I guess you could say the low point arrived on March 27, 2022, with the broadcast of the 94th Academy Awards. No, the “slap heard ’round the world” wasn’t it—though that cast a pall over the proceedings, didn’t it?—but the … Continue reading Cinema 101
The colors belong to the French flag, the corresponding ideas of the Republic: blue, white, and red—liberty, equality, and fraternity. For France, these colors, these ideas, are political. They guide the nation the way Jefferson’s decree, “We hold these truths … Continue reading THREE COLORS
Famed Polish writer/director Krzysztof Kieślowski already had a handful of feature films and documentaries under his belt when his writing partner, Krzysztof Piesiewicz, gave him the idea: “Someone should make a film about the Ten Commandments. You should do it.” … Continue reading DEKALOG
Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbor. —Exodus 20:16, King James Version The eighth commandment of the Roman Catholic faith (the ninth in the Protestant) is largely interpreted as “Thou shalt not lie,” but for Kieślowski and Piesiewicz, … Continue reading DEKALOG 8
Thou shalt not steal. Exodus 20:15, King James Version Can you steal something that belongs to you? —Majka Coming off of an impressive one-two punch with Dekalog Five and Dekalog Six, Dekalog Seven is a surprising—but somewhat understandable—misstep. The story revolves around Majka (Maja Barelkowska), … Continue reading DEKALOG 7
Mid-level executive and middle-aged man Stefan Bednarz (Franciszek Pieczka) is placed in charge of building the new chemical plant in his hometown of Olechów, Poland. The only problem, the people of Olechów don’t want the plant. There is a perfectly … Continue reading THE SCAR (BLIZNA)
It’s a well-known theory that film has twenty-four frames to the second, and that a film is always the same; but that’s not true. Even though the reel might be exactly the same, the film’s entirely different when it’s shown … Continue reading Born On This Day — June 27, 1941
I always said that I never wanted to be anybody’s assistant but if, for example, Ken Loach were to ask me, then I’d willingly make him coffee. I saw Kes at film school and I knew then that I’d willingly … Continue reading In Their Words — Thursday, June 27, 2013
Personally, I think that television means solitude while cinema means community. In the cinema, the tension is between the screen and the whole audience and not only between the screen and you. It makes an enormous difference. That is why … Continue reading In Their Words — Wednesday, March 13, 2013
Michael J. Cinema 
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