Joel Whitaker

A young woman with cropped dark hair wearing a green, blue, and yellow plaid top. She sits at a desk in front of a window, and appears to be intently engaged in what she is reading, eyes focused downward.

LFF REVIEW: ‘The Souvenir: Part II’ (2021) an Exquisite End to Hogg’s Memoir

By: Joel Whitaker 28th Oct 202128th Oct 2021

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‘The Souvenir Part II’ takes off from exactly where Part I left us, and gives us a beautifully cyclical inverse to the story.

A man and a woman sit next to each other at a small wooden table in a grassy area. The man has curly dark hair and is looking away from the camera, wearing a light green shirt and blue jeans. The woman has short auburn hair and wears a beige shirt with jeans.

LFF REVIEW: ‘Memoria’ (2021)– Apichatpong’s Transcendental Journey to Colombia

By: Joel Whitaker 25th Oct 202125th Oct 2021

Festivals, Film, ReviewsLondon Film Festival, Memoria, ReviewsLeave a Comment

“‘Memoria’ takes its audience on a journey to somewhere wholly unexpected, yet upon arrival, it’s clear that the film couldn’t end anywhere else.”

A woman and man outside with hills in the distance behind them. The woman has windswept blonde hair and is smiling, while wearing a leopard print top and bluish-grey jacket. The man has a beard and wears a beanie and dark coat, while looking at the woman and smiling.

TIFF REVIEW: ‘Ali & Ava’ (2021) Blends Romance and Realism with Mixed Results

By: Joel Whitaker 7th Oct 202112th Oct 2021

Festivals, Film, ReviewsAli and Ava, Film, Reviews, TIFFLeave a Comment

“‘Ali and Ava’ is a film that brings Barnard’s usual visual and sonic flair, but it falls slightly short of the mark by not tackling the signifiers inherent in the story’s themes.”

Top of the Docs #53 – SHEFFIELD DOC/FEST REVIEW: ‘Factory to the Workers’ (2021)

By: Joel Whitaker 15th Jul 202119th Jul 2021

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‘Factory to the Workers’ explores the only example of a working factory co-operative in post-socialist Europe, examining its triumphs, its shortcomings, and what is holding it back.

Top of the Docs #52 – SHEFFIELD DOC/FEST REVIEW: Don McCullin: ‘Almost Liverpool 8’ (2021)

By: Joel Whitaker 24th Jun 202124th Jun 2021

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Daniel Draper and Allan Melia explore Liverpool 8 in their latest film, using Don McCullin’s photographs as a rough guide.

Top of the Docs #51 – IFFR Review: ‘The Village Detective: A Song Cycle’ (2021)

By: Joel Whitaker 10th Jun 202116th Jul 2021

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What is fascinating about ‘The Village Detective,’ as well as perhaps Morrison’s recent practice, is the ability to take a piece of unwanted footage that was tossed away many years ago, and use the documentary form to archive it in such a way that its context and value are maximised.

Image is from the film 'The Gleaners and I' (2000). The image shows an ornamental clock with no hands. In front of the clock sit a pair of ceramic cats, and behind the clock is the reflection of the film's director - Agnès Varda.

Top of the Docs #50 – The Gleaners and I (2000)

By: Joel Whitaker 13th May 202112th May 2021

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The Gleaners and I is a film not just revolutionary for its ground-breaking use of handheld digital cameras, but also for the way in which Varda set about making the film.

Image is from the film 'El Sol Del Mebrillo' (1992). Image is a close up shot of a lemon having small white "X's" painted on them.

Top of the Docs #49 – El sol del membrillo (1992)

By: Joel Whitaker 6th May 2021

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Despite not holding the soothing influence of Bob Ross throughout its runtime, El sol del membrillo is perhaps the defining documentary about painting.