Contributions from Xuanlin Tham | Little White Lies

Contributor Xuanlin Tham

Young girl lying down and resting her head on her arms, with a thoughtful expression on her face.
Festivals

Dancing and different ways of seeing at Alchemy Film and Moving Image Festival

by Xuanlin Tham

In the Scot­tish bor­ders, this bold inde­pen­dent film fes­ti­val cham­pi­ons new ways of see­ing, with a 2024 focus on the work of Pales­tin­ian artist Noor Abed.
Young person wearing a blue and grey striped hat and a blue winter coat, looking thoughtful.
Review

Evil Does Not Exist review – beautifully precise

by Xuanlin Tham

Ryû­suke Ham­aguchi’s dra­ma about a moun­tain vil­lage threat­ened by a new devel­op­ment is a haunt­ing depic­tion of the gulf between cap­i­tal­ism and environmentalism.

4
Anticipation
4
Enjoyment
5
In Retrospect
Greyscale portrait of an elderly man wearing glasses, with a serious expression.
Review

Opus review – gorgeous document of a supreme artist

by Xuanlin Tham

Neo Sora cre­ates a beau­ti­ful por­trait of his late father, filmed just before he passed away from can­cer in 2023.

4
Anticipation
4
Enjoyment
4
In Retrospect
Green serpent-like creature with scales; woman submerged in yellow-tinted water, surrounded by greenery
In Praise Of

Green Snake and the search for belonging in a hostile world

by Xuanlin Tham

Cel­e­brat­ing its 30th anniver­sary, Tsui Hark’s take on a Chi­nese folk­tale is a breath­tak­ing alle­go­ry for our inhos­pitable world.
People sitting at a table in a colourful room with assorted decorations on the walls.
Review

Love Life review – frustrates its own poignance with melodrama

by Xuanlin Tham

Koji Fuku­da’s ninth fea­ture fails to meet the mark when it comes to explor­ing the knot­ty top­ic of famil­ial grief.

4
Anticipation
3
Enjoyment
2
In Retrospect
Greyscale portrait of an elderly man wearing glasses, with a serious expression.
Festivals

Ryuichi Sakamoto | Opus – first-look review

by Xuanlin Tham

The final per­for­mance of the late Japan­ese com­pos­er is cap­tured in stun­ning, heart-rend­ing detail by his son.
Young person wearing a blue and grey striped hat and a blue winter coat, looking thoughtful.
Festivals

Evil Does Not Exist – first-look review

by Xuanlin Tham

Ryusuke Ham­aguchi’s eco­log­i­cal dra­ma about a small moun­tain vil­lage threat­ened by a new devel­op­ment is a haunt­ing, glacial depic­tion of the gulf between cap­i­tal­ism and environmentalism.
A person in a bright red dress riding a motorcycle on a night-time bridge with illuminated lampposts.
Review

Joyland

by Xuanlin Tham

A con­ser­v­a­tive Pak­istani fam­i­ly in Lahore frac­ture when moder­ni­ty meets tra­di­tion in Saim Sadiq’s inti­mate drama.

3
Anticipation
4
Enjoyment
3
In Retrospect
Two people dining at a table in a dimly lit restaurant, with a bottle of wine and food on the table.
Review

Husband

by Xuanlin Tham

Devo­rah Baum and Josh Appig­nane­si attempt to nav­i­gate their rela­tion­ship as they take a trip to the Unit­ed States.

4
Anticipation
2
Enjoyment
3
In Retrospect
People sitting at a table in a colourful room with assorted decorations on the walls.
Festivals

Love Life – first-look review

by Xuanlin Tham

Koji Fuku­da’s ninth fea­ture fails to meet the mark when it comes to explor­ing the knot­ty top­ic of famil­ial grief.
Three young people conversing in dimly lit room
Festivals

Neon Spring – first-look review

by Xuanlin Tham

A young woman with a dif­fi­cult home life dis­cov­ers Riga’s rave scene in Matiss Kaza­’s fourth feature.
Two people dining at a table in a dimly lit restaurant, with a bottle of wine and food on the table.
Festivals

Husband – first-look review

by Xuanlin Tham

The tri­als and tribu­la­tions of one cou­ple’s rela­tion­ship are under the micro­scope in Devo­rah Baum and Josh Appig­nane­si’s frus­trat­ing documentary.