Susan Potter, University of Sydney e Clara Bradbury-Rance, King's College London
Portrait of a Lady on Fire plays with cinematic conventions and anticipation of lesbian sex on film. Director Céline Sciamma offers a sophisticated take that is both explicit and elusive.
Emma up front and center in new adaptation of classic novel.
Focus Features
Through careful framing and dialogue, Autumn de Wilde’s movie portrays Emma as the embodiment of perfection, rather than less-than-faultless heroine of Austen’s book.
Back row (From L-R): Banky W, Ted Sarandos (Netflix Chief Content Officer), Kate Henshaw, Richard Mofe-Damijo, Felipe Tewes (Netflix Italian & African Originals Director), Omoni Oboli, Ben Amadasun (Netflix Africa Licensing Director) and Akin Omotoso
Front Row (L-R) Mo Abudu, Adesua Etomi, Dorothy Ghettuba (Netflix African Originals lead) , Kunle Afolayan, Kemi Adetiba and Ramsey Noah.
In a strong field, there are a number of contenders for Best Picture at this year’s Academy Awards. Our expert picks his winner and names a couple of blockbusters that didn’t make the grade.
In his Golden Globes acceptance speech, Parasite director Bong Joon-ho teased audiences about their unwillingness to watch subtitled films, highlighting the anglo-centric culture of film
Parasite’s director Bong Joon-ho with the Palme d'Or award at Canne, 2019.
Tania Volobueva/Shutterstock
Ladj Ly’s critically acclaimed new film looks at the misery that binds together its protagonists, and also examines France’s failure to fulfil its obligations toward its most vulnerable citizens.
Little Women, the touching story of the four March sisters, received six Oscar nominations.
Sony Pictures
In converging two timelines to retell Little Women, Greta Gerwig’s writing and direction create emotions in the audience that made her deserving of an Oscar nomination for direction
When a filmmaker as big as Scorsese needs Netflix for funding, what does it mean for the little guys?
IMDB
The first woman ever nominated for a Best Director Award - more than 40 years ago - Lina Wertmüller has just been honoured by the academy. She is known for her hilariously irreverent films.
Ne Zha is a rebellious boy with supernatural powers who wreaks havoc – and he is a box-office phenomenon.
Chengdu Coco Cartoon
Chinese animated film Ne Zha is a box office phenomenon, but it also has a surprising story to tell about raising the ideal ‘guai’ child – for the family, and for the state.
When Dirty Dancing is reduced to its dance sequences, the powerful politics of the film are erased.
Vestron Pictures
Dirty Dancing’s dance sequences are stand-alone properties, famous in their own right. But when they’re considered in isolation, the film’s messy class, race and gender politics are sidelined.
Joaquin Phoenix in Joker (2019): the Joker’s humour-filled rebellion has typically contrasted with Batman’s dour moral self-righteousness.
Warner Bros
Culturally, the joker turns socially significant places into spaces of carnival, revealing cracks within the social order. He is an enduring character – and a common figure in 2019.