sangriakoenig Reviews

Watching the Pain of Others (2018)

An affective circle

[8/10 · 1 August 2021]

Watching Penny Lane's found footage film "The Pain of Others", a young scholar gives her impressions on how and why she felt somewhat addicted to the film and topic of a mysterious self-diagnosed and scientifically unsubstantiated skin condition named Morgellons.

As we watch, the protagonist is affected by the almost body horror like narrative; the protagonist in the story becomes affected, but we as viewers feel the itching too. The topic of online conspiracy theories becomes very evident as the audience feels like watching a documentary.

The Computer screen film surprises with an unpleasant topic and shows some aspects of conspiracy theories by being very close to one. A thrilling journey that leaves viewers with the question of what traditional documentaries should look like.

My Own Landscapes (2020)

Virtual worlds as a safe haven

[7/10 · 1 August 2021]

Interesting view on war, games, war-games, VR, soldiers, PTSD and overcoming trauma. Visually pleasing imagery of "Arma 3" (?) gets combined with the narrative of a traumatized veteran. The scenes get very funny at one point. Virtual space and imaginary worlds as a safe haven. Definitely worth a look!

New Gods (2020)

New devils

[8/10 · 1 August 2021]

From the point of view of an AI, the viewer is kidnapped into the abyss of a young man, the prototype of young men who feel misunderstood and rejected by society. The "Incel" feeds and nourishes himself on the hatred he spreads on social media until he sees no other way out and decides to act.

The visually intense short film surprises with an unexpected narrator and point of view and raises various topics. Responsibilities of social media platforms, female choice, misogyny and many more. A brief grim ride into a toxic internet phenomenon. Well acted and visually convincing. Thrilling!

The Invisibles (2017)

Focus on the positive

[9/10 · 4 May 2018]

A drama that seamlessly combines interviews with the last living jewish eyewitnesses with recreated film scenes of berlin in the year 1943. In fact this might be one of the last movies with actual contemporary witnesses. Under the many films that cover the holocaust of the jews and more specific the time when jewish people had to live in the shadows, this film is special because the stories of the contemporary witnesses are so moving and astonishing thrilling. A very moving feature with a focus on positive aspects and some of the last good people in the third Reich.