As Craig Mazin’s hit new HBO miniseries “Chernobyl” comes to a close, David Lazzam reflects on the continuing implications the nuclear disaster and the stories behind it hold for our modern political system.
Category: Film Reviews
Everyone has seen a movie/documentary or two that left a deep impression, or at least provoked questions about the ways of the world. Movies provide a window into the workings of society, culture and geopolitics. This section is solely dedicated to enhancing your understanding of the world we live in, through the lens of a film.
The Wandering Earth: China’s Cinematic Space Race
The Chinese science fiction film The Wandering Earth (Liu Lang Di Qiu) shattered boxes offices in 2019. Directed by Frant Gwo, the movie follows the Liu family’s post-apocalyptic space mission to save Earth from Jupiter’s gravitational orbit. The film’s thematic statements and successful public reception are a reflection of China’s increasing confidence in its space exploration program.
Metalhead and the Fear of Integration
Black Mirror is an anthology series that explores the relationship between humanity and technology. Each episode takes us to a near-future world that often demonstrates the disturbing potential of today’s innovations. Season four includes the episode “Metalhead,” in which our anxieties regarding intelligent, autonomous drones is examined.
How Does Nocturnal Animals Highlight Gender Security?
Nocturnal Animals is a movie which reveals the problem of gender violence and harassment. One of NATO’s missions to address this issue is to promote gender security.
How Does The Great Dictator Connect To NATO?
Charlie Chaplin’s speech in the Great Dictator, and NATO’s mission-values, both share a common message about liberty, democracy and the rule of law.
In Review: Chuck Norris vs. Communism
Did bootleg VHS tapes bring down Romanian communism? Benson Cheung reviews “Chuck Norris vs. Communism”.
In Review: Highway of Tears, A rear-view to the federal inquiry for Missing and Murdered Indigenous women (MMIW)
From local community support to cross-Canada awareness and involvement for murdered and missing indigenous women, Mégane Visette looks back at the documentary Highway of Tears in light of the newly launched federal commission of inquiry MMWII.
In Review: Fighting ISIS
This week as part of NAOC’s Projecting Politics Film & Documentary Review, Ashley McIntyre reviews the VICE Special Report: Fighting ISIS.
In Review: My Son the Jihadi; How one family’s experience with extremism is not extreme.
My Son the Jihadi is a short documentary about Thomas Evans, a UK born man who travelled to Somalia to fight for Al Shabaab in 2011 at the age of 21. The film focuses heavily on the tremendous grief that the Evans family faced when they lost their son and brother to the Al Qaeda […]