Burning Film Difficulty Ranking: 4

Have you ever read a book by Haruki Murakami? If you have, and you enjoyed it – great, you’ll get to see his writing live. If you haven’t, no problem, you can start after this film. It’s the perfect mystery film.

From: South Korea, Asia
Watch: Trailer, Netflix, Amazon Rent, Amazon Buy
Next: Gone Girl, Tape, Vertigo
Continue reading “Burning – A Brooding, Mysterious Trail of Insecurity”
Ephraim in Lamb

Lamb Film Difficulty Ranking: 3

Beautiful scenery, beautifully shot, Lamb could be a travel commercial for the Ethiopian tourist board. But the beautiful landscape can’t be fully enjoyed by Ephraim and his family as they’ve run out of food. The worst of each of them shows itself on film as they struggle to get by – will Ephraim’s beloved lamb survive?

From: Ethiopia, Africa
Watch: Trailer, Amazon Prime, Kanopy, Rent on Amazon, Buy on Amazon
Next: Pather Panchali, Rams, Abouna
Continue reading “Lamb – See a Patriarchy Struggling to Get By”
Ahlo from The Rocket

The Rocket Film Difficulty Ranking: 2

If you always like supporting the underdog, you’ll enjoy following ‘Little Balls’ in The Rocket. As he was born a twin, his family think he’s cursed and destined to bring bad luck to the family. What they don’t see is that he’s the future of their traditional way of life. The more they blame him, the more distant their link to their heritage becomes.

From: Laos, Asia
Watch: Trailer, Free on Vudu, Rent on Amazon, Buy on Amazon
Next: Whale Rider, The Boy who Harnessed the Wind, The Eagle Huntress
Continue reading “The Rocket – Cheer for the Family Underdog”
Young Monk in Golden Kingdom

Golden Kingdom Film Difficulty Ranking: 3

Do you want to leave your job to go meditate in a Buddhist temple surrounded by lush green hills? This film might just be the one for you. In the idyllic setting of Golden Kingdom you’ll follow one junior monk on his path to enlightenment.

From: Myanmar, Asia 
Watch: Trailer, Rent on Amazon, Buy on Amazon
Next: Colours of the Mountain, Rabbit Proof Fence, Kundun
Continue reading “Golden Kingdom – Follow the Path to Enlightenment”
Ngabo and Sangwa

Munyurangabo Film Difficulty Ranking: 3

If you want to see a great film about life in post-genocide Rwanda then watch Munyurangabo. The production quality isn’t great and there’s a lot of singing that pops up now and then, but the dialogue is simple and waterproof. It doesn’t offer you much at the start, but it slowly reveals more and more as the film progresses until you realise you’re watching a much deeper film than you thought.

From: Rwanda, Africa
Watch: Trailer, Rent on Amazon, Buy on Amazon, Tubi, Kanopy
Next: Hotel Rwanda, Look of Silence, Sleepwalking Land
Continue reading “Munyurangabo – Post-War Rwanda through the Eyes of Friends”