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Bigger Than Life (1956): The Dark Side of the American Dream

Posted on 19 Days Ago by Hugo Pagan Soto

For Nicholas Ray, dismantling the famous “American Dream” was almost a mission. Throughout his work, the American director explored, from multiple angles, the idealized yet unrealistic conception of that utopian society. In Bigger Than Life (1956), he launches a frontal attack on the model family and on a society that suffocates the male figure, reducing him to the role of breadwinner, forced into success regardless of the consequences.

Sacrifice: A Dark Satire on the Enviromental Crisis – TIFF 2025

Posted on September 15 by Hugo Pagan Soto

Mother Nature has spoken and says she needs the sacrifice of three people to restore order and prevent total collapse. Sacrifice (2025) by Romain Gavras relies on satire to present its discourse loaded with social and political critique. After gifting us the frantic Athena (2022), Gavras now delivers a more restrained and contemplative proposal. The French director exchanges fury for reflection without losing his critical gaze toward contemporary society.