Published in Frame Rated·PinnedBeyond the Flesh: The Elegance of Body HorrorThe most gruesome genre is also the most flexible. — Movies11 min read
PinnedWhy Does Malta Keep Flopping At The Eurovision Televote?The country has only received one good result since 2010 — After the cancellation of the Eurovision Song Contest 2020 due to the COVID pandemic, Malta came back for the 2021 edition stronger than ever. Represented by Destiny Chukunyere, a former Junior Eurovision winner, the small nation presented Je Me Casse: an upbeat pop track with empowering lyrics where Destiny showcased…Eurovision6 min read
Published in Fanfare·6 days agoAlcarràs (2022): Looking For Meaning Beyond The Generational DivideThe death of agriculture, Romanian gold-diggers, and solar panels meet in the hottest addition to Spanish cinema. — When the Golden Bear of the Berlinale went to Carla Simón for Alcarràs (2022), I wasn’t particularly enthusiastic about it. Don’t get me wrong: as a Spaniard, it was thrilling to see a female filmmaker from my country receiving the praise she deserved at a top European film festival. I…Film7 min read
Published in Fanfare·May 20How Flavor of Love (2006–08) Made TV HistoryBrilliant storytelling and a legendary casting are the ingredients for a fantastic reality show — What makes reality TV memorable? Is it the cast or the show format? Perhaps, it all comes down to editing and storytelling. …Television9 min read
Published in Fanfare·Feb 18Understanding ‘Call Me By Your Name’ (2017) Through Its SoundtrackSufjan Steven’s songs reveal how the movie goes beyond sexual orientation — It has been five years since Call Me By Your Name premiered at the 2017 Sundance Film Festival. A faithful adaptation of André Aciman’s homonymous novel, the movie was praised by critics and reviewers, receiving a nomination for Best Picture at the Academy Awards and catapulting Timothée Chalamet into stardom…Movies8 min read
Dec 21, 2021The Devastating Beauty of Melancholia (2011)I will show you what depression feels like — Picture this scenario: you see a colossal danger approaching, but you cannot escape it. You turn to your loved ones looking for guidance, but they don’t seem to care enough. You are completely helpless and cannot fight for yourself. …Film6 min read
Oct 17, 2021Let’s Talk About Lars von Trier’s Antichrist (2009)Masterpiece or piece of misogyny? — Some films are divisive. Sometimes, it is their directors who are divisive. Lars von Trier always makes sure to tick both boxes, yet in Antichrist (2009), he takes both forms of polarization, distorts them and elevates the concept to a whole new level of controversy. …Film5 min read
Sep 19, 2021Why I Liked Dogtooth (2009)Yorgos Lanthimos’ film is simultaneously bemusing and intelligent Is it satire? A sharp critique of homeschooling? Plato’s allegory of the cave? If there is something Dogtooth (2009) achieves, that’s giving its viewers plenty of puzzling scenes to discuss. From the minutiae of the script to the surprisingly reduced €250,000 budget…Film5 min read
Jun 28, 2021The “EU-lephant” In The RoomThe Dutch legislative elections show the increasing relevance of a European identity — Earlier this year, The Netherlands saw its citizens celebrating European values as they had never done before, and I’m not talking about the Eurovision Song Contest in Rotterdam (though this is a fascinating subject to me). I’m referring to the Dutch legislative elections, where two pro-European parties, D66 and Volt…Politics6 min read
