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Nina Gallagher

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Nina is a Master’s student in Film and Television at Boston University. In her free time, she enjoys attending sports games, spending time with her family and pets, and laughing at reality tv with her friends.

One of my favorite films. I would highly recommend this movie to someone who enjoys Joe Wright's films like Atonement, which has a very similar feel to this film.
Good Manners is a fascinating film that packs multiple genres: fantasy, horror, coming of age, etc., into a concise story about a woman falling into motherhood and the world that forces her to keep her sons sheltered.
Macunaíma is an interesting example of Cinema Novo. While it calls attention to the realistic struggles, social racial, and geopolitics of Brazil, it does so in an interesting and fantastical or fable like way. Macunaíma is not nearly as rooted in reality as films in the Cinema Novo movement that predicated it, but the distance between reality and the story of Macunaíma seems to allow the director to directly critique the state of Brazilian politics and the military coupe with little censorship. It is interesting to see how vastly the style of a movement and a director’s style can change within the span of a decade like it dies with Joaquim Pedro de Andrade and his films.
One of Hitchcock's later British films, but one of the first where he really hones the style that would make him so celebrated in America. This film showcases Hitchcock's strength as a director of political thrillers. The scene in Albert Hall is a standout for the film and Hitchcock's career.
The Second Mother is a heartwarming and eye-opening film about family and class connections in the affluent metropolitan area of São Paulo, Brazil. The relationships between the women are complex and allow the audience to understand how the intersections of race and class affect the everyday lives of working people in Brazil. Anna Muylaert crafts an interesting, comedic, and emotional tale of a mother's love and the sacrifices some are willing to take to provide for their families.
A fascinating and intimate look into the lives, beliefs, and practices of the Black Panthers during their Free Huey rally in 1968. French filmmaker Agnés Varda brings a foreign and somewhat neutral perspective to the party's struggle. Allowing Huey P. Newton's own appeal for freedom on screen, Black Panthers is an unmissable memento of a historic and powerful movement in the United States.
Luchino Visconti's classic epic follows an aristocratic Sicilian family struggling to adjust to the changes in Sicilian culture during the Unification of Italy in the 1860s. Visconti's film, based on a novel of the same name, beautifully captures Italy's history and socioeconomic structure during the Risorgimento. Following Visconti's other epic works like Rocco and His Brothers, he explores the intricacies of Italian culture through the interpersonal relationships of his characters, condensing massive moments into epic and melodramatic narratives.
Mikhail Kalatazov's brilliant film follows four geologists who become stranded in Siberia after a fire rips through the forest they occupy. Kalatazov's innovative and magnetic camerawork shines through in this thrilling and heartbreaking narrative about human survival and strife.
The Young Girls Turn 25 is Agnés Varda's beautiful dedication to her late husband, Jacques Demy, and his work, 1965 musical The Young Girls of Rochefort. Varda's documentary, shot 25 years later, shows accounts from locals who experienced the filming and cast and crews' memories from the set. The joy the original film brought to those who made it is evident. Still, the most moving aspect of the film is the quiet grief of Catherine Deneuve and Varda as they reminisce on happy moments in their lives with their loved ones who are now gone, Deneuve's sister and co-star Françoise Dorléac and Demy.
Similar in style to the films of Richard Curtis, Lovesick embodies the type of heartwarming yet dry British humor that translates so well to an American audience. Lovesick is a perfect blend of dry and dirty humor and touching ruminants on grief, love, friendship, and relationship struggles.
Alberto Lattuada's Sicilian mafia film is at once hilarious and heartbreaking. Beginning as a comedy about a man returning home to a place he has somewhat outgrown, the film shifts into darker narratives, exploring the consequences of violence and old promises. Alberto Sordi gives a fantastic performance as Antonio as he masterfully balances the lines between humor and fear.
Predating the first season of Fleabag, Phoebe Waller-Bridge's single-season sitcom is a hilarious and entertaining tale of many different adults' experiences and struggles while living in a repurposed hospital. The characters' lives become more intertwined with each episode, and their humanity is revealed in unexpected ways.
While some may find Akerman's epic of the banal a bit monotonous, I find the the pace and structure of the plot almost thrilling. Chantal Akerman's film is a masterclass in patience and empathy, allowing the audience to sit in the life and experiences of her main character. Never truly looking away from her, the film creates a unique sort of empathy for the viewer, crafting an unmissable film.
David Lean's classic 1945 romance is definitely a slow burn, but it keeps you thinking about it for days afterward. Brief Encounter is beautiful and restrained, reflecting and rejecting the societal structures of the time. The film still holds up today as a tragic romance ruined by circumstances.
Beautiful and inspiring, Wild Strawberries is one of Bergman's best. Isak reflects on his future, past, and present throughout the film, confronting his fears and mistakes. Bergman understands how to depict the human condition through the conscious and subconscious experiences' of Isak, ultimately grounding the film in its humanity.
Ten Canoes is a valuable and endlessly fascinating film about the Aboriginal culture in Australia. Peter Djigirr and Rolf de Here collaborate to craft a story that teaches the audience about traditional aboriginal storytelling. Ten Canoes connects this age old art form to the 21st century unlike any other film.
Never on Sunday is one of Jules Dassin's best. Melina Mercouri's wonderful performance as the strong-willed and independent prostitute Ilya is the highlight of the film. Touching on issues like colonialism, patriarchy and feminism, Never on Sunday feels ahead of its time when compared to other "hooker with a heart of gold" cliché films.
Although this is a short film, every moment feels like an eternity when it seems that Marta's son is in distress. Putting the viewer into the worst anxieties and fears of all mothers, Rodrigo Sorogoyen is able to create a true thriller with a simple phone call gone wrong.
Brooklyn is a really lovely and touching film that follows Ellis Lacey's journey from Ireland to America. This film includes one of Saoirse Ronan's best performances, with her heart broken by loss and torn between the comfort of home and the hope and possibilities of a new environment.
Coffee with Cinnamon is a really fascinating and heartfelt film following the lives and sorrows of multiple characters. The film acts as a meditation on grief and platonic love. Each performance is moving and believable, resulting in a film that feels intimate and uplifting.
Bacurau is an incredibly interesting dystopian political satire focusing on the racism and classism experienced by poorer northeastern Brazilians. The film pulls no punches in critiquing western capitalism and the historical colonization of the global south. While Bacurau can be sharp and serious, there are also moments throughout the film that allow it to be darkly hilarious. Despite the rather gruesome violence, you won't be able to stop watching.
Ikiru is a stand out in Kurosawa's classic filmography. Following Mr. Watanabe's grave diagnosis and subsequent anxiety and acceptance, the film takes the audience through a journey of action and self-discovery. At once melancholy and uplifting, Ikiru is an essential viewing for any Kurosawa fan.
The Power of the Dog is a slow burn, but by no means is it boring. While each performance in the film is wonderful, Benedict Cumberbatch is particularly fantastic in his role as Phil, a looming presence that quietly terrorizes Rose and Peter. The Power of the Dog is not only a great film for those who love Jane Campion's work, but anybody who appreciates a beautifully made film.
Atonement is a film that grips you the moment Dario Marianelli's incredible typewriter score begins. From the music to the performances to Joe Wright's gorgeous camerawork, Atonement is rather unforgettable in both its beauty and tragedy.
Sex Education is truly a great Netflix series. Plucking some inspiration from classic teen films throughout the decades, the show feels both familiar and completely original. With its fascinating and seemingly endless string of great characters, the show will suck you into their lives before the end of the first episode.
Chitty Chitty Bang Bang is a wild film to say the least. Dick Van Dyke is entertaining as ever dancing, singing, driving, and flying his way through the film. With the many zany characters and twist and turns, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang is the perfect movie to experience with the whole family.
A Separation is beautiful and heartbreaking. The film relies heavily on the script and performances to come off as natural and human. Asghar Farhadi succeeded in telling a story that is both intensely personal and universal. A Separation can be a tough watch at certain points, but the film will stay with you for a long time.
The Crown is a super interesting and well-made television show going through the lives and drama of the royal family. Beginning with the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II and concluding this year with William and Harry's young adulthood, The Crown is an excellent addition to the surplus of media surrounding the Royal family. Don't worry if you're not already invested in the British Monarchy; the writing and performances are enough to keep anyone's attention.
It may seem a little cliche, but Bicycle Thieves is genuinely one of the best and most beautiful examples of the Italian Neorealism Movement. De Sica brings out heartbreaking performances from a cast of mostly non-actors, exploring the grief and strife of a country ravaged by war. This film is essential viewing for any film lover.
While the original premise for this series can be off-putting for some viewers (it certainly was for me at first), The End of the F***ing World endears itself to you through the complicated and messy humanity of the two protagonists. The show finds a way to be funny, charming, endearing, and thrilling all at the same time, keeping you invested throughout the short series.
Mädchen in Uniform is a fascinating film from the 1930s. Leontine Sagan tackles topics like desire, repression, queerness, and even fascism with fearlessness, unlike many other films from this era. Coupled with some great acting, this film is an eye-opening must-see.
Often described as one of the first feminist films ever made, The Smiling Madame Beudet is a fascinating and gripping artifact from the silent era. Telling the story of a woman deeply unhappy and trapped in her marriage, Germaine Dulac employs truly innovate editing and lighting techniques to tell the story. Don't let the fact that the film is silent deter you, this is a film for anyone.
M is an incredibly powerful and thrilling film about the search for a serial killer in Berlin, Germany. Fritz Lang employs all the aspects of what makes a city into this film. The murderer commits crimes so abhorrent he has just about everyone in Berlin on his trail, but how does he continue to get away with it? This film was highly influential on the crime film genre and it is not difficult to see why. Thrilling, gripping, and anxiety inducing, M feels like it could have been made at any point in history.