Berlin25 · cinema

Film review: Peter Hujar’s Day

 The downtown scene of New York City in the 1970s was rich in culture, innovation and edge, with key figures such as Allen Ginsberg, Fran Lebowitz, and Andy Warhol pioneering an avant-garde community of creatives. Behind many of the iconic images of this time was photographer Peter Hujar, who mostly captured his subjects in a striking black and white. Inspired by a 2021 book of the same name, Peter Hujar’s Day is the latest piece from writer and director Ira Sachs that brings to life a tape recording that was discovered years later in amongst the archives of his work. Set entirely in his Manhattan apartment in December 1974, journalist Linda Rosenkrantz (Rebecca Hall) and Hujar (Ben Whishaw) have an in-depth conversation where he talks her through what he did the previous day.

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EIFF23 · Interviews

Passages Interview: Ira Sachs – ‘Have you met anyone in person who believes that sex should not be in cinema?’

Revisiting themes of complicated love, the latest film from Ira Sachs is romantic drama Passages. The plot sees narcissistic filmmaker Tomas (Franz Rogowski) begin an intense sexual relationship with schoolteacher Agathe (Adèle Exarchopoulos), much to the dismay of his husband Martin (Ben Whishaw). I was fortunate enough to sit down with the writer and director to discuss his work…

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DVD & Digital · EIFF23

DVD review: Passages

 Complicated romance has been at the core of writer and director Ira Sach’s work across his career and is revisited once again in indie drama Passages. Set in modern day Paris, the plot follows German filmmaker Tomas (Franz Rogowski) as he is finishing up on his latest feature. Feeling neglected by his husband Martin (Ben Whishaw) at the wrap party, he meets schoolteacher Agathe (Adèle Exarchopoulos) on the dancefloor and they share a night of passion. This tryst leads to a love triangle where the three wrestle with their evolving emotions.

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