausted beyond recognition. She is well aware of Jon’s betrayal and the choice to confide with her sister, which resulted in Varys plotting to destroy her, possibly poisoning her in … Continue reading Game of Thrones “Dany’s Agony: Purification Through Fire” →

Through A Glass Darkly (Ingmar Bergman, 1961) “Vision of God As A Spider”

In the thirteenth chapter of the first epistle to the Corinthians, St Paul says: “For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then I shall know even as I also am known”. In these St Paul’s words, practically the whole film Through the Glass … Continue reading Through A Glass Darkly (Ingmar Bergman, 1961) “Vision of God As A Spider” →

In Joel Coen’s Words: “Poking Fun at Characters”

I guess there is a certain amount of poking fun at certain characters, but that’s because there is something amusing about them or about the way they behave, so I guess you can say that’s poking  fun at the character. But the character is your own invention, so who cares? Joel Coen Coen’s most elaborated … Continue reading In Joel Coen’s Words: “Poking Fun at Characters” →

Akira (Katsuhiro Otomo, 1988) “Destruction as the Cause of Becoming”

I found Akira, a landmark animated film which introduced the Japanese animated films to the Western audience, to be an eclectic mess. During the first and even the second watching of the film it seemed that way. Later, as I managed to put the pieces together (and some parts of the film are fragments of … Continue reading Akira (Katsuhiro Otomo, 1988) “Destruction as the Cause of Becoming” →

In Yasujirô Ozu’s Words: “The Change of Seasons”

I tried to show the collapse of the Japanese family system through showing children growing up. Yasujirô Ozu Ozu’s post-war work, during the time when he made his most memorable films, is characterized by the same theme which is presented over and over. In his own words, he presents the “collapse of the Japanese family … Continue reading In Yasujirô Ozu’s Words: “The Change of Seasons” →

5 Melancholic Films Which Can Inspire You Into Creativity (Melancolia II)

For the second part of this list, I chose the title Melancolia II,  which is also the title of the second Dürer’s engraving depicting a melancholic angel. This allusion to Dürer is only for stylistic purposes, since I chose another painting to depict a melancholic setting, Pieter Bruegel’s Hunters In the Snow. I chose this … Continue reading 5 Melancholic Films Which Can Inspire You Into Creativity (Melancolia II) →