Almost five years after their return to power, a new era has dawned under the yoke of the Taliban, an inflexible fundamentalist regime. Under their rule, the former republic has disappeared, replaced by an ultra-rigid power structure closed off from the rest of the world and the foreign press. An "Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan", largely unrecognised, even by Islamic theocracies. After four shoots, mainly carried out outside the official framework, "The Taliban Country" offers a glimpse into the heart of this new Afghan reality. Through the eyes of the men and women facing these upheavals, the film paints a portrait of a paradoxical and radical system. It offers an in-depth look at the workings of a state characterised by extreme rigour, unparalleled in the contemporary world.
This film was filled with great plot points. Unfortunately, they all contradicted each other and clashed. Had the premise of Awake been more consistent and accurately portrayed the real world aspect, I think this could have been an extreme success.
Cursed is based on Frank Miller’s graphic novel, and is a retelling of the Arthurian legend with a twist. Instead of King Arthur gaining Excalibur, a teenage sorceress named Nimue (Katherine Langford) does. Her people — the Fey — are being hunted down, and so Nimue will do whatever it takes to save them.
“And I think to myself….what a wonderful world”. Louis Armstrong sang about this notion via his classic 1967 song, an ode to witnessing elements of our life that should be but some reminders of exactly what that concluding line of each verse indicates. Now we see our contemporary realities and, just being honest, it makes a sentiment like this seem SO overtly far away….perhaps even impossible….to accept or believe could be. It sounds harsh, but again, so much of what is occurring speaks not to beauty, but bedlam.
Renee Zellweger shines in this Judy Garland biopic, which highlights the pain and loneliness that so many famous women endure.
Mulan had to struggle to feel like herself and see herself properly. Some of us have to strive to have our reflection mimic what’s inside. We have to crawl. We have to fight.
True crime media is notoriously obsessed with the “missing white woman” trope, and yet the vast majority of American murder victims are male, and well over half are people of color.
