31 Dec 2021
Man of the People: Gene Kelly and An American in Paris
To coincide with the classic musical's 70th anniversary, Lilia Pavin-Franks looks back on the complex duality of its leading man
Articles by Lilia Pavin-Franks
Favourite films: When Harry Met Sally, Portrait of a Lady on Fire, Amélie
Favourite actors: Gene Kelly, Robert Pattinson, Jake Gyllenhaal
Favourite filmmakers: Park Chan-wook, Yorgos Lanthimos, Greta Gerwig
23 Nov 2021
The Strings review – atmospheric indie horror lacks oomph
The debut from writer-director Ryan Glover takes the art of subtlety and slowly walks with it to mostly frustrating effect
22 Jul 2021
Girlfriends review – feminist classic feels just as fresh in 2021
Intimate, poignant and funny in equal measure, Claudia Weill’s celebrated 1978 indie finally gets a chance to shine on the big screen
05 Jul 2021
Lady Boss: The Jackie Collins Story review – a crash course that could have gone further
This documentary about the life and career of the bestselling author offers a good overview but lacks truly compelling discussion
23 Jun 2021
Sweat review – layered drama about the dark side of #positivity
Magnus von Horn’s insightful sophomore feature offers a sharp look at the unfiltered realities of online celebrity culture
02 Jun 2021
Bitches of the Badlands: The Myth of the American West Through the Female Lens
With Nomadland and First Cow now in UK cinemas, Lilia Pavin-Franks explores how Chloé Zhao and Kelly Reichardt have rewritten the rules of Hollywood's most fabled genre
23 Apr 2021
Black Bear review – Aubrey Plaza shines in a chaotic meta-movie
Lawrence Michael Levine’s bizarre melodrama is a compellingly crazy meditation on art and life, with career-best work from Plaza
23 Apr 2021
I Blame Society review – a sarky stab at Hollywood sexism
Gillian Wallace Horvat’s meta-narrative about a filmmaker turned serial killer is an engaging slice of feminist black comedy
19 Apr 2021
Ride or Die review – manga adaptation fails to find its feet
A promising lead performance isn’t enough to save this muddled and over-sexualised queer thriller from filmmaker Ryūichi Hiroki
24 Mar 2021
The Dose review – ghostly thriller wastes an interesting premise
A nurse suspects the motives of his charismatic new colleague in a dull hospital drama that fails to cash in on its leads' chemistry
24 Mar 2021
P.S. Burn This Letter Please review – essential portrait of 50s underground drag
This tender, tragic, and poignant documentary is an eye-opening chronicle of a largely forgotten part of American queer history
24 Mar 2021
Cineworld Announce Plans to Reopen in May & Strike Deal With Warner Bros.
The cinema chain are the first to unveil a date for reopening in the UK, alongside a new theatrical exclusivity deal with Warner Bros.