A love story set in the 18th century about Marianne, a painter, and the aristocratic Heloïse, whose pre-wedding portrait she has been commissioned to paint. Heloïse, unwilling to marry, has consistently refused to sit – so Marianne paints her secretly, having been introduced as a hired companion. Céline Sciamma’s Portrait of a Lady on Fire is a… Portrait of a Lady on Fire Read More
The Miseducation Of Cameron Post 3.5 stars
From trying to make teenagers “pray the gay away” to encouraging them to work out to Blessercise videos (imagine a Jane Fonda-esque aerobics queen teaming up with Billy Graham) the brother and sister behind gay conversion centre God’s Promise will do anything to suppress their charges’ sexualities. This is a movie set in 1993, though… The Miseducation Of Cameron Post Read More
Anchor And Hope 3.5 stars
“Is it in?” Roger enquires as they try to make a baby. But in this witty and sometimes exhausting drama of emotions, this is a role reversal. Kat is trying to inseminate her partner Eva with her friend Roger’s sperm via a syringe, while Roger is in the other room. Loads of babies are conceived… Anchor And Hope Read More
Director Marcelo Martinessi On Filmmaking In Conservative Paraguay, & The Women Who Inspired Him
Marcelo Martinessi is the writer-director of the award-winning The Heiresses, a story of relationship breakdown set in his native Paraguay – a country which after decades living under a dictatorship is only now starting to develop a film industry. The film won two Silver Bears at this year’s Berlin International Film Festival: Best Actress for Ana… Director Marcelo Martinessi On Filmmaking In Conservative Paraguay, & The Women Who Inspired Him Read More
The Heiresses 4 stars
*** Read my interview with The Heiresses director Marcelo Martinessi *** Director Marcelo Martinessi’s feature debut The Heiresses has no male characters at all. Men are sometimes talked about (dead or nearly dead husbands, gone to seed ex-lovers); and occasionally seen (prison visit extras, furniture removers). Chela (Ana Brun) and Chiquita (Margarita Irun) are a Paraguayan… The Heiresses Read More