Film – Close-Up Culture

Big Fat Genius: How a 2002 Kids’ Comedy Revealed Paul Giamatti’s Brilliance

There is a very good chance that one of Paul Giamatti’s finest performances was seen mainly by a bunch of 10-year-olds. In February 2002, Giamatti appeared in Big Fat Liar, an unmistakably early-2000s family comedy starring Frankie Muniz, then riding high on the success of Malcolm in the Middle. It was hardly the sort of…
Life Goes On: Finding the humour, heart, and humanity in death

Time-loop narratives are familiar territory in cinema, but Life Goes On finds an unexpectedly novel way to revisit the concept. Written and directed by Kat Butterfield and Daniel Audritt, the 19-minute short centres on Bill (David Bradley), an elderly man receiving end-of-life care who finds himself reliving the same day over and over again. Life…
Life Goes On: Interview with Daniel Audritt and Kat Butterfield

Writer-directors Daniel Audritt and Kat Butterfield sat down with Close-Up Culture’s Senior Writer Genevieve Dammery about their short film Life Goes On, a comedy that brings an unexpected twist to the familiar time-loop narrative. Set in a hospice and led by remarkable performances from David Bradley and Maggie Steed, the film finds humour, tenderness and…
HollyShorts: Ross O’Donnellan On His Directorial Debut BedCrumbs

In his directorial debut, Bedcrumbs, writer-director Ross O’Donnellan explores the quiet, deterioration of a relationship that has seemingly run its course. Shot on 16mm, the film pairs a dreamlike aesthetic with an intimate examination of queer relationships. Close-Up Culture’s Genevieve Dammery sat down with O’Donnellan to discuss the importance of authentic queer representation, his transition…
Close-Up: An Interview With Frankie Minnock

Tired of waiting for gatekeepers to say yes, actress Frankie Minnock decided to take her creative destiny into her own hands. While acting remains her lifelong passion, stepping behind the camera has reshaped how she approaches storytelling, collaboration, and vulnerability on set. In this interview with Close-Up Culture’s James Prestridge, Frankie opens up about championing…
Wicker Ending Explained: Why the Tonal Pivot Leaves Us in the Cold

Alex Huston Fischer and Eleanor Wilson’s Wicker is easily one of the most delightfully audacious films of the year. After all, who doesn’t want to watch Olivia Colman have her world rocked by a surprisingly sexy and sensual human basket? CAUTION: SPOILERS AHEAD Yet, for all its eccentric charms, the ending of Wicker wilts. The…
Movie Magic & Teamwork — Director Arianna Ortiz on the Heart of The Birthday Gift

Fresh off its Grand Jury Prize win for Best U.S. Latino Live Action Short Film at LALIFF, the bilingual short The Birthday Gift has officially qualified for the Oscars. Set on a frigid Chicago night, the film welcomes audiences into a warm, inviting home for an intimate birthday dinner, only for an unexpected guest to…
Oscar-Qualified & Unfiltered: Cruz Gonzalez-Cadel on the Power of The Birthday Gift

Set on an icy Chicago night, The Birthday Gift follows an Argentine mother and daughter whose intimate birthday dinner is upended by an unexpected guest, forcing them to confront the long-term repercussions of their country’s dark history. In this interview with Close-Up Culture, executive producer and lead star Cruz Gonzalez-Cadel breaks down how she transitioned…
Muses No More: Flipping the Script with The Three Graces

For over a century, Marie Spartali Stillman, Maria Zambaco, and Aglaia Coronio have been trapped in the footnotes of art history as the mere muses of famous men. The indie short film The Three Graces completely rewrites that narrative. In this interview with Close-Up Culture, director Nicole Sarah Fry and screenwriter/producer/actor Andreane Rellou break down…
Textures of Trauma: Unpacking the Fine Art of Dance of the Spirits

In Andreea-Lorena Florea’s striking animated film Dance of the Spirits, traditional fine art mediums become the battleground for a young boy’s soul. The story follows Matei, a youth trapped under the crushing weight of his father’s expectations and the rigid judgments of his village community. When his internalised pain manifests as violence against the very…