India

CAT STICKS: A Poignant And Progressive Feature
CAT STICKS: A Poignant & Progressive Feature

With a strikingly effective energy of both heart and strident bitterness, Cat Sticks like the disease of addiction itself is conveyed in a wise and endearing manner.

GULLY BOY: Hip-Hop Empowers Mumbai's Poorest In Profound Musical Drama
GULLY BOY: Hip-Hop Empowers Mumbai’s Poorest In Profound Musical Drama

Some may preemptively dismiss Gully Boy as a rip-off of 8 Mile but there’s far more here than just another underdog hip-hop story.

SONI: A Candid Depiction of India’s Gender Politics
SONI: A Candid Depiction of India’s Gender Politics

Soni, as a gritty realist portrait, feels fresh and unique – both in it’s portrayal of Kalpana and Soni and its technical achievements.

BRIJ MOHAN AMAR RAHE: A Mean-spirited, Semi-Entertaining Black Comedy

Though Brij Mohan Amar Rahe may be funny and entertaining at points, it mostly comes across as unpleasant to watch and unintentionally muddled.

LUST STORIES: An Exploration of Feminism, Sex, and Gender Roles in India
LUST STORIES: An Exploration Of Feminism, Sex & Gender Roles In India

While fairytale romances feature in tons of Bollywood films, Lust Stories gives insight into the modern Indian woman and the role she plays.

BOYS WHO LIKE GIRLS: Crucial Doc On Men As Allies
BOYS WHO LIKE GIRLS: Crucial Doc On Men As Allies

Inka Achté’s documentary BOYS WHO LIKE GIRLS chronicles the efforts of an organization in India to educate boys and men on pressing gender-based issues.

SXSW Review: FIELD GUIDE TO EVIL: Loses Its Way, But Still Has Fun
SXSW Review: FIELD GUIDE TO EVIL: Loses Its Way, But Still Has Fun

Field Guide to Evil will likely please genre aficionados and horror buffs, but on the whole, its lack of tonal cohesion will leave others underwhelmed.

WILD WILD COUNTRY Interview: Mark Duplass, Executive Producer
WILD WILD COUNTRY Interview: Mark Duplass, Executive Producer

We were able to talk with Mark Duplass, executive producer of the six-part Netflix documentary series Wild Wild Country, about what it was like to delve into such a hidden and bizarre piece of history.

PADMAAVAT: An Epic Letdown
PADMAAVAT: An Epic Letdown

Padmaavat is a misguided attempt by director Sanjay Leela Bhansali proving that you can get struck by lightning if you try to capture it in a bottle twice.

QARIB QARIB SINGLLE: Lovely Pair-Up of Old and New
QARIB QARIB SINGLLE: Lovely Pair-Up Of Old & New

Qarib Qarib Singlle is perfect thanks to the undemanding running time, whimsical characters, and fresh elements to a classic formula.

THE TIGER HUNTER: Not Worth Hunting Down
THE TIGER HUNTER: Not Worth Hunting Down

The Tiger Hunter is a fun, yet ultimately uninspired film about the immigrant experience, reinforcing stereotypes instead of offering up anything new.

The Nominated Film You May Have Missed: Lion
The Nominated Film You May Have Missed: LION

Lion will likely be overlooked at this year’s Oscars; with its inspiring heart-wrenching true story, though, it is still worth watching.

LION: True Story Oscar-Bait That Fails To Roar
LION: True-Story Oscar Bait That Fails To Roar

Though its feel-good sentiments are hard to resist, there are simply too many tonal and structural issues that hold LION back from greatness.

MAMI Mumbai Film Festival 2016 Highlights
MAMI Mumbai Film Festival 2016 Highlights

This year’s Mumbai Film Festival saw some fascinating themes running through its vast line-up, such as the complex and often damaging notion of family, classism, the impact of war, not to mention the booming Indian documentary space.

A DEATH IN THE GUNJ: An Exploration Of Isolation
A DEATH IN THE GUNJ: An Exploration Of Isolation

Some films just break your heart. They wheedle their way in with a warm embrace, and find a way to really stay with you, leaving you with deep a sense of loss, and yet, gratitude. A Death in the Gunj is one such film.