Dear Readers, I’m a big fan of Mubi, the streaming platform that produces and theatrically distributes films by emerging and established filmmakers. They have a wonderful collection and their films have kept me good company recently, especially as there is such a glut of anything good anywhere else.
Hey Hanif. Closer by Lukas Dhont is a heartbreakingly beautiful study of a friendship between two boys. The director achieves so much with so little dialogue. An absolute treat.
If you like the actor, Paul Mescal, you may like After Sun, although opinions vary. It’s a study of a father’s loneliness whilst taking his daughter on holiday and how they communicate. Sensitively portrayed parent child relationship woven into a narrative unfolding through the girl’s eyes and camera.
So bittersweet and elegiac, and yet full of joy for the only thing that really matters: love.
The father-daughter dance scene near the end (to Queen/Bowie ‘Under Pressure’) is so beautifully realised - for reasons that should remain a surprise. It will transport you.
I hope you enjoy it.
As a fan of your work and a fellow author, I think of you often. Keep going. Keep writing it out. Keep on keeping on. 🧡
Hi, I loved Empire of Light, beautifully shot, Olivia Coleman and Michael Ward were excellent, moving and nuanced. Hope you find some good films to watch.
I stayed with a friend recently who has Mubi and on it we watched Return to Seoul which is a French/South Korean story of a young woman's attempt to connect with her biological family after having been adopted as a baby by white French parents. The central performance by Ji-Min Park is rivetting even though at times she behaves obnoxiously, you never lose sight of her deep pain and longing and the time spanned by the film helps one take in the ache in her soul (Seoul) for true identity. It looks great as well and the supporting performances are excellent. Return to Seoul https://g.co/kgs/4RPGy7
Good afternoon Hanif. Earlier this year I really enjoyed Licorice Pizza. I was born in 1960 and love the music from the '60s and' 70s, my formative years. The two young main actors are outstanding. It's quirky and a bit different and the soundtrack is lovely. Wishing you lots of love and hope ❤️ xx
This is a movie I watched last month whilst staying with a friend who had the DVD. From 2001. "Sur mes lèvres" - 'Read My Lips'. A gritty and tender Hitchcockian French thriller directed by Jacques Audiard. A deaf lady in her thirties befriends a petty criminal working at her office on probation. She uses her lip reading skills to help him in a crime, to steal some money. Its beautifully written, acted, and attentive to her loneliness and desires. Really recommend it.
My favorite movie in modern times is Hit the Road by Panah Panahi. Music by Peyman Yazdanian. The English title is not very poetic, but the film is a sorrowful and sometimes very funny drama of middle-aged parents doing what is necessary to save their son who got in trouble with the authorities in Iran. The kid brother-character is the best. There is probably a sequel to this movie when he grows up.
First of all, my sincere condolences . I’m in a similar though, less severe situation to you because two savage auto immune illnesses started ravaging my body in my 30s, and I had to give up my job as a consultant anaesthetist.
Please see my Substack for more viewing recommendations and book reviews. I can also highly recommend the forthcoming Sebastian Faulks book which I’ve reviewed for the Spectator (review will be printed in Sept when book is published.)
Ali and Ava by Clio Barnard. I absolutely loved it, tender, funny, believable performances from Adeel Akhtar and Claire Rushbrook, both outstanding actors given something great to do and they really fly as a consequence. Beautifully shot, Saw it a few months ago and it has certainly stayed with me. Thought it was wonderful. Much love to you and your family, Hanif. x
I must watch Zero Fucks Given. I am interested in these kind of workplace hierarchies at present and possibly a sense of maltreatment. Thanks for your recommendations.
I recently watched and enjoyed Manchester by the Sea (although I don’t think the movie itself is all that recent). It’s a poignant story about grief and finding hope. One of the leads, Lucas Hedges, is currently playing Ennis Del Mar in Brokeback Mountatin at @sohoplace theatre where I am presently a theatre usher so this is why I am keen to watch movies in which he has a role. Also I watched Barbie but I guess this movie has already been the subject of your bedside conversation recently!
You must watch The Souvenir by Joanne Hogg . Must be one of the best British films in recent years l there’s also part two . Both on MUBI I believe .
A sensitive portrayal of how a shy young film student is drawn into the dysfunctional world of an older charismatic man and how she is very nearly destroyed . Themes of addiction and abandonment l Tilda Swinton and her daughter play mother and daughter
BAD LUCK BANGING AND LOONY PORN - from the Romanian provocateur Radu Jude. A raunchy, wildly imaginative satire, worthy of Bunuel or WEEKEND-era Godard. The movie that best captures the politically divided madness of our current era.
MURINA - tense, sharp drama/thriller from Croatia, about a teenage girl's rebellion against her domineering father.
EMILY THE CRIMINAL - starring Aubrey Plaza as a young woman who gets involved with a gang of credit-card scammers. A highly entertaining noir thriller fueled by anger at the economic pressures squeezing so many Americans.
RED ROCKET - Sean Baker is one of the most consistently interesting filmmakers in the U.S. today, and this is easily one of his best.
Withnail & I (1987)
At least four reasons:
1) I watch this once a year
2) Wonderful characters
3) Every line of dialog is genius
4) Excellent actors and director
Hey Hanif. Closer by Lukas Dhont is a heartbreakingly beautiful study of a friendship between two boys. The director achieves so much with so little dialogue. An absolute treat.
If you like the actor, Paul Mescal, you may like After Sun, although opinions vary. It’s a study of a father’s loneliness whilst taking his daughter on holiday and how they communicate. Sensitively portrayed parent child relationship woven into a narrative unfolding through the girl’s eyes and camera.
Ohhhh, Hanif. You need to watch Aftersun.
So bittersweet and elegiac, and yet full of joy for the only thing that really matters: love.
The father-daughter dance scene near the end (to Queen/Bowie ‘Under Pressure’) is so beautifully realised - for reasons that should remain a surprise. It will transport you.
I hope you enjoy it.
As a fan of your work and a fellow author, I think of you often. Keep going. Keep writing it out. Keep on keeping on. 🧡
https://mubi.com/en/gb/films/aftersun
Hi, I loved Empire of Light, beautifully shot, Olivia Coleman and Michael Ward were excellent, moving and nuanced. Hope you find some good films to watch.
I stayed with a friend recently who has Mubi and on it we watched Return to Seoul which is a French/South Korean story of a young woman's attempt to connect with her biological family after having been adopted as a baby by white French parents. The central performance by Ji-Min Park is rivetting even though at times she behaves obnoxiously, you never lose sight of her deep pain and longing and the time spanned by the film helps one take in the ache in her soul (Seoul) for true identity. It looks great as well and the supporting performances are excellent. Return to Seoul https://g.co/kgs/4RPGy7
Good afternoon Hanif. Earlier this year I really enjoyed Licorice Pizza. I was born in 1960 and love the music from the '60s and' 70s, my formative years. The two young main actors are outstanding. It's quirky and a bit different and the soundtrack is lovely. Wishing you lots of love and hope ❤️ xx
Licorice Pizza https://g.co/kgs/CeugAh
I really liked Triangle of Sadness. I think it's on Netflix now. Great social commentary and funny and many twists and turns.
I also liked Past Lives. It's a tender beautifully filmed Korean/American film that's like a poem.
Also, Living with Bill Nighy as a man who's dying and wants to live. Slow and lovely.
Not a recently made film.
This is a movie I watched last month whilst staying with a friend who had the DVD. From 2001. "Sur mes lèvres" - 'Read My Lips'. A gritty and tender Hitchcockian French thriller directed by Jacques Audiard. A deaf lady in her thirties befriends a petty criminal working at her office on probation. She uses her lip reading skills to help him in a crime, to steal some money. Its beautifully written, acted, and attentive to her loneliness and desires. Really recommend it.
My favorite movie in modern times is Hit the Road by Panah Panahi. Music by Peyman Yazdanian. The English title is not very poetic, but the film is a sorrowful and sometimes very funny drama of middle-aged parents doing what is necessary to save their son who got in trouble with the authorities in Iran. The kid brother-character is the best. There is probably a sequel to this movie when he grows up.
Hi Hanif,
First of all, my sincere condolences . I’m in a similar though, less severe situation to you because two savage auto immune illnesses started ravaging my body in my 30s, and I had to give up my job as a consultant anaesthetist.
I can highly recommend this Iranian film:
https://leylasanai.substack.com/p/the-law-of-tehran
Please see my Substack for more viewing recommendations and book reviews. I can also highly recommend the forthcoming Sebastian Faulks book which I’ve reviewed for the Spectator (review will be printed in Sept when book is published.)
leylasanai.substack.com
Ali and Ava by Clio Barnard. I absolutely loved it, tender, funny, believable performances from Adeel Akhtar and Claire Rushbrook, both outstanding actors given something great to do and they really fly as a consequence. Beautifully shot, Saw it a few months ago and it has certainly stayed with me. Thought it was wonderful. Much love to you and your family, Hanif. x
I must watch Zero Fucks Given. I am interested in these kind of workplace hierarchies at present and possibly a sense of maltreatment. Thanks for your recommendations.
I recently watched and enjoyed Manchester by the Sea (although I don’t think the movie itself is all that recent). It’s a poignant story about grief and finding hope. One of the leads, Lucas Hedges, is currently playing Ennis Del Mar in Brokeback Mountatin at @sohoplace theatre where I am presently a theatre usher so this is why I am keen to watch movies in which he has a role. Also I watched Barbie but I guess this movie has already been the subject of your bedside conversation recently!
You must watch The Souvenir by Joanne Hogg . Must be one of the best British films in recent years l there’s also part two . Both on MUBI I believe .
A sensitive portrayal of how a shy young film student is drawn into the dysfunctional world of an older charismatic man and how she is very nearly destroyed . Themes of addiction and abandonment l Tilda Swinton and her daughter play mother and daughter
One more dear Hanif...The Blue Caftan (2022) Love and desire and tenderness in all it's forms.
https://m.imdb.com/title/tt17679584/plotsummary/?ref_=tt_stry_pl
BAD LUCK BANGING AND LOONY PORN - from the Romanian provocateur Radu Jude. A raunchy, wildly imaginative satire, worthy of Bunuel or WEEKEND-era Godard. The movie that best captures the politically divided madness of our current era.
MURINA - tense, sharp drama/thriller from Croatia, about a teenage girl's rebellion against her domineering father.
EMILY THE CRIMINAL - starring Aubrey Plaza as a young woman who gets involved with a gang of credit-card scammers. A highly entertaining noir thriller fueled by anger at the economic pressures squeezing so many Americans.
RED ROCKET - Sean Baker is one of the most consistently interesting filmmakers in the U.S. today, and this is easily one of his best.