RKS Film: “No Bears”: Jafar Panahi Weaves a Great Film

“No Bears” is Iranian director Jafar Panahi’s latest film. Panahi has been a thorn in the side of the Iranian regime for years and is prohibited from leaving Iran. He has previously been arrested, charged, placed under house arrest and prohibited from making films. “No Bears” was filmed secretly in Iran. In “No Bears” JafarContinue reading “RKS Film: “No Bears”: Jafar Panahi Weaves a Great Film”

RKS Film: “Free Puppies”: And There is Always One More

This year I wrote a serialized novel “Reggie the Egyptian Rescue Dog”. Reggie was a small pet kept by his master Anwar in Cairo. Anwar was arrested for writing articles critical of the government and was never seen again. Reggie led a harrowing life on the street hunted down by animal control whose ideas aboutContinue reading “RKS Film: “Free Puppies”: And There is Always One More”

RKS Film: “All the Beauty and the Bloodshed”: Art and Politics

The American documentary “All the Beauty and the Bloodshed” is an interconnected story about the life of American Nan Goldin as an artist and Nan Goldin as an advocate to eliminate the imprint and legacy of the Sackler family in the art world. The Sackler’s company is Purdue Pharma the makers and distributors of ValiumContinue reading “RKS Film: “All the Beauty and the Bloodshed”: Art and Politics”

RKS Film: “Tehranto”: Intelligent Romance Film

There is rather large TV market for cornball romantic films and after seeing previews for films churned out by Heart & Home or Harlequin Films could one conclude their films are best suited for the Girl Guides? With trepidation I watched “Tehranto” expecting a formulistic romance film but was pleasantly surprised with an intelligent andContinue reading “RKS Film: “Tehranto”: Intelligent Romance Film”

RKS Film: “Nuestra Pelicula” (Our Movie): 1988 Colombian Blood Bath

“Nuestra Pelicula” starts off innocently with elementary students singing the Colombian national anthem replete with words such as “glory”, “goodness”, “liberty’ and “jubilance”. This opened and closed the broadcasting day on Colombia’s national television network. This innocence quickly fades with archival 1988 Colombian television footage showing a litany of assassinations, murders, kidnappings, funerals, distraught families.Continue reading “RKS Film: “Nuestra Pelicula” (Our Movie): 1988 Colombian Blood Bath”

RKS Film: “Missing”: Japanese Serial Killer on the Loose!

“Missing” starts with what looks like a simple linear plot but devolves into the present being overtaken by the past to resurface back in the present. People are often not what they appear to be initially. The innocent are guilty. Murder, backstabbing and double dealing lead the way. There is a serial killer on theContinue reading “RKS Film: “Missing”: Japanese Serial Killer on the Loose!”

RKS Film: “EO”: Who Needs Sancho Panza!

If I could sum up the Polish fantasy film “EO” I would say, “And the Oscar for Most Expressive Eyes Goes to EO the Polish Donkey”. EO the donkey embarks upon an incredible journey without Sancho Panza on his back. Yes he is the cutest donkey in town with big expressive eyes that can meltContinue reading “RKS Film: “EO”: Who Needs Sancho Panza!”

RKS Film: Polish Documentary “The Balcony Movie”: A Voyeur of Life

Paweł Łozińki in his “The Balcony Movie” lets us ride the portal of his camera lens into life not simply in Warzaw, Poland where it was filmed but life itself. He spent over two and a half years filming passersby’s beneath his balcony asking them the meaning of life and how they cope with life.Continue reading “RKS Film: Polish Documentary “The Balcony Movie”: A Voyeur of Life”

RKS Film: “Bad Axe”: A Very Dangerous Man Inflames Right Wing Rage in the United States

Bad Axe is a small town in Michigan. It is home to the Siev family. Father Chun is a refugee from Khmer Rouge Cambodia. Chun escaped with his mother and six children to Thailand and then moved to the United States. His father “disappeared” in Cambodia. Chun was tortured and beaten witnessing executions and atrocities.Continue reading “RKS Film: “Bad Axe”: A Very Dangerous Man Inflames Right Wing Rage in the United States”

RKS Film: A Very Cheesy Christmas: “Baking All the Way”

Is there an unwritten rule that Christmas movies of late must suffer from cheesy plots and rather obnoxious music? Let’s face it “It’s a Wonderful Life” is one of the biggest cheese Christmas films ever made yet once every two years it still is worth a view. “Baking All the Way” is stuffed with cheeseContinue reading “RKS Film: A Very Cheesy Christmas: “Baking All the Way””