A surreal examination of one man’s descent into depravity: “The Cremator” at the 2024 Samizdat Film Festival
Often considered one of the best films produced in Czechoslovakia, The Cremator (Spalovač mrtvol, 1969) is an impeccable example of the Czechoslovak New Wave. Darkly surreal, it portrays how [...]
Journey to the edge of consciousness: “The Hourglass Sanatorium” at the 2024 Samizdat Film Festival
The Hourglass Sanatorium (1973) is an oneiric and elusive film, where the sacred and the profane flow interchangeably. Director Wojciech Jerzy Has, drawing on the legacy of Bruno Schulz’s [...]
Women’s experiences in the face of brutality: “A Picture to Remember” at the 2024 Samizdat Film Festival
Polina Gundarina reviews "A Picture to Remember" as part of Lossi 36's coverage of the 2024 Samizdat Film Festival
A Scottish premiere of an overlooked gem of classic Armenian cinema: “House on the Volcano” at the Samizdat Eastern European Film Festival
Fin Logie reviews "House on the Volcano," a gem of Soviet Armenian film accompanied in this Glasgow screening by a live score
The warm love of family against the cold ignorance of state authorities: “Safe Place” at the Samizdat Festival of Central and Eastern European Film
Marija Ivanovic reviews "Safe Place," Juraj Lerotić's debut feature film based on his own family's experience with suicide
A micro-portrait of a family grappling with gender identity in Hungary: “Colors of Tobi” at the Samizdat Festival of Central and Eastern European Film
Jakub Crcha reviews "Colors of Tobi," a documentary tackling issues of identity and acceptance in contemporary Hungary
A feminist depiction of Soviet womanhood: “Some Interviews on Personal Matters” at the Samizdat Festival of Central and Eastern European Film
Xandie (Alexandra) Kuenning reviews the Soviet Georgian feminist classic "Some Interviews on Personal Matters"
A joyful depiction of brotherly care: “Bratan” at the Samizdat Festival of Central and Eastern European Film
Lukas Baake reviews the Tajik film "Bratan," an entertaining roadtrip movie that also operates as a worthwhile portrait of brotherly care
“A human being without love has no chance of life”: “King Lear: How We Looked For Love During the War” at the Samizdat Festival of Central and Eastern European Film
Xandie (Alexandra) Kuenning reviews "King Lear: How We Looked For Love During the War," a noteworthy film about love and human resilience