“You don’t know how lucky you are being a monkey. Because consciousness is a terrible curse. I think. I feel. I suffer. And all I ask in return is the opportunity to do my work. And they won’t allow it… because I raise issues.”

In a film industry that is obsessed with its actors and directors, it isn’t easy for a screenwriter to carve a space of his own. Charlie Kaufman did just that and more.

Continue reading Charlie Kaufman and his Unsettling Art at Movierdo.

Like most other spheres of public life and entertainment, cinema too has been a stronghold of patriarchy since its initial days. There was a paucity of strong, exemplary women characters in Classic Hollywood. Films, being reflections of the social reality of the times they are made, failed to go beyond the treatment of women as ‘love interest of the hero’ and ‘eye candies’. Although one would argue that the likes of Katharine Hepburn, Ingrid Bergman, and Audrey Hepburn played some admirable roles, there is no denying the fact that most of them were idealized and unrelatable.

Continue reading Female Filmmakers: Women Behind The Camera at Movierdo.

The Star Wars is widely considered as the most influential film franchisee in the history of cinema. Multiple generations have grown up with the heroic tales, mighty spaceships, exhilarating battles and extraterrestrial creatures. While the common audience embraced the movies for their sheer entertainment value, critics have often tried to deconstruct the philosophy that transcends the technological marvels. Star Wars is deeply embedded in the popular culture, reflecting both historic and contemporary values and notions.

Continue reading A Cultural Analysis of Star Wars at Movierdo.

Cinema has long been exploited as a medium for socio-political commentary and delivering underlying messages. But seldom do we come across filmmakers who really produce multilayered, technically advanced movies while staying true to their cause. Polish director Krzysztof Kieślowski is one such rare master who effortlessly crafted sensational movies, comparable to the best European artistic creations of all times. His 1988 feature A Short Film About Killing (Krótki film o zabijaniu) is a quintessential cinematic gem that immaculately delivers a powerful critique.

Continue reading The Social Relevance of Kieślowski’s A Short Film About Killing at Movierdo.

“There’s no such thing as an anti-war movie,” stated highly acclaimed French filmmaker Francois Truffaut. While a section of the critics dismissed his claim as snobbery of European artistic brand of filmmaking, there has been considerable debate regarding the true nature of the statement. Probably, Truffaut tried to imply that showing combat on-screen unwittingly glorifies war and its associated features like comradeship among soldiers, inhuman courage, loyalty and patriotism. The horrifying nature of violence ultimately gets toned-down.

Continue reading Why Paths of Glory is a Standout ‘War Movie’? at Movierdo.