Torval Mork

Amazing, fantastical film from first time director, Dec 24 2012

Given the high praise bestowed upon Beasts of the Southern Wild by the likes of AO Scott (New York Times) and Roger Ebert, I was very much intrigued to watch this as soon as it hit Blu Ray. Directed by first timer Benh Zeitlin, and winner of the Camera D'Or at Cannes, as well as being on many of 2012's top 10 Lists (including Sight and Sound Magazine), it's almost impossible to believe the hype. But after watching it I felt that the acclaim is justified, and that this film warrants a seat at the table as one of the year's best.

The story is set on the fictional "Isle de Charles Doucet" in the Terrebonne Parrish of Louisiana which is called The Bathtub by its residents. It is a… Read more

An emotional and spiritually gripping film, Nov 30 2012

Filmed in and around the French speaking region of Wallonia in Belgium, La Promesse is the story of a single dad, Roger, and his 15 year old son Igor, as they use whatever means available to maintain and keep their apartment building filled with paying tenants. When Hamidou, an illegal labourer from Burkina Faso, falls from a scaffold while working on the building and dies shortly after, Igor promises him that he will take care of the man's wife and baby. What follows is the journey Igor takes to keep his word, despite the misgivings of his father.

Shot in what was at the time a unique film style, the film-makers themselves ensured the director of photography they would put a… Read more

Thorough overview of the Eames - it's not about the chairs though!, Dec 26 2011

I was lucky to catch this documentary on PBS as a part of The American Masters series. Having a few pieces of their furniture in my home, I have an affinity for the Eames canon, however this film introduced me to a whole other level of understanding of Charles and Ray and their brilliant collaboration.

The story starts off with their push to develop a moulded plywood chair. Having failed to perfect the process to make it a contiguous, one piece design, they capitalized on their plywood moulding expertise and embarked on a contract to supply the military with 150,000 moulded plywood splints for injured American soldiers in World War II. The narrative then takes a turn away from… Read more