A Small Town with a Big Problem: Bob Odenkirk and Derek Kolstad on Normal

By Jonathan Monovich. When I think about movies that are in theaters, to a great extent…. They’re only aiming for the whole family’s satisfaction. They’re only aiming for spectacle from the beginning to the end. But, there’s something about Normal that makes you want to say, ‘Well, it’s a movie. […]

The Red Sea Phenomenon: A Genealogical Erasure of Female Pioneers

By Betty Kaklamanidou. This patriarchal structure operates like a ‘fixer,’ a sophisticated, centuries-old system that protects male supremacy by eliminating the names of women who achieved greatness, leaving behind a male-centric narrative.” This spring semester my two elective courses focus on the history of Greek cinema, specifically the work of […]

The Making of a Silent Legacy: Early Buster Keaton

A Book Review by Thomas Gladysz. A detailed, well-wrought look into the comedian’s early career(s)….” Like Charlie Chaplin, there are more than a handful of books about Buster Keaton – the stone-faced comedian who sported a pork-pie hat. And like Chaplin, Keaton remains one of the truly great performers of […]

Imperfect Storms: Berlinale 2026

By Ali Moosavi. 2026, a year of apolitical comments and walkouts, featured many standout selections.” The Berlin Film Festival, or Berlinale, started with pouring rain but a storm was brewing in the press conference hall. In response to a question about the ongoing conflict between Israel and Palestine, the International […]

Now a Believer: Caroline Golum’s Revelations of Divine Love

By William Blick. Made for about $200,000 through crowdfunding via way of Brooklyn, Revelations achieves the scope necessary for a fascinating, faithful telling of the spiritual and historic journey of Julian of Norwich.” Different stories of religious faith and suffering have manifested themselves in one way or another in cinema […]

Power of Solitude: Chen Deming on Always (Cong Lai)

By Yun-hua Chen. The film records the solitude of childhood and shows the power of poetry within that solitude.” Black and white, left-behind children, rural China – Director Chen Deming, in Always, uses a familiar formula to bring out a unique layer of poetry and coming-of-age. The Chinese title, Cong […]