Contributions from Emily Maskell | Little White Lies

Contributor Emily Maskell

A group of teenage girls sit on a roof in the sunshine, laughing and smiling.
Hard Craft

Who gets to be on the big screen?

by Emily Maskell

Cast­ing direc­tor Lucy Pardee lifts the lid on her lat­est project, Lol­lipop, and work­ing in the cast­ing industry. 
Two women sitting on a bed surrounded by clutter and personal items.
Review

Lollipop review – a gut-punching debut

by Emily Maskell

Daisy-May Hudson’s impres­sive fic­tion debut lays bare the bureau­crat­ic cycles a young woman has to face as she attempts to regain cus­tody of her children.

3
Anticipation
4
Enjoyment
4
In Retrospect
A young woman in a yellow top stands close to a large brown and white horse against a backdrop of green foliage.
Review

Magic Farm review – Amalia Ulman has plenty up her sleeve

by Emily Maskell

Amalia Ulman flex­es her satir­i­cal writ­ing chops, but her lat­est would have ben­e­fit­ted from more Chloë Sevi­gny and Simon Rex.

3
Anticipation
4
Enjoyment
3
In Retrospect
Two individuals in cowboy attire standing in a desert landscape.
Review

National Anthem review – maintains a bold sense of hopefulness

by Emily Maskell

An intro­vert­ed 21-year-old sup­port­ing his fam­i­ly with man­u­al labour finds a new com­mu­ni­ty in a queer rodeo group in Luke Gil­ford’s charm­ing take on the western.

3
Anticipation
4
Enjoyment
4
In Retrospect
Three women in period costume, one with dark curly hair, one with bright red curly hair, and one with blonde curled hair, standing and conversing.
Review

The Crime is Mine review – Huppert steals the show

by Emily Maskell

François Ozon’s first for­ay into crime com­e­dy boasts bags of charm and a bit­ing fem­i­nist edge.

4
Anticipation
4
Enjoyment
3
In Retrospect
Two persons in a dimly lit room, faces lit by colourful lights, creating an intense, dramatic atmosphere.
Review

Femme review – an uninhibited, spikey portrait of revenge

by Emily Maskell

After being the vic­tim of a vio­lent homo­pho­bic attack, a young drag per­former sees an oppor­tu­ni­ty to get revenge on one of his tormentors.

3
Anticipation
4
Enjoyment
4
In Retrospect
Two young men sleeping, their arms wrapped around each other, partially covered by a blanket.
Review

Lie with Me review – a spiralling queer portrait of ardent memory

by Emily Maskell

A suc­cess­ful author returns to his home­town, only to unlock mem­o­ries of a clan­des­tine love affair in Olivi­er Pey­on’s adap­ta­tion of Phillippe Besson’s crit­i­cal­ly-acclaimed autofiction.

3
Anticipation
4
Enjoyment
3
In Retrospect
Portrait of a woman with wavy auburn hair wearing a red top, against a colourful abstract background.
Interviews

Léa Mysius: ‘I wanted to film reality – from this came the fantastical’

by Emily Maskell

The direc­tor of olfac­to­ry won­der, The Five Dev­ils, reflects on mak­ing a film about potions, mem­o­ry and the sense of smell.
Two young adults sitting on a beach, with a worried expression on their faces.
Review

Our Eternal Summer

by Emily Maskell

A group of young friends cope with a trag­ic loss in Émi­lie Aussel’s poised debut feature.

3
Anticipation
4
Enjoyment
3
In Retrospect
Elderly person wearing elaborate headdress and costume with large decorative chandelier behind them.
Review

Swan Song

by Emily Maskell

Udo Kier plays a world-weary styl­ist who returns to his home­town for a lucra­tive job in Todd Stephens’ touch­ing comedy-drama.

4
Anticipation
4
Enjoyment
4
In Retrospect
A person with dark hair and a serious expression, standing in front of a crowd of people.
Review

Small Body

by Emily Maskell

A griev­ing moth­er sets out to give her still­born child a prop­er bur­ial in Lau­ra Samani’s affect­ing debut feature.

3
Anticipation
3
Enjoyment
3
In Retrospect
A serious-looking man in a suit and tie, with a stern expression on his face, stands in front of a dark, textured background.
Not Movies

Severance and the myth of work-life balance

by Emily Maskell

Apple TV+’s intrigu­ing work­place dra­ma sets a new, sin­is­ter prece­dent for office culture.