Contributions from Manuela Lazic | Little White Lies

Contributor Manuela Lazic

A young woman in a red hooded top stands in a dimly lit room, with blurred figures in the background.
Review

Presence review – an enjoyably swift chiller

by Manuela Lazic

Steven Soder­bergh plays with the cin­e­mat­ic form to craft a com­pelling sto­ry about fam­i­ly dynam­ics and grief.

4
Anticipation
4
Enjoyment
4
In Retrospect
Portrait of a young Black man in a floral print shirt, looking directly at the camera with a neutral expression.
Review

What You Gonna Do When the World’s on Fire?

by Manuela Lazic

Rober­to Minervini’s vital doc­u­men­tary fol­lows in the wake of a series of bru­tal killings of black men in the US.

4
Anticipation
4
Enjoyment
4
In Retrospect
Group of five women in red tops and jeans standing and embracing in a bar setting.
Review

Support the Girls

by Manuela Lazic

Andrew Bujalski’s work­place com­e­dy, set in a Hoot­ers-style sports bar, offers a sly cri­tique of the patriarchy.

4
Anticipation
4
Enjoyment
5
In Retrospect
Close-up of a woman with dark, curly hair and a serious expression, in low lighting.
Review

Madeline’s Madeline

by Manuela Lazic

New­com­er Hele­na Howard is aston­ish­ing in Josephine Decker’s bold explo­ration of art and authorship.

4
Anticipation
4
Enjoyment
4
In Retrospect
Colourful illustration of a woman with red hair amid lush green foliage
Interviews

Alice Rohrwacher: ‘We imagine that a good man does good, but it’s an illusion’

by Manuela Lazic

Hap­py as Laz­zaro is an ethe­re­al take on mod­ern slav­ery and what it means to be hap­py. We meet its maker.
A stylised illustration of a woman's face with long, wavy brown hair against a patterned yellow and green background.
Interviews

Maggie Gyllenhaal: ‘It’s a cautionary tale about the consequences of starving women’

by Manuela Lazic

The star of The Kinder­garten Teacher talks about liv­ing in the long shad­ow of dashed dreams.
Elderly couple smiling at each other in a room with artwork on the wall.
Review

The Wife

by Manuela Lazic

Glenn Close gives a won­der­ful­ly enig­mat­ic per­for­mance in Björn Runge’s adap­ta­tion of Meg Wolitzer’s novel.

3
Anticipation
4
Enjoyment
4
In Retrospect
Four men in coats and hats walking on a paved path in an outdoor setting.
Review

American Animals

by Manuela Lazic

Doc­u­men­tar­i­an Bart Lay­ton blurs the line between fact and fic­tion in his com­pelling heist drama.

3
Anticipation
4
Enjoyment
4
In Retrospect
Close-up of a middle-aged Black man with dreadlocks, wearing a grey zipped jacket and looking directly at the camera with a serious expression.
In Praise Of

How The Stairs provides an honest insight into drug addiction

by Manuela Lazic

Hugh Gibson’s 2016 doc­u­men­tary is a sen­si­tive and impor­tant por­trait of addicts in Toronto.
Three people - a woman with long blonde hair in a white coat, a man with dark hair, and a woman with curly blonde hair wearing a colourful patterned shawl - standing together in an indoor setting with decorative lighting.
Review

Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again

by Manuela Lazic

This tri­umphant sequel to 2008’s ABBA musi­cal is the most pure­ly enjoy­able big screen expe­ri­ence of the summer.

3
Anticipation
4
Enjoyment
4
In Retrospect
Two people, a man and a woman, in a room with large windows. The woman is wearing an ornate white garment and the man is adjusting it.
Review

McQueen

by Manuela Lazic

The late fash­ion designer’s life and work makes for a com­pelling if com­pli­cat­ed subject.

3
Anticipation
4
Enjoyment
4
In Retrospect
Two people embracing in a dimly lit room.
Review

L’Amant Double

by Manuela Lazic

This twisty psy­cho-thriller from François Ozon sees a per­plexed young woman dat­ing iden­ti­cal shrinks.

4
Anticipation
4
Enjoyment
4
In Retrospect