Contributor Esmé Holden

A person sitting on the floor in a cluttered room, with another person visible in the background through a doorway.

Making Sense of Life Without Her: On Chantal Akerman

by Esmé Holden

A reflection on trying to make sense of the senseless, through the work of a Belgian master.
Four angry, cartoon-style faces with speech bubbles containing rude language. Geometric shapes, bold black lines, and expressive facial features. Football player and spectators depicted.
In Heaven Everything Is Fine

A trip down to DumbLand

by Esmé Holden

David Lynch's little-seen cartoon series about an angry man named Randy couldn't be more pertinent.
Man in hooded jacket playing acoustic guitar on crowded bus.
Festivals

Out of Place at the Locarno Film Festival

by Esmé Holden

Esmé Holden offers a heartfelt reflection on the highs and lows of her first time attending the Locarno Film Festival.
Two individuals, a man wearing sunglasses and a boy with a ruffled collar, in an indoor setting.
Review

Orlando, My Political Biography review – a dive into the collective trans consciousness

by Esmé Holden

Spanish philosopher Paul B Preciado makes his feature documentary debut with an innovative homage to Virginia Woolf's seminal 1928 novel.

4
Anticipation
3
Enjoyment
4
In Retrospect
A neon-lit illustration of a young man with curly hair, glasses, and a serious expression, against a vibrant pink background.
Interviews

Jane Schoenbrun: ‘I think of film as a medium that is going to disappear eventually’

by Esmé Holden

The filmmaker reflects on her sophomore feature film, I Saw the TV Glow, in which two teenage outsiders find comfort in a mysterious television series.
A man with curly hair and a beard, wearing a light-coloured jacket, sitting on a bench and holding a small white dog.
Review

La Chimera review – shows new ways a movie can be

by Esmé Holden

Alice Rohrwacher creates a magical fairytale about a group of tomb raiders, anchored by a soulful performance from Josh O'Connor.

4
Anticipation
4
Enjoyment
5
In Retrospect
Figurine of construction worker in orange hard hat, holding a book, surrounded by toy construction materials.

Another Brick in the Wall: The Lego Movie at 10

by Esmé Holden

A decade on from its lucrative release, Lord and Miller's animated comedy reveals an enduring obsession with a narrow view of artistic and personal individuality and freedom.
A black and white portrait of a man playing a harp, surrounded by large pink flowers.
Club LWLies

The Beautiful and the Pointless

by Esmé Holden

If sex scenes, or any other type of scene, don’t need to serve the plot, do they need to serve anything at all?
A large outdoor cinema screen displaying a film poster. In the foreground, a crowd of people are gathered to watch the film screening. In the background, historic buildings and a domed structure can be seen, suggesting an urban setting.
Festivals

A journey through the past at Il Cinema Ritrovato

by Esmé Holden

What can a film festival dedicated to the screening of older cinema tell us about the present state of audience engagement with movie watching?
Two young faces in close, intimate embrace, surrounded by vibrant blue tones.

The problem with Blue is the Warmest Colour

by Esmé Holden

A decade since Abdellatif Kechiche's film made history at the Cannes Film Festival, its legacy is a troubling one.
Stylised pink cat-like creature with wings perched on a decorative frame against a blue and turquoise background.
Why I Love...

Why I love the queerness of Bugs Bunny

by Esmé Holden

Looney Tunes' iconic rabbit hero might not have been considered a queer icon during his hey day, but with hindsight he takes on a new meaning.

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