Reviews

Honigmann’s journey into her past finds room for humour and compassion as well as tears and frustration, but ultimately helps weave together a generous and life-affirming, and rather special, film.

A film both heart-warming and heart-breaking in telling the story of the House of Migrants, a shelter for stranded African travelers in the Malian city of Gao. In this home for the homeless, lives touch each other in passing and dreams are crushed or revived.

Within an atmosphere of enchantment, the beauty of Broberg’s cinematography, the intelligent editing and the sensitive soundtrack all pay tribute to Gabi’s persona, her strength, vulnerability and authenticity.

A documentary portrait with much to enjoy, marvel at or be touched by, although at times the artistic adornments can detract from the story of a woman whom you just want to hear talk. Nevertheless the film is testament to Ateş’ unstoppable drive for equality through a progressive Islam.

A magical exploration of the mushroom in scientific, practical, gastronomic and philosophical contexts, viewed as foodstuff, medicine, hallucogen or metaphor. In Neumann’s beautiful film the mushroom might not actually speak, but it is telling us a lot.

An observational documentary about a nomadic mother of five, belonging to the Nenets people living in the Russian Arctic, that beautifully follows the adage that the best way to learn about people in general is to look at one person in particular, and with great care.

Who can fathom the numbers involved when we’re talking about nuclear energy and waste? Especially when comparing their pros and cons with those of fossil fuels. In Nuclear Forever, director Carsten Rau does an admirable job of letting the unfathomable sink in.

Can we make it rain in the desert? And if we could, should we? Or is controlling the weather dangerous hubris? Finnish Filmmaker Halttunen seeks to weigh up these moral concerns in assessing the work of meteorologist Hannele Korhonen, for whom the opportunity to widen scientific research in the field is too appealing to turn down.

Volkan Üce’s story of two young Turkish men trying to settle into jobs at the all-inclusive Nashira Resort makes for an engaging and insightful documentary that perfectly encapsulates the eternal culture clash between the haves and have-nots.

Did the Nazis change the tuning of music to manipulate the masses? Is this the same pitch we are still using today? This urban legend kicks off a wonderful exploration of the meaning of sounds in human life. A celebration of listening, from the sizzling of champagne to the wailing of ghosts.