Contributing Writer

Kaisa Saarinen is a London-based writer. She thinks more films should be adapted from poems. You can find her online @kuuhulluutta

Kaisa Saarinen

Lonely Castle in the Mirror - Interview Keiichi Hara

Lonely Castle in the Mirror – Interview with Director Keiichi Hara

Lonely Castle in the Mirror is an animated adaptation of Mizuki Tsujimura’s eponymous novel. It is a modern fairytale about a group of troubled teenagers who find refuge in a magical castle – but harrowing truths lie buried underneath its shimmering surface.

Film Interviews

Dwelling by the West Lake

Gu Xiaogang's Dwelling by the West Lake tackles the theme of spiritual awakening through the story of a son trying to rescue his mother from a pyramid scheme.

Drama Film Reviews

Dwelling by the West Lake director interview

Dwelling by the West Lake – Interview with Film Director Gu Xiaogang

Gu Xiaogang, 35, is quickly becoming one of the most prominent Chinese filmmakers of his generation. Earlier this...

Film Interviews

Tokyo International Film Festival – Interview with Film Director Keiichi Hara

Keiichi Hara is an acclaimed anime director whose career has spanned over two decades. His films include “Miss...

Film Interviews

Grain

Grain is the new film from Semih Kaplanoğlu, widely hailed as one of the visionaries of contemporary Turkish cinema.

Drama Film Reviews

Grain Interview Tokyo Internation Film Fes - Jean-Marc Barr - Bettina Brokember - Semih Kaplanoğl TIFF 2017

Grain – Interview with Director Semih Kaplanoglu, Producer Bettina Brokemper, and Actor Jean-Marc Barr

Grain (2017) is the new film from acclaimed Turkish Director Semih Kaplanoğlu. Set in the near future where...

Festivals & Awards The CineFiles

Taksim Hold’em

Set in Istanbul during the tumultuous protests of 2013, the film follows a group of high-school friends with contrasting attitudes toward the unrest surrounding them.

Comedy Drama Film Reviews

Michael Önder Director interview TIFF 2017 Taksim Holdem

Taksim Hold’em – Interview with Film Director Michael Önder

Taksim Hold’em (2017) is the full-length directorial debut of Michael Önder. The film, which received its world premiere...

Film Interviews

Fullmetal Alchemist

Fullmetal Alchemist is a live-action adaptation of Hiromu Arakawa’s manga series by the same name. Arakawa’s manga is one of the most successful titles of the 2000s, selling almost 70 million copies worldwide.

Action Film Reviews

the cinefiles

Anatomy of a Fall Trailer

The Whale [2022] Official Film Trailer

Decision to Leave [2022] Official Film Trailer

director interviews

Land of Bad – Interview with Film Director/Co-Writer William Eubank

Red, White and Blue – 5 Questions for Film Writer/Director Nazrin Choudhury

Ninety-Five Senses – 5 Questions for Film Co-Director Jerusha Hess

film reviews

Land of Bad

Anatomy of a Fall

Aftersun

Kaisa Saarinen

Lonely Castle in the Mirror – Interview with Director Keiichi Hara

Dwelling by the West Lake

Dwelling by the West Lake – Interview with Film Director Gu Xiaogang

Tokyo International Film Festival – Interview with Film Director Keiichi Hara

Grain

Grain – Interview with Director Semih Kaplanoglu, Producer Bettina Brokemper, and Actor Jean-Marc Barr

Taksim Hold’em

Taksim Hold’em – Interview with Film Director Michael Önder

Fullmetal Alchemist