Not So Quiet on the Western Front
An anti-war film denouncing the valorization of senseless violence, 'All Quiet on the Western Front' is (unfortunately) all too relevant in 2022.

In the notorious soapland district of Ogoto—Alice, a seasoned sex worker scarred by abuse and betrayal, is ready for a new start as she marries Honjo, a driver she once served. Despite her painful past, which includes being exploited by her stepfather and betrayed by her mother, Alice has found a semblance of family among her peers in the industry. She’s particularly close to Maya, a top earner in their shared apartment building, and maintains a complicated relationship with Dera, an intellectual companion of Maya’s. When Alice and Maya are mugged, they discover that the assailant is Tamae—Alice’s own younger sister. As the web of relationships further entangles with characters like the man Ikuno who originally introduced Alice to this harsh world, and others whose lives spiral out of control, the story builds to a series of shocking events. These include violent confrontations, explosive accidents, and tragic mishaps that leave the characters emotionally and physically shattered.
An anti-war film denouncing the valorization of senseless violence, 'All Quiet on the Western Front' is (unfortunately) all too relevant in 2022.
Strangers in a crowd, exchanging glances, looking away, continually managing to run into each other then part ways, end up at the same diner, find they've rented the exact same vehicles, and are then made to travel together to learn once more whether they can both find genuine adoration and companionship again. This really does, in so many words, sum up the foundational gist of of this new feature film from writer Seth Reiss ("The Menu") and director Kogonada ("The Acolyte", "After Yang"). Yet, it's all only the set-up for the REAL wonder of everything that happens before, during, and in the aftermath of a magical, meaningful journey.
Given that Charlie Cox is having a moment with the rise in interest in 'Daredevil,' let's return to one of his earlier movies: the fantasy romance 'Stardust' where he shines amidst a slew of characters, from a stereotypical witch to a crossdressing pirate.
Haven't you heard? There's a new horror subgenre: cerebral gore, that's probably been around for decades and we're now just starting to talk about it.
Animation as a medium of storytelling can be thought to be open to all ages and as I hope my readings will reveal, they could be interpreted as transgender stories.
If your upbringing was anything like mine, where the TV acted as an additional parent- there are so many new stories and perspectives to explore.