Living in post-revolutionary Tehran in the 1980s has not been easy for Shideh. With her dreams of becoming a doctor fading away due to her political activism during the war, she spends most of her time taking care of her daughter Dorsa while her husband pursues his medical career on the front lines. As the […]
Tag Archives: Changing Reels
September
25
Changing Reels Ep. 28 – Creed
posted by Courtney Small
Ryan Coogler’s Creed, much like its protagonist Adonis Johnson Creed, strives to carve out its own path while dealing with the weight of his legacy. The seventh film in the Rocky franchise, not only pays homage to the films in the series that came before it, but forges its own identity while carrying the torch […]
August
27
Changing Reels Ep. 26 – The Wedding Banquet
posted by Courtney Small
To placate his meddling Taiwanese parents, Wai-Tung agrees to a marriage of convenience with a struggling artist Wei Wei. What he failed to mentioned to his parents is that he is already in a loving relationship with Simon. Things spiral out of control for Wai-Tung when his parents decide to make a surprise visit to […]
July
30
Changing Reels Ep. 24 – C.R.A.Z.Y.
posted by Courtney Small
A young man tries to come to terms with his sexuality in a household where his father refuses to truly see him for who he is. Sound like a standard coming-of-age tale? Think again. In the hands of director Jean-Marc Vallée, C.R.A.Z.Y. is a vibrant exploration of youth, sexuality, family and music. Basking in the […]
July
15
Changing Reels Ep. 23 – The Visitor
posted by Courtney Small
The complexities of American life are on our minds today as we dive into the somber side of patriotism. Exploring the post-9/11 world of Tom McCarthy’s wonderful film The Visitor, we discuss everything ranging from the immigrant experience to the possibility of finding love in the most unexpected places. We also reflect on the Bush […]
June
30
Changing Reels Ep. 22 – Step Up 3D and Take the Lead
posted by Courtney Small
Time to put on your best footwear as we hit the floor, and the streets, with a dance filled doubled feature. Skipping the short film segment this week, don’t worry it will return in our next episode, we dive into the worlds of Step Up 3D and Take the Lead. While both films did not […]
June
16
Changing Reels Ep. 21 – Wonder Woman
posted by Courtney Small
Breaking records at the box office, and sparking tons of thought-provoking articles in the process, Wonder Woman has become the must-see movie of the summer. In this special episode we are joined by freelance film critic Kristen Lopez to discuss the representation of women in the film, the role of minorities, how the acceptance of […]
June
04
Changing Reels Ep. 20 – Magic Mike XXL
posted by Courtney Small
What do male strippers and diversity in cinema have in common? It turns out a whole lot. This week we kick off the summer by taking a joyous road trip with the boys from Magic Mike XXL. In diving into Gregory Jacobs’ film, we touch on topics such as female empowerment, racial and gender depictions, […]
May
21
Changing Reels Ep. 19 – Paris is Burning
posted by Courtney Small
As the 2017 Inside Out Film Festival draws nearer, we continue our celebration of LGBT cinema with Jennie Livingston’s Paris is Burning. Currently streaming on Netflix, Livingston’s critically acclaimed 1990 documentary focuses on the end of the “Golden Age” of New York City’s drag balls. Touching on themes of racism, poverty, body image and family, […]
May
07
Changing Reels Ep. 18 – Pariah
posted by Courtney Small
How does a teenager come to terms with her sexual identity in an environment that refuses to acknowledge who she really is? This is the predicament that 17-year-old Alike finds herself in as she tries to navigate an overbearing mother, a father in denial and her own quest to find a relationship. We celebrate LGBT […]
April
21
Changing Reels Ep. 17 – The Wailing
posted by Courtney Small
What happens when a cop, a shady shaman, a Japanese stranger and a mysterious woman collide? Well, let’s just say things don’t go well for the village caught in the middle. In this episode of Changing Reels we attempt to decipher the various themes permeating Na Hong-jin’s gloriously disturbing horror film The Wailing. Before jumping […]
April
10
Changing Reels Ep. 16 – Memories of Murder
posted by Courtney Small
Two vastly different cops are tasked with trying to solve Korea’s first serial murder case ever in Bong Joon-ho’s 2003 film Memories of Murder. A visually captivating crime drama that festers in one’s mind, the film’s blend of mystery and dark comedy will keep you on the edge of your seats. In discussing the film, […]
March
24
Changing Reels Ep. 15 – Timecrimes
posted by Courtney Small
A man accidentally gets into a time machine and travels back in time….and that is the least of his problems. In this episode, we discuss Nacho Vigalondo’s brilliantly constructed science fiction tale Timecrimes. Part thriller and part dark comedy, Vigalondo ensures that no moment is wasted in this film. While other time travel tales get […]
March
12
Changing Reels Ep. 14 – Upstream Color
posted by Courtney Small
In episode 14 of Changing Reels, we dive into Shane Carruth’s experimental science fiction drama Upstream Color. The film is a love story revolving around two individual who find themselves inexplicably drawn together after being the victim of an unthinkable crime. Exploring themes of memory and identity, and featuring brilliant sound design, there is plenty […]
February
25
Changing Reels Ep. 13 – Beyond the Lights
posted by Courtney Small
The world of pop music is often explored in film through a satirical lens. Gina Prince-Bythewood’s Beyond the Lights is one of those rare films that takes an honest look at the complexities of the industry. Centered around a romance between a pop star and a police officer, the film boldly examines topics such as […]
February
12
Changing Reels EP. 12 – A Huey P. Newton Story
posted by Courtney Small
Spike Lee has been one of the most prolific directors ever since he burst onto the scene with 1986 She’s Gotta Have It. Effortlessly moving from features to shorts to documentaries to television, there is little he cannot do. However, many still question whether or not Lee deserves to be on the top ten list […]
January
28
Changing Reels Ep. 11 – The Red Turtle
posted by Courtney Small
Studio Ghibli is revered all over the world for their films that feature lush animation and inventive stories with universal themes. As the studio’s latest film, The Red Turtle, hits theaters, we decided to take a closer look at the companies’ first international production. Directed by Michaël Dudok de Wit (highly recommend you read our interview […]
January
14
Changing Reels Ep. 10 – Sita Sing the Blues
posted by Courtney Small
It is often said that nothing in life comes for free. Well in the case of artist Nina Paley, that is not entirely true. Paley decided to give her animated film Sita Sings the Blues to the masses free of charge. Using the epic Hindu poem as a catalyst for exploring the crumbling nature […]
December
30
Changing Reels Ep. 9 – Fireworks Wednesday
posted by Courtney Small
It is a celebration of Iranian cinema on this episode of the show. First up we seem to have Ana Lily Amirpour’s A Girl Walks Home Alone at Night on the brain as Courtney’s short film, Kevin Hamedani’s In Her Place, stars Shelia Vand, who famously played the lead in Amirpour’s breakthrough film. Andrew opts […]
December
16
Changing Reels Ep. 8 – Last Holiday & Millions
posted by Courtney Small
As Christmas quickly approaches, we decided to break from our usual format and keep things loose and fun. So instead of discussing our short films selections we are taking a look at two underappreciated Christmas-ish films. First Courtney praises the diversity in the Queen Latifah vehicle Last Holiday, and then Andrew dives into his deep […]
