The bard celebrates two other fine practitioners of the art, and laments a lost brewer
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Disappearing up its own black hole
MARIA DUARTE sees an initially intriguing space drama disintegrate into cliche
This right-wing conspiracy theory is used to justify the coercive measures against gender, race and labour rights that best serve capitalism, attests GAVIN O’TOOLE
KENNY MONROSE recommends a new exhibition that highlights the significance of Black British music
ANGUS REID is bowled over by an exuberant film about the making of Keith Jarrett’s legendary concert
MARIA DUARTE, FIONA O’CONNOR and ANDY HEDGECOCK review Savage House, Enzo, Madfabulous, and Erupcja
CHRIS SEARLE recommends a work of love and deep admiration for a great musician
High Life (18)
Directed by Claire Denis
A FATHER and his baby daughter battle to survive in complete isolation in this twisted space saga, which promises more than it delivers.
As the flashbacks slowly but surely unfold, you learn how Monte (Robert Pattinson) and the baby (an adorable Scarlett Lindsey) come to be on board a now empty spacecraft. He was a member of a crew of death-row inmates led by Dr Dibs (Juliette Binoche), who have agreed to go on a one-way trip to a black hole in exchange for their lives.
Evoking Stanley Kubrick's 2001: A Space Odyssey and Tarkovsky’s Solaris, Claire Denis’s space drama is more space porn as the characters are violently attacked by their crew mates and defiled by the good doctor, all in the name of science and creation. Dr Dibs relieves her sexual tension in a special “play room” worthy of Fifty Shades of Grey, which makes disturbing viewing.
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