Posts by Zornitsa
‘Cries and Whispers’ As Entertaining As a Lutheran Homily
Cries and Whispers Directed by Ingmar Bergman Sweden, 1972 The inanity of Bergman’s canonisation has always baffled me: I have tended to endure his films as a bitter medicine – worthwhile but unenjoyable, classics that everybody wants to have watched … [Read the Rest]
Capsule Reviews: ‘Salt White’ / ‘Policeman’ / ‘Here Without Me’
Salt White Written and directed by Ketevan Machavariani 2011, Georgia Salt White is a moody, bleak first feature by Georgian director Ketevan Machavariani. Set in a post-communist Georgian Black Sea resort, Salt White is at first glance an unpretentious chronicling … [Read the Rest]
Catching Up with a Classic: ‘Breathless’ undeniably charming, even for Godardophobes
Throughout January, SOS writers will be biting the bullet and finally sitting down with a film they feel like bad film buffs for not having seen already. ‘À bout de souffle (Breathless)‘ Directed by Jean-Luc Godard François Truffaut (story) Jean-Luc … [Read the Rest]
‘The Iron Lady’ finds Streep transcending dodgy politics
The Iron Lady Directed by Phyllida Lloyd Written by Abi Morgan UK, 2011 Is it just me, or is it that Meryl Streep really can’t go wrong with anything? The Iron Lady, directed by Phyllida Lloyd of Mamma Mia fame, … [Read the Rest]
SOS Staff Gateway Films: Zornitsa Staneva – ‘The English Patient’
Throughout November, SOS staffers will be discussing the movies that made them into film fanatics. (click here for the full list) The English Patient Anthony Minghella Michael Ondaatje and Anthony Minghella USA / UK The one which did me in … [Read the Rest]
Festival du Nouveau Cinéma: ‘White White World’ tragically overwrought
White White World Directed by Oleg Novkovic Writen by: Milena Markovic Serbia, 2010 Trying too hard may be what stunts the otherwise portentous storyline and hefty characterisation in White White World by Serbian director Oleg Novkovic, a fourth feature film … [Read the Rest]
Festival du Nouveau Cinéma: ‘Elena’ – Beware the Submissive Housewife
Elena Directed by Andrei Zvyagintsev Written by Oleg Negin 2011, Russia In cinema it seems to take quite a lot of pluck to position an elderly couple as main protagonists. Thus the central duo in Elena, a curio of a … [Read the Rest]
Eyes Wide Open: a G-d -Fearing Romance
Eyes Wide Open Directed by Haim Tabakman Written by Merav Doster Israel | Germany | France – 2010 Showing at Cinéma du Parc in its second run in Montreal following last year’s limited release, Haim Tabakman’s ‘Eyes Wide Open’ is … [Read the Rest]
Dishonour killing: “When We Leave”
When We Leave Directed by Feo Aladag Written by Feo Aladag, Germany (2010) Ironically, the winner of the European Parliament’s 2010 LUX prize, Feo Aladag’s feature debut “When We Leave”, would probably serve well the cause of some member states … [Read the Rest]
Bereavement Australian Style: “The Tree”
The Tree Directed by Julie Bertucelli Written Julie Bertucelli France / Australia – 2010 The Tree, which closed the 2010 Cannes Film Festival, is almost certainly something of a UFO in the familiar, often formulaic landscape of much contemporary French … [Read the Rest]
Fulgurant Families: Incendies
“Villeneuve’s screen adaptation has been hailed as his best feature film to date.” Incendies Directed by Denis Villeneuve Canada’s submission to the Best Foreign Language Film category for this year’s Academy Awards comes in the shape of a rather atypical … [Read the Rest]
Xavier Dolan’s Hipster Dystopia
J’ai tué ma mère / Les amours imaginaires Directed by Xavier Dolan “Why was Cannes so awed by J’ai Tué Ma Mère,” one may wonder, after viewing Xavier Dolan’s angsty first feature. While baffling at first, the hype becomes more … [Read the Rest]
Top 10 International Films of the Decade
Two pianists, two war films of disconcerting beauty, lots of weight loss and some black chadors – here are some of the best international films of the decade. 1. Gegen die Wand / Head-on (2004) Directed / Written by Fatih … [Read the Rest]
Festival Du Nouveau Cinéma ’09: Two Lines
Two Lines (2008) Directed by Selim Evci At first, Selim Evci’s Two Lines seems almost as taciturn as another Turkish export, Distant (it must be a Turkish film-maker thing, for the real-life Turks I know simply love talking) and also … [Read the Rest]
Between Greatness and Boredom: Lars Von Trier Retrospective @ Cinéma du Parc
Lars von Trier may be a self-confessed depressive, but ‘schizophrenic’ is the epithet which first springs to mind when trying to describe his films. So luckily for me – not a big Lars von Trier fan per se – there … [Read the Rest]
Zornitsa is allergic to Hollywood cinema and would only admit to watching Aurdey Hepburn romcoms under duress (or inebriation). She dreams of the day when 'employed film critic' is no longer an oxymoron. Into 'international' cinema preferably dealing with underdog subalterns. Favourite films "Underground', "Ceux qui m'aiment prendront le train", "Close-up", 'The English Patient". Favourite directors Emir Kusturica, Abbas Kiarostami. Oh, and Juliette Binoche for breakfast, lunch, dinner. 
