Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Keith Knight @keithjknight.bsky.social · 21h

The President’s Cake, where the lead character (a girl, Lamia) is carrying a rooster called Hindi around virtually throughout and The Love That Remains where a rooster attack may well prove unforgettable.

1 2

Keith Knight @keithjknight.bsky.social · 21h

I’ve seen two films with prominent roosters.

1

Keith Knight @keithjknight.bsky.social · 1d

#LFF2025 Kelly Reichardt’s THE MASTERMIND (hah!) has Josh O’Connor as the man behind an art heist in Massachusetts in 1970 (cue great, drab set design). It’s doomed from the start. A typically enjoyable, low-key drama. Not up to the great SHOWING UP (2022) but little is.

Keith Knight @keithjknight.bsky.social · 1d

#LFF2025 Guillermo del Toro’s FRANKENSTEIN is sumptuous to look at, and I really enjoyed the first hour, but it’s diminishing returns for the next 90 minutes as the story plays out. It’s a very del Toro experience.

1 3

Keith Knight @keithjknight.bsky.social · 1d

With her faithful rooster (another one!) Hindi (brilliant) under her arm off she goes to the city with her friend Saeed and lots and lots of escapades ensue - a few too many in fact. She lives in a rural marsh village and is treated as a peasant by all authorities she meets. Well worth catching.

1 1

Keith Knight @keithjknight.bsky.social · 1d

#LFF2025 I think THE PRESIDENT’S CAKE is the first Iraqi film I’ve seen and it’s interesting as a consequence in its depiction of society in 1987, on Saddam’s 50th birthday. Lamia ‘wins’ the draw to bake a birthday cake for her class, a problem as everyone is too poor to have ingredients.

1 1 3

Keith Knight @keithjknight.bsky.social · 1d

Half a dozen including Jailb*it which they coyly refer to as the song whose title doesn’t appear in the lyrics.

I have been corresponding with Mr Green so he should know they are out there.

1 1

Keith Knight @keithjknight.bsky.social · 1d

Well, I quite liked them back then and still do, although the best stuff is the old stuff of course. Greeny was not there but they are on a big tour so other opportunities are available.

1

Keith Knight @keithjknight.bsky.social · 1d

#LFF2025 Two rules of cinema are Never Go Into the Desert; and Sergi López is always a sign of quality. SIRÂT proves these impeccably, a film so intense I’m surprised I’ve survived it. Absolutely justified an IMAX viewing.

1 2

Keith Knight @keithjknight.bsky.social · 2d

#LFF2025 HAMNET - big emotions, big acting and big success. Jessie Buckley knocking it out of the park. A bit worried that audiences at future performances of Hamlet at the Globe will try to ape the end scenes.

1 2

Keith Knight @keithjknight.bsky.social · 2d

The first band I ever saw live in June 1971 was Wishbone Ash and, as it stands, they are currently also the most recent band I’ve seen. My first time in over 50 years.

1 4

Keith Knight @keithjknight.bsky.social · 3d

I was in Deal this week and sought out Charles Hawtrey’s house, so, yes, absolutely.

1 2

Keith Knight @keithjknight.bsky.social · 3d

They were bloody great!

1

Keith Knight @keithjknight.bsky.social · 3d

And These Were The Earlies! A triumphant return. This must be the biggest stage I’ve ever seen them on.

3 6

Keith Knight @keithjknight.bsky.social · 3d

Love this about Diane Keaton from the Guardian:

In 1996, Keaton adopted a daughter, Dexter (named after Cary Grant’s character in The Philadelphia Story)

Farewell.

4

Keith Knight @keithjknight.bsky.social · 3d

Alela Diane leading off a line-up at Hackney Church that is shortly to include The Earlies!

2 3

Keith Knight @keithjknight.bsky.social · 4d

@alectasker.bsky.social On the other hand…

metacritic @metacritic.com · 4d

The Best-Reviewed Movies of 2025 so far: www.metacritic.com/browse/movie...
#3 - Hamnet [90] - "Hamnet is devastating, maybe the most emotionally shattering movie I’ve seen in years." - By Bilge Ebiri, New York Magazine (Vulture)

Keith Knight @keithjknight.bsky.social · 4d

This is a lighter film than we’ve been used to from Pálmason (but not that light) who again uses his family (the kids are his) and probably living space (the scenery looks familiar from NEST). It’s constantly involving with short scenes shot through the seasons - although puzzling in places.

1 1

Keith Knight @keithjknight.bsky.social · 4d

#LFF2025 THE LOVE THAT REMAINS Magnus (a trawlerman) and Anna (an artist) have separated but Magnus hangs around to see the kids and in hope of reconciling. Hylnur Pálmason spins this off into a tale of family and masculinity in a luscious Icelandic landscape which increasingly occupies dream.

1 2

Keith Knight @keithjknight.bsky.social · 5d

On the evidence of the recent gigs I’ve seen (Italy / Athens / London) A Way Out is consistently the highlight now. One can hardly breathe listening to it.

3

Keith Knight @keithjknight.bsky.social · 5d

Just realised that I’m a year ahead of myself - #LFF2025 !!

1

Keith Knight @keithjknight.bsky.social · 5d

Yes that was my favourite of the earlier segments too. The first one reminded me of Guy Maddin a bit.

1

Keith Knight @keithjknight.bsky.social · 5d

#LFF2026 Bi Gan pulls off another lengthy (40 mins), jaw dropping single shot take to end RESURRECTION, although the two hours to get there can be a slog as we visit five time slots built round a shonky SF premise about the loss of the ability to dream. Still, worth it for the end game on NYE 1999.

2 2

Keith Knight @keithjknight.bsky.social · 6d

#LFF2026 Kicking off this year’s London Film Festival with Bi Gan’s ‘Resurrection’. On the basis of his previous film, ‘Long Day’s Journey Into Night’ I’m expecting to be confused and awed.

1 3