Film
The Enigma at the Heart of Patricia Highsmith's Story
From her personal writings, along with fragments of her work and recollections of friends and family, Loving Highsmith constructs a view of the author that is more intimate than most.
Dan Schindel
Dan Schindel is a freelance writer and copy editor living in Brooklyn, and a former associate editor at Hyperallergic. His portfolio and links are here .
Art
How Softcore Porn Penetrated Mainstream Media
The exhibition Porno Chic to Sex Positivity at the Museum of Sex traces how once-verboten depictions of sex became gradually acceptable in pop culture.
Film
Funny Pages Mocks the Idea That Hardship Makes Art More Authentic
Owen Kline’s directorial debut follows a privileged teenage artist who decides to impose some grittiness on his life to improve his work.
Art
Celebrating William Klein’s Long, Multi-Hyphenated Career
William Klein: YES, a career retrospective at the International Center of Photography, is good for aficionados and neophytes alike.
Film
Netflix’s Half-Assed Adaptation of Neil Gaiman’s The Sandman
Despite faithfully recreating the story of the beloved comic book series, the TV show lacks the verve of the original.
Film
In The Territory, Indigenous People Film Themselves
As the Uru-eu-wau-wau face continued incursion by Brazilian farmers, they take an active role in this documentary about them.
Film
The Wrongful Murder Conviction That Ignited a Pan-Asian Activist Movement
Arriving amid increased anti-Asian racism and continuing discourse about the inhumanity of its prison system, this documentary is a strong historical gut punch.
Film
The Two Brothers Who Shaped US Indie Cinema
Metrograph’s series The Process features films that were either directed by Robert M. Young or made with the help of Irving Young’s postproduction facility.
Film
Lena Dunham Puts a Twist on the “Lose Your Virginity” Film Genre
Featuring a delicate lead performance by Christine Froseth, this is a smart, sometimes purposefully discomfiting comedy about taking control of one’s sexuality.
Film
The Book Club That’s Been Discussing the Same Proust Novel for 20 Years
At first, simply watching people read In Search of Lost Time might seem dull; by the end, you'll be itching to read or reread it yourself.
Film
What It Takes for Immigrant Daughters to Make It in America
Isabel Castro’s Mija follows two daughters of immigrants breaking into the music business.
Film
The Art of Making It Is a Film for Those Who Haven’t Been Paying Attention
The documentary has impressive access to contemporary art world figures, but comes up with no good solutions for the many problems it discusses.