I’m sure everyone, at some point in their lives, has wondered: “What if I could turn back the time, change the course of events, and maybe relive some moments for a second time?” The Korean TV series ‘Twinkling Watermelon’, directed by Son Jong-hyun, seamlessly blending elements of time-travel, coming-of-age, family and love, delves into the idea of rewriting the past. However, the approach is different as the main leads Ha Eun Gyeol (Ryeon) and On Eun Yu (Seol In-ah) are, in fact, trying to rewrite the lives of their parents, ultimately leading to a restructuring of their own life. This drama reminds us that our parents were also once teenagers with their own hopes, dreams and inner struggles. That there…
Category: Cinematic Narrative
Parasite (2019): A Film Review
You know, when I first got to know the project Cinematic Review series, Parasite (2019) was my instant decision to write a review on. I was forced to watch the movie when I was having a sleepover with my cousins. When I first heard the word, I did not like to watch, but when the movie continued, I was showing interest and was into the film. Parasite is a 9/10 for me when considering its practicality to society and how the director skillfully showcases every single emotion in a frame. Enough of my rambling! Let us move into the movie summary. Summary Parasite (2019) which was directed by Bong Joon Ho, revolves around a poor family of parents, son, and…
Barbie: A Pink Menace
Almost every little girl had a Barbie doll at some point in her life. Whether you wanted to or not was a different matter. Barbie managed to impress our parents with her pink glitz, so Barbie invaded all our homes. Now, was Barbie treated well? Well… (looks at my old Barbies with broken legs and missing arms, crying in the corner)…that depends on if you were a civil child or not. In 2023, Barbie swept the world by storm with the release of the new live-action movie starring Margot Robbie and Ryan Gosling, and the whole world became infested with pink ribbons and bows. Directed by Greta Gerwig, it was beloved by women and girls alike; everyone wanted to hop…
Desert Flower: A Tale of Resilience and Strength
The movie “Desert Flower” relates the extraordinary story of the courageous Somalian girl Waris Dirie, who has been through a journey of struggle and hardship. Beginning from her life in the deserts of Africa to establishing herself as an internationally recognized supermodel, her story is incredibly inspiring and compelling. Just as a desert flower, she blooms in a desert, thriving hardships and harsh circumstances with her strength and resilience as a courageous woman. The director, Sherry Hormann, has done a marvelous job of showcasing Waris’s autobiographical tale along with its dramatic twists. Especially, the role of Waris is outlandishly performed by the well-known supermodel and actress Liya Kabede. The plot is mainly based on the book ‘Desert Flower', which is…
Interstellar: A Space Odyssey of Fatherly Love
Why does a father's love often go unnoticed? Let's explore the depths of fatherly affection through the lens of futuristic storytelling in the popular sci-fi flick 'Interstellar'. Interstellar is a cinematic exploration of a father's love transcending time and space. The movie goes beyond typical sci-fi, crafting a story full of love, sacrifice, and the unbreakable connection between parent and child. It's set in the near future, when Earth is in trouble because of a big famine caused by environmental damage. Cooper, his kids, Tom and Murph, and his father-in-law, Donald, are farmers, like most people. One day, during a dust storm, Cooper and Murph find something strange in Murph's room—a pattern made by falling dust. It turns out to…
Apocalypto: A Review
Apocalypto is an extreme adventure and action movie, with survial being the main theme. This historical epic is based on the Mayan civilization of Europe. The characteristics of a civilization (environmental factors, clothes, and ornaments) and the development of civilizations are seen in this film, and it is undoubtedly a wonderful film for history lovers. Another remarkable feature of the movie that I felt was the shadow of love emerging from the adventure. The cast, crew, and a few details The director of this film is Mel Gibson, and he and Farhad Safinia co-wrote the screenplay. The main character of this film is Jaguar Paw, played by Rudy Youngblood. For Jaguar Paw, nothing matters more than his relationships with his…
Medici (TV series)
In Florence, during the Renaissance period, was a powerful Italian noble family bearing the name, Medici. Their power and influence bolstered by the banking and trade activities conducted by its members, the Medici family stood dominating political and economic aspects in Florence, while also extending their influence all across Europe in a way that one might call them truly the Masters of Florence. The Netflix series, “Medici”, a collaborative creation by Frank Spotnitz and Nicholas Meyer, chronicles the rise to the power of this notorious Medici family, set in 15th century. With the combination of a talented cast and an excellent cinematography, the series focuses on the political intrigue, betrayals, murders, and the complicated dynamics of power that characterized the Renaissance period in which the Medici family rose to the epitome of European power. Consisting…
Wolf Children: The Heartfelt Journey of Family, Identity, and Unconditional Love
Stories about a mother’s love are not rare. There are several films produced depicting the transcending care and affection of motherhood. However, the fantasy drama; Wolf Children, portrays the authentic and heart-rending beauty of motherhood and the challenges surrounding being a single parent. We’re human; it reminds the viewers. We make mistakes, choose different lives, discover ourselves in moments of despair, we learn and we grow. Mamoru Hosoda masterfully displays the beauty of motherhood, beauty of life and identity through his resounding movie; The Wolf Children. A Short Summary The movie belongs to the fantasy, drama genre. The boundaries between realism and fantasy are blurred keeping the viewer intrigued about the differences tempting us to make comparisons between our explorations…
The Cinematic Masterpiece that is “Girl, Interrupted.”
‘Girl, Interrupted’ to me, is all the cliché, out there, movies that try to tackle sensitive, timely topics done the right way. The movie brings to life a range of extremely delicate matters and truly is the holy grail of all mental illnesses and the closely associated institutionalization of them. Moving on, I’m sorry not sorry for the spoilers, and more than that, for now making you want to watch a movie that will probably linger in your minds for years to come! The Basics The basics first: it falls under the ‘thriller’ genre, and more particularly, under ‘psychological thriller', and has a run-time of 2 hours, 7 minutes. It was released all the way in 1999 and was produced…
The Dark Connotations Behind the Film ‘Spirited Away’
Seldom do films manage to transport us back to our childhood while simultaneously eluding us as to their true significance. Fewer animated films are able to accomplish this. Spirited Away is one such rarity. Even now, I often find myself constantly speculating the hidden meanings behind particular characters and scenes. Warning: spoilers ahead! The film centers around a young girl named Chihiro, who wanders into the spirit realm, is separated from her parents and is forced to work in the bath house there to ensure her survival. The film revolves around her journey as she navigates her way into adulthood, taking responsibility for herself and her parents. The role that toxic workplace cultures play in a global capitalist economy is…