Released in 1996, David Cronenberg’s Crash is perhaps one of the most controversial and polarizing pieces of film in history. The film is an adaptation of J.G. Ballard’s 1973 novel, and it captures the world of symphorophilia which is the sexual attraction to the act of car accidents. While it may seem like an erotic […]
Overview and Historical Context The 2007 movie Lust, Caution is Ang Lee’s richly woven espionage drama that starts with a short story by the Chinese writer Eileen Chang. It takes place in Shanghai during World War II, in the era of Japanese occupation. The film follows a young woman who participates in an elaborate scheme
Introduction and Context Released in 2002, Secretary is a romantic comedy-drama film directed by Steven Shainberg. Gaitskill’s short story serves as the film’s basis, while Gyllenhaal and Spader play roles that center around relationship healing in a non-traditional manner. Secretary has been described as a character study that examines delicate emotions while depicting the complexities
Overview Best has served as a journalist for years, and in 2016 he released a dark and engaging investigative documentary titled Dirty Games: The Dark Side of Sports. This documentary has revealed parts of the sports industry that people often do not see, such as: corruption and criminal practices that accompany some of the most
A Dangerous Method is a 2011 psychological drama by David Cronenberg, who adapted it from Christopher Hampton’s play The Talking Cure. It examines the complex interpersonal dynamics between Carl Jung, Sigmund Freud, and Sabina Spielrein—the primary figures in psychoanalysis—and situates them in the early 20th century, exploring their turbulent relationships that formed a web of
Killing Me Softly is a psychological thriller released in 2002, directed by Chen Kaige , who is also known for his work in Chinese cinema. It marks his debut into English films. The movie is based on Nicci French’s 1999 novel, and features Heather Graham as Alice Loudon and Joseph Fiennes as Adam Tallis. It
Set in the affluent community of Blue Bay, Florida, the film Wild Things released in 1998, was directed by John McNaughton and written by Neal Jimenez and Stephen Peters. It is a seductive R-rated thriller featuring an elaborate plot of crime and scandal alongside an intertwining deep drama starring Matt Dillon, Neve Campbell, Denise Richards,
In the Realm of the Senses (or Ai no Korīda), directed by Nagisa Oshima, is a famous and one of the most shocking unsimulated sexual scenes movies that reignited the debate around censorship and artistic creativity. This film portrays the story of Sada Abe and Kichizo Ishida, a couple from Japan who shocked the entire
Released in 1992, The Lover (L’Amant) by Jean-Jacques Annaud is an adaptation of Marguerite Duras’ semi-autobiographical novel. Set in French-colonial Vietnam in 1929, the film depicts tender yet haunting strains of a suppressed romance between a wealthy Chinese man and a French teenage girl. The film features exquisite frames, rich narration, and emotionally layered performances,
Introduction & Background 365 Days: This Day is a Polish erotic romantic thriller that debuted on Netflix on April 27, 2022. Co-directed by Barbara Białowąs and Tomasz Mandes, the film serves as a follow-up to the divisive 2020 original and picks up where that story left off, tracking Laura and Massimo through their tumultuous blend
