LSESU Film Society member reviews:

“Very odd. Strong start and strong performances, later becomes boring and predictable.”

“Every journey has an end. But the beauty of Scarlett Johansson won’t die out.”

AT Week 2

MT Week 1
A loving and empathetic portrait of contemporary reservation life and coming of age within social confines. Bordering on documentary, Zhao’s method of using non-professional actors and plenty of improvisation brings a level of simplicity and authenticity that feels entirely original. Perhaps not as impactful as her other films – it often feels a little unfocused – but it’s a fascinating watch, if only to observe the evolution of her filmmaking.

MT Week 2
With A Man Escaped, Robert Bresson strips filmmaking down to its bare bones, forcing us to question what truly is necessary. It's a masterclass in minimalism: methodical and precise in its approach, and almost completely unsentimental. It does at times seem a little overlong and anticlimactic (the ending is after all spoiled in the title), though the viewer's patience feels rightfully demanded - the road to freedom involves a painstakingly long wait for Fontaine, but what prevails is his sheer determination to escape.