September 11, 2022
Anyone can be a hero: Why I love ‘Percy Jackson & The Olympians’
From mental health struggles to characters with different racial and LGBTQ+ backgrounds, the series shines a light on people—and heroes—of diverse identities.
August 26, 2022
Two upcoming Pinocchio films—why does he still resonate?
Zemeckis' version will likely be a comforting trip into nostalgia and sentiment, an ode to the power of the human heart to do the right thing despite life's many temptations. At the same time, del Toro's will be a dark fairytale with troubling implications, examining how we puppets can learn to think for ourselves.
August 20, 2022
‘Emily’ and creative freedom in literary biopics
It got me thinking that we are fascinated by the behind-the-scenes lives of our cultural obsessions, and the personal lives of authors can come to feel like public possessions just as much as their works. It is this sense of ownership that can risk conflict over films about literary icons.
August 12, 2022
International Youth Day: Why I enjoy reading YA books as an adult
We are drawn to stories about first experiences, and YA literature is rich with it. First experiences draw us in because they are the crucible for change.
August 3, 2022
How BookTok motivated me to read again
It has made literary criticism—often regarded highbrow or excessively academic—feel accessible.
July 28, 2022
‘Persuasion’, ‘Bridgerton’, ‘Emma.’ What’s missing from these quirky period dramas?
Studios seem to think female characters need to be glossed with a “zany” and “feisty” persona in order to be relevant.
July 15, 2022
Netflix’s ‘Persuasion’ misunderstands Jane Austen’s novel entirely
The problem with Netflix’s adaptation of Persuasion is that it doesn't know what it wants to be.
May 31, 2022
Could Ranbir Kapoor's 'Brahmastra' be the superhero film Bollywood needs?
The teaser for "Brahmastra: Part One", starring real-life couple Ranbir Kapoor and Alia Bhatt as well as veteran actor Amitabh Bachchan and South Indian superstar Nagarjuna, was released today. It is one of the most anticipated Bollywood films of the year.
May 19, 2022
Off to Cannes: Representing Bangladesh in the world’s biggest film fest
The star-studded Cannes Film Festival kicked off on May 17, 2022, celebrating all things international film and the actors, directors, and crew behind the scenes.
April 22, 2022
From the ramp to the screen: Shela is all set for challenges
Shirin Akter Shela is best known as the winner of Miss Universe Bangladesh 2019. Sporting a red jamdani shari with a model hood of Bangladeshi rickshaws and ornaments that emulated Bengali letters, she won hearts with her national costume at the beauty pageant’s final competition in the USA.