Skip to Main Content
New York University's independent student newspaper, established in 1973.

Washington Square News

New York University's independent student newspaper, established in 1973.

Washington Square News

New York University's independent student newspaper, established in 1973.

Washington Square News

All content by Alexandra Bentzien
Nomadland is a drama film written, edited, produced, and directed by Chloé Zhao. This best picture winner film follows a woman who leaves her hometown, after her husband dies and she loses her job, to be "houseless" and travel around the United States. (Staff Photo by Manasa Gudavalli, Staff Illustration by Manasa Gudavalli)

‘Nomadland’s’ contemporary vision of the American dream

NYU alumna and best picture winner Chloé Zhao’s “Nomadland” interrogates the nature of coming of age in modern America.
Alexandra Bentzien, Staff Writer April 26, 2021

“I’m not homeless, I’m just houseless. Not the same thing, right? Don’t worry about me; I’m okay,” Fern says to Makenzie in “Nomadland.” The distinction between...

Corpus Christi is a 2019 Polish drama film directed by Jan Komasa and written by Mateusz Pacewicz. While the film, nominated for Best International Film at the 92nd Academy Awards, is not a thriller, it is an intensely vigorous investigation of what true faith really means without pages of scripture or layers of uniform to hide behind. (Staff Photo by Alex Tran)

Reinventing the Face of Faith in ‘Corpus Christi’

Academy Award-nominated “Corpus Christi,” by Polish director Jan Komasa, examines the complicated boundaries of true faith in a story about an ex-convict masquerading as a parish priest.
Alexandra Bentzien, Staff Writer May 6, 2020

“It doesn’t matter where you’re from. All that matters is where you’re going.” This is one of the first sentences Daniel speaks after assuming the identity of Father...

Ai Weiwei’s piece, Two Figures, is a life-size work of a plaster-cast man and wife lying on a mattress, with a pile of red seeds surrounding the man’s head. This was used as a reference to the Tang Dynasty poem, Love Seeds, which inspired the title of the exhibit. (Photo by Alexandra Bentzien)

Faurschou Foundation Fosters Global Connection

The newest Faurschou expansion in New York features a fascinating new group exhibition.
Alexandra Bentzien, Staff Writer March 9, 2020

Nestled in a sidestreet of Brooklyn’s Greenpoint neighborhood is the sleek and modern Faurschou Foundation, an art gallery currently home to the group exhibition The Red Bean...

The lyrical styles of King Krule mix machinery with acoustic lyrics. King Krule’s third studio album, “Man Alive!” is an encapsulation of the range of his musical inspirations and talents.(Staff Photo by Alex Tran)

King Krule Falls Into Space on the Subway

King Krule’s “Man Alive!” searches for a cure to loneliness on an album simmering with agony and fantastical astrological vibes
Alexandra Bentzien, Staff Writer March 2, 2020

Why is King Krule screaming? That is, if he is screaming, what, when or for whom is he crying out? King Krule’s third studio album, “Man Alive!,” is the artist’s latest...

A student walks to school with a sinister plot against their teacher. The Dardenne brothers' film “Young Ahmed” was the recipient of the Best Director at the Cannes Film Festival. (Staff Photo by Jake Capriotti)

Extremism Burns Slowly in the Mind of ‘Young Ahmed’

The Dardenne brothers’ “Young Ahmed” is a complex and unsettling portrait of radicalization.
Alexandra Bentzien, Staff Writer February 10, 2020

Jean-Pierre and Luc Dardenne’s “Young Ahmed” is deceptively bright. The first thing that comes to mind when reflecting on the film is the quality of the light. It barely...

Waves is a drama film released by A24 on November 15. (Via Twitter @wavesmovie)

‘Waves’ Verges on Cinematic Sensory Overload

“Waves” is a gripping family drama that captivates with experimental sound design and visual components.
Alexandra Bentzien, Contributing Writer November 17, 2019

Don’t expect to watch “Waves” like a movie. That’s what it is, technically, but it is precisely “Waves’” technical elements that elevate it beyond all cinematic convention...

"Marriage Story" is a coming-of-age film about adults struggling to balance a relationship between their own ambitions. (Via Twitter)

‘Marriage Story’ Is Noah Baumbach in Top Form

Adam Driver and Scarlett Johansson deliver enthralling performances as a couple fallen out of love.
Alexandra Bentzien, Contributing Writer November 12, 2019

It’s a logline five words long: a couple goes through divorce. Crack all the jokes you want - “Shouldn’t it be called ‘Divorce Story?’” Plainly, no. Marriage encompasses...

Parasite is a Korean movie that was released in the U.S. on October 11, 2019. 
(Via Twitter)

‘Parasite’: The Movie Experience of the Year

The Korean candidate for best foreign-language film and winner of the Palme d’Or is a landmark of cinematic achievement.
Alexandra Bentzien, Contributing Writer October 15, 2019

Bong Joon-ho’s "Parasite" is not for the polite, the critic with folded hands or the reserved, well-postured movie-goer who blinks regularly. This year’s Palme d’Or winner...

Promotional poster for Zombi Child. (via Twitter)

‘Zombi Child’: Equal Parts Horror and Coming-of-Age Story

French director Bertrand Bonello’s experimental horror film dazzles through unconventional storytelling and an electrifying score.
Alexandra Bentzien, Contributing Writer September 26, 2019

End credits roll, the lights come up and in the regular commotion of shuffling feet and long exhales, someone says aloud exactly what I’m thinking: “That was cool.” It’s...