Wild Bunch (France): 17

Blood Father (2016), an English-language French film directed by Jean-François Richet and written by Peter Craig based on his novel of the same name, follows the story of Lydia. She visits a megastore to buy weapons for her boyfriend Jonah Pincerna and his fellow gang members. Once armed, they set out to kill a family living in their rented house who they believe stole their hidden money. During the attack, Jonah is shot in the neck and Lydia escapes, seeking help from her estranged father John Link. A former convict and recovering alcoholic, John agrees to take Lydia to ...

Oliver Stone’s biographical thriller Snowden (2016) follows the story of Edward Snowden, who in 2013 arranged a secret meeting in Hong Kong with documentarian Laura Poitras and journalist Glenn Greenwald. During the meeting, they discussed releasing classified information regarding illegal mass surveillance conducted by the NSA. This meeting was later documented in Poitras’ film Citizenfour, which was also featured in the movie Snowden. Prior to this, in 2004, Snowden joined the U.S. Army with plans to join the Special Forces but was discharged due to a fractured tibia. He then applied for a position at the ...

Chronic (2015), a drama film written and directed by Michel Franco, follows the story of David. He is first shown waiting in his car outside a house before a young woman leaves and drives away. David then begins to follow her. Later, he can be seen browsing through Nadia Wilson’s Facebook photos- the very same person he had been following earlier. It is revealed that David is a male nurse who cares for his first patient, Sarah, who is suffering from AIDS. He takes great care in bathing and dressing her, as well as managing her daily activities- such as politely turning away visiting family when Sarah needs rest ...

The Last Days (2013) is a Spanish science fiction thriller film directed by David and Àlex Pastor. In the post-apocalyptic setting of downtown Barcelona, an office worker named Marc struggles to survive and find food in a city that has been devastated by disaster. He is tasked with digging a tunnel in the basement of a building, and his desperation to find out the fate of his girlfriend Julia, who was with him during the catastrophic event, leads him to nearly cause a collapse. Later on, when they reach a neighboring building, Marc encounters his ex-boss Enrique, who ...

Passion (2012) is a film, both written and directed by Brian De Palma. In the movie, Christine is an American advertising executive working in Germany, collaborating with her protégé Isabelle on a new smartphone ad campaign. Despite being involved in a secret affair with Christine’s boyfriend Dirk, Isabelle comes up with a highly successful marketing concept. However, when Christine takes credit for it, Isabelle is disappointed but eventually makes peace with her boss after hearing about the tragic loss of her twin sister. Acting upon Dani’s suggestion, Isabelle shares her own version of the ad online, which ...

Largo Winch II (2011) is a thrilling French film based on the Belgian comic of the same name. Three years prior to his passing, Nerio Winch shares with his bodyguard, Freddy, that he has located his son, Largo, in a village in Burma. He instructs Freddy to follow him closely. Meanwhile, Largo saves villagers from a massacre perpetrated by General Min and his local militia. As he tends to the wounded with his partner Malunai, Frenchman Simon Ovronnaz arrives with survivors in tow. However, when Simon reveals he was hired by someone working for Min, the villagers turn on him and Kadjang suffers severe injuries after a confrontation with Largo. Consequently, Largo is ...

The science fiction drama film, Mr. Nobody (2009), written and directed by Jaco Van Dormael, follows the life of Nemo Nobody. As the last mortal on Earth in a world where humans have achieved quasi-immortality, 118-year-old Nemo’s memories are fading. He shares his life story with a doctor and journalist, discussing his three main loves and the impact of his parents’ divorce on his journey. Throughout the film, the speculative narrative explores alternate life paths resulting from different decisions made by Nemo at ages nine, fifteen, and thirty-four. With a nonlinear structure incorporating the multiverse ...

In the American comedy film Whatever Works (2009), directed and written by Woody Allen, Boris Yelnikoff is a cynical and misanthropic chess teacher. He used to be a quantum mechanics professor at Columbia University before getting divorced. Boris tends to keep to himself and only has three friends and students he interacts with. He can be condescending towards those who don’t match his intelligence level. Additionally, he frequently sings “Happy Birthday” while washing his hands throughout the film. One night, when Boris returns home, he finds Melody, a simpleminded 21-year-old, at his front door. ...

The film Che: Part Two (2008), directed by Steven Soderbergh, tells the story of Argentine Marxist revolutionary Ernesto ‘Che’ Guevara. In Part Two, titled Guerrilla, we see Guevara’s efforts to bring revolution to Bolivia and his eventual downfall. The film follows the timeline of his time in Bolivia, starting with his arrival in La Paz on 3 November 1966. Disguised as a middle-aged representative from Uruguay, he meets with his men in the mountains. As the days pass (Day 26 and Day 67), we see the strong bond among Guevara’s followers despite being a foreigner. However, by Day ...

In the film Che: Part One (2008), directed by Steven Soderbergh, we follow the life of Argentine Marxist revolutionary Ernesto ‘Che’ Guevara. During an interview in Havana in 1964 with Lisa Howard, Guevara is questioned about the potential impact of reform on the message of the Cuban Revolution. In 1955, Guevara first encounters Fidel Castro at a gathering in Mexico City and joins the July 26th Movement after hearing Castro’s plans. Fast forwarding to 1964, we witness Guevara delivering a passionate speech against American imperialism at the United Nations General Assembly in New York City. He also ...

Largo Winch (2008) is a French action thriller film based on the Belgian comic book of the same name. In Hong Kong, Nerio Winch, the owner and majority shareholder of W-Group, is murdered by an unknown assailant on his yacht, the Neretva. The following day, the board of directors for W-Group meets with Ann Ferguson, Nerio’s trusted associate, to discuss the matter. It is revealed that Nerio had a secret son named Largo Winch who was raised by a French-Croatian family and kept hidden from everyone until his recent discovery. Skepticism arises among the members but they decide to bring Largo in to determine if he truly is Nerio’s heir. Meanwhile, Largo is in ...

Cassandra’s Dream (2007) is a crime thriller drama film written and directed by Woody Allen. Filmed in England, it is a collaboration between the United States, France, and the United Kingdom. Brothers Terry and Ian grew up in South London under the care of their parents – their father Brian, who owns a restaurant, and their mother Dorothy, who instilled in them admiration for their uncle Howard. Howard is a renowned plastic surgeon and entrepreneur with practices in Switzerland, the US, and China. The brothers purchase a sailboat named after Terry’s lucky greyhound for a bargain, despite its excellent ...

Written and directed by Richard Kelly, Southland Tales (2006) is a dystopian black comedy thriller film. In an alternate reality of the United States on July 4, 2005, twin nuclear attacks destroyed two Texas towns (El Paso and Abilene) causing mass destruction and loss of life. This triggered a catastrophic chain of events that threw the country into chaos and panic, leading to a Third World War (based on the effects of the War on Terror). As a result, the draft was reinstated by the government, while US-IDent, a new agency with extended powers under the PATRIOT Act, constantly monitors citizens’ activities ...

The Italian film, The Family Friend (2006), was directed by Paolo Sorrentino and was showcased at the Cannes Film Festival that year. Geremia, an elderly tailor and money lender, lives alone with his ill-tempered mother in a rundown house. Known for his selfish and frugal ways, Geremia develops a peculiar obsession with money and uses it to meddle in others’ affairs under the guise of being their ‘family friend’. One day, he is approached by a man seeking a loan for his daughter Rosalba’s wedding. Instantly smitten with the charming young woman, Geremia enters into an unconventional relationship ...

Land of the Dead (2005) is a post-apocalyptic horror film written and directed by George A. Romero. Following the zombie apocalypse, human civilization has reorganized and established a chain of protected city-states across America. One such sanctuary is located within the triangular peninsula of downtown Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, where a feudal-like government governs its citizens. Surrounded on two sides by rivers and barricaded on the third with an electrified fence guarded by a militia, this city provides relative security for its inhabitants. Beyond its borders lies a desolate landscape with abandoned suburbs and ...

Mary (2005), a drama thriller flick, was written and directed by American filmmaker Abel Ferrara. After completing a movie about Jesus named This Is My Blood, Marie Palesi – the actress portraying Mary Magdalene – seeks refuge in Jerusalem to uncover the truth behind the story. Meanwhile, the film’s director (who also portrays Jesus) returns to New York with an aggressive campaign to promote the movie. Controversy surrounds the film due to its use of non-canonical Gnostic Gospels in some scenes, as well as allegations of anti-Semitism that remain unexplained. In New ...

Tiptoes (2002), an American comedy-drama written and directed by Matthew Bright, follows the story of Carol, a talented and independent painter who falls in love with Steven. Despite not knowing much about him other than his perfection, their love blooms. However, when Carol becomes pregnant, it prompts Steven to reveal his deepest secret – his family. In a family of dwarfs with his twin brother Rolfe being one of them, Steven happens to be the only average-sized person. As they come to terms with the possibility of their child being born a dwarf, Steven’s fears intensify as he does not want them to go ...