Halina Dyrschka on “Beyond the Visible – Hilma af Klint”
One of the most joyous moments I’ve had thus far in quarantine was my conversation last month with Halina Dyrschka, the German director whose debut feature, “Beyond the Visible – […]
Tag Archives: Gene Siskel Film Center
Phoebe Waller-Bridge Goes Back to Her One-Woman Roots of “Fleabag”
The following review is penned by guest contributor Patrick McDonald, freelance writer and the Über Critic. At the recent Emmy Awards, there was one TV series collecting the statues as […]
Veronica Cartwright on “The Field,” “The Birds,” “Alien” and Much More
“That’s the magic of movies,” Alfred Hitchcock told Veronica Cartwright on the set of his 1963 masterpiece, “The Birds,” upon explaining to her how a bit of pantomime married with […]
Elizabeth Wood on “White Girl”
Nothing about the cinema of Elizabeth Wood could in any way be defined as timid. I’ll never forget the experience of seeing her solo feature debut, “White Girl,” at Chicago’s […]
Joost van Ginkel on “170 Hz,” “The Paradise Suite”
The structurally audacious, vividly nuanced work of Dutch filmmaker and playwright Joost van Ginkel has been one of my most cherished discoveries this year. His first feature, 2011’s “170 Hz,” […]
Michael Glover Smith on “Cool Apocalypse”
There is no foolproof guidebook on how to make a living as an artist. For Michael Glover Smith, his passion for film has taken him many places before he arrived […]
Rebecca Parrish on “Radical Grace”
Few films this year have left me feeling more elated and hopeful than Rebecca Parrish’s sublime documentary, “Radical Grace.” It follows three key members of the “Nuns on the Bus” […]
Popcorn Porn: “Fifty Shades” and “Kingsman”
Just in time for Valentine’s Day, audiences around the country have two pieces of cheerfully dumb, studio-approved, hard R-rated pornography to choose from at mainstream theaters. One is Sam Taylor-Johnson’s […]
Anne de Mare and Kirsten Kelly on “The Homestretch”
Kasey, Anthony and Roque are three extraordinary Chicago teens with personalities and aspirations that are a natural fit for the big screen. They also just happen to be among the […]
EUFF Spotlight: “Waltz for Monica”
There are few things less compelling than a reverential biopic that strips a fascinating human life of all blemishes and shortcomings. How can one be expected to get involved in […]
Indie Outlook 