This is a true story: the July update
Your monthly round-up of new content at thehaughtyculturist.com
So we meet again … because you asked for updates about new content at thehaughtyculturist.com, and here I am. This month we’re revisiting horror classic The Wicker Man, plus true tales from the world of non-fiction film making. Seriously, even if documentary isn’t your bag, these are worth a read.
Featured » Unpacking the differences between dystopia and disaster via sci-fi classic Children of Men.
True horror
Fresh from Sheffield DocFest 2023: non-fiction films that are horrifying and compelling in equal measure. These will be on screens and streaming services near you soon, but get the highlights - and the backstory - below.
1. Phantom Parrot: casualties of the war on terror | Review
Kate Stonehill’s documentary explores the side-effects of beefed-up terrorism laws. A Qatari man is jailed in the US for years without due process, while a human rights campaigner trying to help him faces terrorism charges in the UK.
“… under Schedule 7 officers don’t need ‘reasonable suspicion’ to detain, search or question someone. Meanwhile, those stopped have no right to remain silent or withhold information. If asked, you must hand over phone pins and device passwords – or risk arrest."
2. Tokyo Uber Blues: ride or die trying | Review
A film school graduate signs up as an Uber Eats cycle courier during the coronavirus pandemic. Tokyo Uber Blues follows his dizzying ride into disaster.
“as an Uber bike courier, you could expect to make $100-$200 a day delivering take-out. It was too tempting. In April, Taku set off for Tokyo in fitting style: he made the 60-odd mile journey by bike.”
3. Richland: living in the fat man’s shadow | Review
Irene Lusztig’s documentary offers a poignant backdrop to Christopher Nolan’s Oppenheimer biopic. Richland, WA, is the closest city to the Hanford Site, and Hanford is the place that made the plutonium that blew away Nagasaki on August 9th, 1945. What do you do with a legacy like that?
“People got sick in Richland, just as they did in Nagasaki. There have been years of investigations and lawsuits. Everyone wants resolution. It’s hard to come by.”
Deep-dive culture commentary
Fresh takes on familiar stories (spoilers ‘n’ all)
The Wicker Man: religion, remakes and the unholy pile-on
Unpacking sources of dread in 1973 cult horror The Wicker Man - and its much maligned 2006 remake.
“Robin Hardy’s 1973 film is now widely considered one of the best horrors ever made. However, 50 years ago production, editing and distribution problems sank the film before it could make a splash.”
Columbo | The Most Crucial Game (S2, ep 3)
An episode guide and commentary on long-running detective drama Columbo. This time, the case of a football manager who bumps off his boss.
“You’ve probably noticed Columbo often has a strategic phobia that only lasts for one episode (very often not even for the whole episode)…”
And finally » Has the site been a slower than usual, or ocassionally offline for you? Sorry! It tends to happen when 2020 thriller movie Inheritance joins a streaming service, and the site gets flooded with new readers. If you want to try your luck, read it here. Otherwise, thanks for your patience!
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Stay tuned, and see you then!
Ruth / The HC
Pic credit: Agung Raharja via Unsplash
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