🎬 #160 Guest Edition.

My very talented friend and award-winning filmmaker, Narghi, is the first guest writer on the newsletter. Enjoy and thanks Narghi for writing this, even though I know it pains you. She also said to tell you that it’s short and sweet and that she’ll write a longer ‘funner’ one in the future. I’ll now hand it over to her to set-up her choices.

Since the first Video Shop newsletter I have secretly worked on Bryan to give me a guest spot to write my two weekly film recommendations. Finally, when that time came I felt too nervous, as I wanted my debut to be perfect, and kept putting it off. ‘Next time, one day, soon’ I’d say to Bryan. Each week bowing out. Today, very last minute, I thought, screw it, I’ll just do it. It won’t be perfect but I’ll get to share two films that I’ve been thinking about a lot lately. It’s actually very hard for a film lover to pick out only two films and send out.

Some weeks, I can watch a film a day which seems crazy to some, but I love immersing myself like this in cinema. This week’s two films don’t really share a theme. But what they do-do is immerse you into their world, quietly drawing you in and leaving you feeling all sorts.

Happy choosing, happy viewing

Narghi

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FILM ONE: I AM NOT A WITCH

2017 Dir Rungano Nyoni
1 hr 33 mins

“I’m Not a Witch,” a captivating film directed by Rungano Nyoni, is set in Zambia and chronicles the journey of a young girl wrongfully accused of witchcraft. The film masterfully weaves together elements of comedy, tragedy, and magic realism. It delves into profound themes such as women’s oppression, the impact of modern tourism, the prevalence of superstition, and the corruption of local authorities. The result is a thought-provoking and haunting after taste that lingers for days, until you immerse yourself in another film.

TL;DR: A distinctive film that is a mesh of all kinds of cinema in one.

*Available for a small rental fee on Apple and Amazon in the US and the UK. Also available to stream on MUBI in the UK.

Fact: The UK’s Oscar submission for ‘Best Foreign Language Film.’

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FILM TWO: THREE COLOURS: BLUE

1993 Dir Krzysztof Kieslowski
1 hr 56 mins

“Three Colours: Blue,” is one of the most commercially successful Art House films. Exploring grief, liberation, and the pursuit of meaning. The film follows the journey of a woman who retreats into solitude following the loss of her husband and daughter in a car accident.

The film’s visual splendour is imbued with symbolism and Juliette Binoche delivers an exceptional performance. The cinematography is mesmerising, while Zbigniew Preisner’s haunting score evokes a profound sense of melancholy. “Three Colours: Blue” presents a nuanced examination of personal and emotional freedom, leaving a lasting impact on the viewer’s psyche.

TL;DR: A haunting film that explores ‘liberty’ through self-imposed seclusion.

*Available for a small rental fee on Apple and Amazon in the US and the UK. Also available to stream on MUBI in the UK.

Fact: This is the first part of the Three Colours trilogy which should be watched in the order of the colours on the French flag - blue, white, then red.