India

San Francisco International Film Festival Documentary Round-up Part 2

Presented virtually, Arlin Golden finishes his coverage of the documentaries that premiered at this year’s San Francisco International Film Festival.

GODZILLA VS. KONG: The Good Old Smash And Grab
GODZILLA VS. KONG: The Good Old Smash And Grab

While Godzilla vs. Kong is by far the best installment of this rebooted franchise, the MonsterVerse could still learn a few lessons from its forerunners.

Bigotry And Hypocrisy In John Abraham's DONKEY IN A BRAHMIN VILLAGE
Bigotry And Hypocrisy In John Abraham’s DONKEY IN A BRAHMIN VILLAGE

Donkey in a Brahmin Village is deserving of its cult status in Indian cinema as it dared to expose the hideous aspects of religion and society.

Satyajit Ray - THE HERO at Berlinale
Satyajit Ray – THE HERO at Berlinale

Legend of the Berlindale Film Festival, Satyajit Ray’s award-winning 1966 Indian drama The Hero (Nayak) showcases the filmmaker’s talents.

Transcendence and Snobbery in Satyajit Ray’s THE MUSIC ROOM
Transcendence and Snobbery in Satyajit Ray’s THE MUSIC ROOM

The tragedy in The Music Room, is that he believes in a world where elitism, patriarchy, and status are of equal value to the spiritual advancement of art.

THE TRIAL OF THE CHICAGO 7: A Satisfying Crowd Pleaser With Room To Grow
THE TRIAL OF THE CHICAGO 7: A Satisfying Crowd Pleaser With Room To Grow

The Trial of the Chicago 7 has the potential to become a bona-fide crowdpleaser that will resonate with its target demographic.

SXSW 2020: CARGO: Interesting But Unfocused
SXSW 2020: CARGO: Interesting But Unfocused

Cargo fails on its promise to meld the concepts of science fiction, fantasy and Hinduism, and ends up feeling muddled.

THE WARRIOR QUEEN OF JHANSI: A Flawed But Surprising Endeavor
THE WARRIOR QUEEN OF JHANSI: A Flawed But Surprising Endeavor

The Warrior Queen of Jhansi displays well the difficult position of Ranibai of Jhansi, with a respect for her cleverness and leadership while acknowledging her faults and mistakes.

Bollywood Inquiry September 2019: CHHICHHORE, DREAM GIRL & THE ZOYA FACTOR
Bollywood Inquiry September 2019: CHHICHHORE, DREAM GIRL & THE ZOYA FACTOR

In the September Bollywood Inquiry, Musanna Ahmed covers new Bollywood releases Chhichhore, Dream Girl and The Zoya Factor.

Bollywood Inquiry July 2019: SUPER 30 & JUDGEMENTALL HAI KYA
Bollywood Inquiry July 2019: SUPER 30 & JUDGEMENTALL HAI KYA

Musanna Ahmed takes a look at two July Bollywood releases: Super 30 and Judgementall Hai Kya.

Bollywood Inquiry June 2019: BHARAT, GAME OVER, KABIR SINGH & ARTICLE 15
Bollywood Inquiry June 2019: BHARAT, GAME OVER, KABIR SINGH & ARTICLE 15

Musanna Ahmed covers some of June’s Bollywood releases: Bharat, Game Over, Kabir Singh and Article 15.

PHOTOGRAPH: A Quieter Look At Love & Loneliness
PHOTOGRAPH: A Quieter Look At Love & Loneliness

While Photograph is frequently too slow to engross yourself in, it’s unique and intriguing enough to carry interest.

Bollywood Inquiry April 2019: ROMEO AKBAR WALTER & KALANK
Bollywood Inquiry April 2019: ROMEO AKBAR WALTER & KALANK

Despite few releases due to Avengers and politics, cinemagoers were served with two major Bollywood releases this month: Romeo Akbar Walter and Kalank.

Bollywood Inquiry: SONCHIRIYA, LUKA CHUPPI, BADLA, KESARI & JUNGLEE (March 2019)
Bollywood Inquiry March 2019: SONCHIRIYA, LUKA CHUPPI, BADLA, KESARI & JUNGLEE

Film Inquiry’s Musanna Ahmed looks at the biggest Bollywood releases of March 2019 in his first Bollywood Inquiry column.

THE WEDDING GUEST: A Thriller With No Real Identity
THE WEDDING GUEST: A Thriller With No Real Identity

While Dev Patel brings the best performance possible, it’s hard to root for any characters in The Wedding Guest, with a story that never really knows what it wants to be.