Dead Pigs, 2018(Film still)
As Cathy Yan’s first feature film is released on MUBI, the director speaks to Kat Haylett about making and meaning of the movie
February 10, 2021
In the spring of 2013, over 16,000 dead pigs were found floating in the Huangpu River in Shanghai. Quickly, this became a national – and then global – news story due to the bizarre nature of the incident – which was attributed to the growing reluctance of farmers to cover the rising cost of burying livestock. A few years later, this strange event served as the basis for director Cathy Yan’s first feature film,
Dead Pigs (released on MUBI on 12 February). It sets the tone for a story that has many surreal and darkly humorous elements, which Yan thinks “feel real to life – that we always find humour even in the darkest moments.”
Minari, 2021(Film still)
Kat Haylett looks ahead at the year’s most exciting movie releases – from a semi-autobiographical drama from Lee Isaac Chung to Darius Marder’s directorial debut about a heavy metal drummer
January 15, 2021
In the wake of a third national lockdown, cinemas have sadly been forced to close yet again, meaning that many films slated for a 2021 UK release have been further postponed. The good news, however, is that we have plenty of time to begin building anticipation for movies which will – all being well – still be released in some form this year, whether on the big or small screen. Whether a directorial debut, a grand return from an industry titan after a long hiatus, or simply the next project from a continually fascinating filmmaker, these films are all bound to be worth paying attention to.
The Assistant, 2020(Film still)
2020 gave us a year of kind cinema when we needed it most – here are our independent and arthouse highlights
December 18, 2020
One impact of Covid-19 has been that many major tentpole films were delayed until next year. Film festivals were cancelled, meaning many independent films lost out on an important showcase. However, some film festivals, such as the London Film Festival, progressed, holding a combination of virtual screenings and socially distanced events. Many films went straight to streaming, too, bypassing theatrical release in favour of finding an audience who were isolated at home. On top of this, the lack of blockbusters meant that these films garnered more attention that they might otherwise have done. During a divisive year, one of the unifying characteristics of these films has been that they all exemplify empathy towards their characters.