Review of John le Carre’s spy thriller and romance The Russia House, released on Blu by Twilight Time, and a fascinating time capsule of glasnost Soviet Russia circa 1990 + some random thoughts on visiting East Berlin in 1989.
It’s worth pondering whether this particular adaptation of John le Carré’s novel would’ve been produced today, given there is no gunfire, no a single foot chase, car chase, murder, any act of violence, and the hero’s a sixtysomething heavy drinker who describes himself as ‘a disappointment’…
Review of the Agnes Varda-Jane Birkin diptych, beautifully mastered on Blu by Cinelicious: Jane B. par Agnes V. + King-fu master! (both 1988).
After the critical and financial success from Vagabond (1985), Agnes Varda’s next project was the genuine diptych Jane B. for Agnes V., a sort-of documentary on actress / singer Jane Birkin, and the drama Kung-fu master! which was shot in the middle of the doc’s production…
Review of Ceyda Torin’s documentary on Istanbul’s age-old, human-feline history in Kedi / KEDi (2016), starting its run at the Hot Docs Ted Rogers Cinema.
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