Ruben Östlund: The Square
In October of 2017, I interviewed Ruben Östlund during the New York Film Festival for IONCINEMA. We talked about how his latest film The Square is—or now, aguably was—Östlund’s most ambitious attack on humanity yet … with a compellingly affectionate touch.
New Wave Crash Course: Varda’s Final Call to Action
In 2017, I had the privilege of spending time with the legendary 88-year old Belgian-born filmmaker Agnès Varda. She was in New York for the premiere of her latest opus, Visages Villages; I was covering NYFF (the 55th New York Film Festival) as a journalist. After our interview, I brashly asked if she’d allow a selfie. Varda agreed—but after observing my initial attempts, all hopelessly blown out by an overhead light fixture, she proclaimed “C’est nul!” (“That sucks!”) and led me firmly across the room. Suddenly, I was getting tutored in the Art of the Selfie by a New Wave Pioneer.
Kernels of Truth
As I search for the ‘why’ behind a filmmaker’s choices, I zero in on the moments where emotion meets truth. After all, life is fraught with uncertainty; even the best artists are exploring new ways to grow. I try to connect with the deeper through-lines, both in person and on the screen—and hope the experience connects me to you.