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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

Nicolas Pedrero-Setzer

Nicolas Pedrero-Setzer, Arts Editor

Nicolas Pedrero-Setzer is a senior double-majoring in journalism and cinema studies. He has written for Le Cinéma Club and ScreenSlate, as well as programmed for Spectacle Theater and the Film-Maker’s Cooperative. Nico is also an avid consumer of media: film, music, books — you name it! You can follow him over at @nicopedrero on Instagram, stalk his audiovisual habits by way of @nicolaspsetzer on Spotify and Letterboxd, or track his ramblings on Twitter at @NicoPSetzer.

All content by Nicolas Pedrero-Setzer
A photo of Nicolas Pedrero-Setzer eating ramen against a bookshelf.

In favor of smallness

Four years of editing the Washington Square News’ arts coverage have convinced me my task was trifling, but meaningful.
Nicolas Pedrero-Setzer, Arts Editor May 5, 2023

Consider this my coda. I have edited the Washington Square News’ arts desk since early 2020 in varying capacities. At times distant, other times immersed, generally distracted,...

An illustration of a silver and black laptop which has on its screen a crucified man with a multi-eyed goat head.

Off the Radar: Magic mushrooms, monkeys and melodrama in ‘Altered States’

Off the Radar is a weekly column surveying overlooked films available to students for free via NYU’s streaming partnerships. “Altered States” is currently available to stream on Swank.
Nicolas Pedrero-Setzer, Arts Editor April 21, 2023

In 1980, the enfant terrible of British cinema Ken Russell decided to venture out to the United States and adapt Paddy Chayefsky’s novel “Altered States.” The book follows...

A bearded man wearing a gray T-shirt and a black hat lies on a bed with gray sheets. His arm rests above his head.

Q&A: American auteur Andrew Bujalski explores the faith we put in films

WSN spoke with independent filmmaker Andrew Bujalski about mumblecore, Hollywood filmmaking and his time at Harvard University with Chantal Akerman and Dušan Makavejev.
Nicolas Pedrero-Setzer, Arts Editor November 16, 2022

Andrew Bujalski is a mainstay in contemporary American independent film. His directorial debut, “Funny Ha Ha” (2002), sent a rippling effect across the festival scene with...

A man with a short beard, wearing a gray T-shirt and a black hat, lies on a bed with gray sheets. His arm rests above his head.

Review: ‘There There’ shoots for real emotions, despite its fake portrayal of them

American auteur Andrew Bujalski’s latest tests its viewers’ faiths by pairing scenes from actors who were never in the same room. “There There” opens in select New York City theaters on Nov. 18.
Nicolas Pedrero-Setzer, Arts Editor November 15, 2022

A memory returns to me of my mother frustrated and crying after a Sunday trip to the movies. Such melodrama is to be expected of my family, but here, the source was of extreme...

A middle-aged male wearing a pair of sunglasses lies on a bed with white pillow. On the man’s chest is a glass with milk-like white liquid splattering over his clothes.

Review: ‘Tales from the Gimli Hospital (4K Redux)’ revives the eccentric beginnings of a contemporary cinematic

“Tales from the Gimli Hospital (Redux)” wrangles myth against a meager budget to create an epic of emotional hysterics. The film, preceded by “The Heart of the World,” will play at the IFC Center on Oct. 14 and Oct. 15 at 8:10 pm followed by a Q&A with the director.
Nicolas Pedrero-Setzer, Arts Editor October 13, 2022

“Tales from the Gimli Hospital (4K Redux)” is Canadian filmmaker Guy Maddin’s first film, a 64-minute experiment caught between amateurish technical approaches and emotional...

A cup of tea and a laptop displaying the film “Ruined Heart” on dark blue beddings.

Off the Radar: ‘Ruined Heart’ rides out the high and lows of love to a medley of moving melodies

Off the Radar is a weekly column surveying overlooked films available to students for free via NYU’s streaming partnerships. “Ruined Heart: Another Love Story Between a Criminal & a Whore” is available to stream on Kanopy.
Nicolas Pedrero-Setzer, Arts Editor September 22, 2022

“Ruined Heart,” or “Ruined Heart: Another Love Story Between a Criminal & a Whore,” embodies its title wholeheartedly. For one, its lovelornness is evident from the...

Black-and-white illustration of director Jean Luc-Goddard holds film in his hand while smoking a cigarette.

Remembering Godard: Formal innovator and revolutionary poet

In a career that spanned over sixty years of film history, Jean-Luc Godard revolutionized the art innumerable times. In light of his sudden passing, WSN revisits his life’s work and the indelible imprint he left on cinema.
Nicolas Pedrero-Setzer, Arts Editor September 21, 2022

In the week since his sudden passing, much has been done to remember French Swiss filmmaker Jean-Luc Godard. As critics worldwide pay him tribute, amateur archivists resurrect...

A close up of a boy wearing a blue jacket, with his right hand on the wheel of a car.

Review: ‘Funny Pages’ finds soul between silliness and seediness

Owen Kline’s directorial debut hurls into the madcap world of underground comics with gleeful crassness. “Funny Pages” is currently playing at Film at Lincoln Center and is available for rent on video on demand.
Nicolas Pedrero-Setzer, Arts Editor September 7, 2022

From the studio that distributed contemporary coming-of-age classics like “Lady Bird” and “20th Century Women,” Owen Kline’s “Funny Pages” is A24’s latest spin...

Person holding a red-covered comic book is looking up, standing in front of a shelf of cartoon books.

Director & star of A24’s ‘Funny Pages’ talk comics, subversive mentors & trusting your voice

WSN spoke with director Owen Kline and actor Daniel Zolghadri about their recent raunchy comedy. “Funny Games” is currently playing at Film at Lincoln Center and is available for rent on video on demand.
Nicolas Pedrero-Setzer, Arts Editor September 1, 2022

Spoiler warning: This article includes spoilers for “Funny Pages.” Several years in the making, Owen Kline’s directorial debut “Funny Pages” offers a laugh that’s...

An elderly couple holding hands sitting at the opposite end of a table accompanied by a middle-age male and an infant in a family living room.

Review: ‘Vortex’, a reminder that death is destiny

Gaspar Noé’s latest, “Vortex,” offers a simple, albeit heavy, meditation on death. “Vortex” opens in select theaters this weekend.
Nicolas Pedrero-Setzer, Arts Editor April 29, 2022

“Vortex,” the latest film from Paris-based Argentinian provocateur Gaspar Noé, is a poignant reflection on the material insignificance of dying. As is to be expected from...

A man with a long beard and hair stares straight ahead, his eyes downcast. He’s wearing a plain white shirt and is against a background of painted sideways flames.

Review: ‘Los Conductos,’ a woozy ride through the sunken corridors of Medellín

Camilo Restrepo’s debut feature, “Los Conductos,” offers a wild ride through Medellín’s criminal underworld. “Los Conductos” opens at Film at Lincoln Center on April 29.
Nicolas Pedrero-Setzer, Arts Editor April 27, 2022

Camilo Restrepo announces himself to cinema in a blaze of glory with his feature film debut “Los Conductos.” Following Pinky’s (Luis Felipe Lozano) aimless parade across...

A still from the film of two women looking to the side and laughing. They are surrounded by metal bars on the side and are wearing saris.

Review: ‘Shorts Program II’ muses on death, memory and the fear of looming ecological disaster

New Directors/New Films 2022’s second program of short films collects a strong string of strange films concerned with humanity’s sense of impending death. “Shorts Program II” plays on Wednesday, April 27, at Film at Lincoln Center.
Nicolas Pedrero-Setzer, Arts Editor April 26, 2022

The New Directors/New Films Festival continues its showcase of innovative short-form filmmaking with “Shorts Program II.” The second and final installment of ND/NF’s short...

An animated still of twin sisters driving a car. One is clutching the steering wheel looking ahead, while the other looks out the window.

Review: ‘Shorts Program I’ shows the youthful side of cinema with an assemblage of global coming-of-age stories

New Directors/New Films 2022’s first program of short films collects a diverse sampling of stories from around the globe and touches on the pains of growing up in the modern world. “Shorts Program I” plays on Tuesday, April 26, at Film at Lincoln Center. 
Nicolas Pedrero-Setzer, Arts Editor April 26, 2022

New Directors/New Films collects the most exciting voices of up-and-coming filmmaking. Although the festival’s feature-length titles, such as “Los Conductos” or “We’re...

Actress Joséphine Sanz wears a green sweater and a white turtleneck and holds a measuring cup with flour. Next to her, actress Gabrielle Sanz wears a green-and-blue sweater under overalls and holds a wooden spoon.

Review: ‘Petite Maman,’ a monumental miniature of magical moviemaking

“Portrait of a Lady on Fire” director Céline Sciamma’s latest effort indulges the act of seeing life through a child’s eyes. “Petite Maman” opens in select cinemas across New York City on April 22. 
Nicolas Pedrero-Setzer, Arts Editor April 21, 2022

After the success of Queer Palm winner “Portrait of a Lady on Fire” at its premiere at the Cannes Film Festival in 2019, Céline Sciamma returns to the silver screen with an...

Workers on the picket line walking in an oval formation in front of the AFA theater hold signs saying “UAW on Strike” and “Reel Work is Real Work.”

Anthology Film Archives staff goes on strike

Anthology Film Archives, the renowned East Village film institution known for screening avant-garde cinema, shut its doors when workers took to the streets to protest stagnant wages and union-busting actions from its board of trustees.
Nicolas Pedrero-Setzer, Arts Editor April 4, 2022

Anthology Film Archives’ staff went on strike on March 31, 2022. AFA’s staff initiated labor contract negotiations back in September of 2021. Their demands focused on higher...

An illustrated portrait of Robert Patison’s Batman. The illustration is close up on his face and he is wearing heavy black under eye makeup.

The inescapable campiness of ‘The Batman’

With a whopping three-hour long runtime and a cast full of attractive faces in silly costumes, "The Batman" exemplifies the inherent silliness of Hollywood's attempts to transform comic book schlock into material worthy of criticism.
Nicolas Pedrero-Setzer, Arts Editor March 30, 2022

When Bill Finger and Bob Kane’s Batman first jumped from the comic book page to the silver screen, he did so wearing an excessively tight gray undershirt complemented by two...

A wide-angle photograph of the Dolby Theater in Los Angeles, where the 2022 Academy Awards were held. Hundreds of guests fill the auditorium. In the foreground, two guests sit at a table wearing red carpet attire. In the background, the Oscars logo is shown on a screen mounted onto the stage.

NYU alums and faculty garner Oscar wins for ‘CODA,’ ‘Summer of Soul’

Clive Davis faculty Questlove won best documentary feature award with “Summer of Soul (...Or, When the Revolution Could Not Be Televised)” and NYU alum Ged Dickersin took home an Oscar for production work on best picture winner “Coda” at the 94th Academy Awards on Sunday.
Nicolas Pedrero-Setzer, Arts Editor March 28, 2022

NYU alums and faculty won Oscars for best documentary feature and best picture and received nominations in multiple categories at the 94th Academy Awards on Sunday, evidence of...

Misha Tyutyunik painting a colorful mural on a beige brick wall. He is wearing a black jacket, hoodie and beanie. He holds a paintbrush in his right hand and a cup of black paint in his left.

Ukrainian artist Misha Tyutyunik unveils a new mural in the Ukrainian Village

Citizens Bank, the Ukrainian National Women's League of America and Ukrainian artist Misha Tyutyunik put together an interactive mural painting in the Ukrainian Village to show solidarity for the community where the bank’s branch resides.
Nicolas Pedrero-Setzer, Arts Editor March 28, 2022

Ukrainian artist Misha Tyutyunik, 38, began painting a mural of Kyiv on the northeast corner of the Citizens Bank at the intersection of East 9th St. and 2nd Ave. to mark one month...

A black-and-white picture of director and actress Kinuyo Tanaka holding a movie camera.

Kinuyo Tanaka: master of melodrama

Kinuyo Tanaka’s career as a director has long been overshadowed by her extensive acting career. A new retrospective at Film at Lincoln Center exhibits her mastery over filmmaking with a set of illustrious restorations.
Nicolas Pedrero-Setzer, Arts Editor March 25, 2022

Kinuyo Tanaka first became involved in filmmaking at the age of 14. Over the course of her extensive career, she would appear in over 250 films, working alongside the likes of...

A Taiwanese woman dressed in formal attire is holding a phone as she lies down on an uncovered mattress.

Review: ‘Vive L’Amour’ chillingly conveys the ennui of the everyday

The new 2K restoration of Tsai Ming-liang’s second feature-length film “Vive L’Amour” is currently playing at Metrograph. The film follows three lovelorn denizens of Taipei unknowingly sharing the same vacant apartment to escape their daily grind.
Nicolas Pedrero-Setzer, Arts Editor March 22, 2022

The films of Taiwanese slow cinema pioneer Tsai Ming-liang capture so rigidly the minute motions of the everyday that they border on absurdism. His second film, “Vive L’Amour,”...

A close-up shot of bright orange lava.

Q&A with ‘Rock Bottom Riser’ director Fern Silva

WSN spoke with Fern Silva about Hawaii, Dwayne Johnson, colonialism and cinema as a point of inquiry.
Nicolas Pedrero-Setzer, Arts Editor March 7, 2022

At first glance, Fern Silva’s “Rock Bottom Riser” is a documentary about Hawaii. But through Silva’s tapestry of visceral sights and sounds, it becomes a sui generis piece...

A silhouette of swaying palm trees in front of a burnt orange sunset. In the center of the background is a giant golden sun surrounded by an orange cloudy sky.

Review: ‘Rock Bottom Riser’ rocks

Fern Silva’s feature-length debut is an electrifying documentary on Hawaii. “Rock Bottom Riser” opens this weekend at the Metrograph.
Nicolas Pedrero-Setzer, Arts Editor March 4, 2022

Through his exploration of myth, Fern Silva brings out the realness of places. His feature film debut, “Rock Bottom Riser,” digs deep into the long and complicated history...

An illustration of a frog wearing a red suit and magenta pants. The frog is playing the saxophone and is on top of a blue background speckled with stars and spotlight rays.

Review: ‘Strawberry Mansion’ is a sweet delight

“Strawberry Mansion” marks Kentucker Audley and Albert Birney’s second collaboration after the success of “Sylvio.” It is currently playing in select cinemas.
Nicolas Pedrero-Setzer, Arts Editor March 1, 2022

Kentucker Audley and Albert Birney’s “Strawberry Mansion” is like a René Magritte painting brought to life. Channeling the wild imagination of Terry Gilliam and filtering...

An illustration of Daft Punk wearing sparkling black suits in front of a blue ombre background. The figure on the left wears a golden helmet covering his entire head and the figure on the right wears a silver helmet.

Daft Punk: Robot rock for the world

Daft Punk’s debut album “Homework” recently celebrated its 25th anniversary. We revisited the legacy of the famous DJ duo.
Nicolas Pedrero-Setzer, Arts Editor February 28, 2022

Last year, Daft Punk released a video of themselves self-destructing to announce their retirement. This year marks the 25th anniversary of their debut album, “Homework.”  Electronic...

Instead of subscription-based streaming services such as Netflix and HBO Max, NYU community members also have the option to stream films through video databases provided by Bobst Library. (Staff Illustration by Aaliya Luthra)

Free movies through Bobst: Navigating NYU’s wide range of streaming services

As competing streaming services become more expensive, it’s hard to know which ones to choose. Consider checking out the myriad of free streaming databases available through Bobst.
Nicolas Pedrero-Setzer, Arts Editor February 18, 2022

As new streaming services like Ovid.tv compete against old titans like Netflix, NYU students struggle to decide what service serves their taste in media and budget best.  Luckily,...

As lovers celebrate their romantic holiday, Valentine’s Day can be the perfect time to enjoy a heartbreaking breakup album. (Staff Illustration by Aaliya Luthra)

This Valentine’s Day, listen to a breakup album

If you’re bitter about being alone on Valentine’s Day, check out the breakup albums we rounded up so you didn’t have to.

We’ve all been there — as Feb. 14 approaches, it seems impossible to escape anything red, pink or heart-shaped. If you’re single, you’ll be hard-pressed to find something...

“XCXHXEXRXRXIXEXSX” is an experimental film exploring themes of sexuality and pornography. The film is the latest project from avant-garde filmmaker Ken Jacobs. (Staff Photo by Nicolas Pedrero-Setzer)

Review: ‘XCXHEXRXRXIXEXSX’ brings sex back to the big screen

Ken Jacobs' “XCXHEXRXRXIXEXSX” is part of the Roxy Cinema’s “The Carnal Screening: Erotic Visions,” a series devoted to exploring sexuality on the silver screen. Jacobs' experimental film delves into the cosmic nature of life and sex through a series of hallucinatory, pornographic images.
Nicolas Pedrero-Setzer, Arts Editor February 2, 2022

Pornography has never looked as psychedelic as it does under the careful editing of legendary experimental filmmaker Ken Jacobs.  Jacobs and the Film-Makers’ Cooperative...

“Wuhan Driver,” a short film directed by Tiger Ji, a Gallatin junior, follows a Chinese Uber driver experiencing racist interactions with several passengers in New York City during the pandemic. (Image courtesy of Tiger Ji)

Review: ‘Wuhan Driver’ loses its call to action, and itself, in vapid storytelling

“Wuhan Driver” is the latest short film by Tiger Ji, a Gallatin junior. The film follows a Chinese Uber driver dealing with a series of terrible riders at the onset of the pandemic in New York City.
Nicolas Pedrero-Setzer, Arts Editor January 25, 2022

Depicting an abysmal — and, perhaps, heartbreakingly recurring — night in the life of a Chinese Uber driver, Zhang (Wayne Chang), “Wuhan Driver” condenses a series of racist...

Mario Balmaseda and Yolanda Cuéllar are seen lying in bed during a scene from the Cuban film “One Way or Another.” This film was recently preserved by MoMA's “To Save and Project.” (Courtesy Arsenal – Institut für Film und Videokunst)

Review: ‘One Way or Another’ exposes the phoniness of so-called revolutionary men

Sara Gómez’s “One Way or Another” is part of the MoMA’s “To Save and Project,” a film series devoted to showcasing the latest in film preservation. Gómez’s film expertly documents Cuba’s ongoing crusade to align its citizens with the aims of the revolution.
Nicolas Pedrero-Setzer, Arts Editor January 24, 2022

Sara Gómez’s “One Way or Another” offers a feminist critique of the Cuban revolution that unmasks the so-called revolutionary qualities of the “new men” who supported...

Directed by Dan Shaw, "Cryptozoo" is a new animated adventure. Mythological creatures called cryptids star in the film, available in theaters beginning August 20. (Image courtesy of Magnolia Pictures)

Review: “Cryptozoo”

“Cryptozoo” is what you get when you give a four-year-old amalgamation of Robert Breer and Hunter S. Thompson a box of crayons. It is available on demand and in theaters starting on August 20.
Nicolas Pedrero-Setzer, Abroad Arts Editor August 20, 2021

Dazzling does not cut it; Dash Shaw makes films that embody what Humphry Osmond must have envisioned when he coined the term “psychedelic.” Beautifully animated and gloriously...

Starring Adam Driver and Marion Cotillard, "Annette" is a Rock Opera centered around a chaotic artistic couple. "Annette" is now in theaters and Amazon Prime. (Image courtesy of Amazon Studios)

Review: “Annette”

Directed by Leos Carax and written by Sparks, “Annette” is as weird as you’d expect. “Annette” is currently playing in theaters and available via Amazon Prime.
Nicolas Pedrero-Setzer, Abroad Arts Editor August 19, 2021

“Annette” is deranged. Adapted from a screenplay by odd bod duo Sparks — Ron and Russell Mael — and directed by Leos Carax, “Annette” is the first true rock opera since...

“Mandibles,” written and directed by Quentin Dupieux, follows Manu (Grégoire Ludig), Jean-Gab (David Marsais), and a bug. This film is available on-demand and in theaters starting July 23. (Photo Courtesy of Magnet Releasing)

Review: “Mandibles”

Quentin Dupieux is back with another filmic reverie. His latest feature follows two friends coasting around France, getting into all sorts of hijinks and trying to tame a giant fly. The film is available on demand and in theaters as of July 23.
Nicolas Pedrero-Setzer, Abroad Arts Editor July 23, 2021

“Mandibles” purports to be a film about two buddies and a bug; it begs to be bizarre. But the truth is, “Mandibles” is no more than a simple film about how friendship gets...

Paul Schrader’s directorial debut, "Blue Collar," is a 1978 American crime drama film following three blue-collar workers. This film is currently playing at Film Forum until July 22. (Image Courtesy of Universal Pictures)

Review: “Blue Collar”

Paul Schrader’s 1978 directorial debut is a morality play from hell. “Blue Collar” is currently playing at Film Forum until July 22.
Nicolas Pedrero-Setzer, Abroad Arts Editor July 20, 2021

As a hard cocktail of proletariat pornography and moral conundrums, Paul Schrader’s 1978 film “Blue Collar” contains enough muscular men hard at work to make Rivera jealous...

‘We’re All Going to the World’s Fair’ is an original coming-of-age horror film that explores the experience of a young girl coming up in today's lonely internet-age.
(Illustration by Lucy Geronime)

‘We’re All Going to the World’s Fair’ offers a strange spin on the coming-of-age genre

Directed by Jane Schoenburn, “We’re All Going to the World’s Fair” offers an alternative coming-of-age tale for horror aficionados. The film is currently playing as part ND/NF 2021.
Nicolas Pedrero-Setzer, Arts Editor May 5, 2021

“We’re All Going to the World’s Fair” perfectly encapsulates the humdrum existence of the modern American teen who spends their time scouring the internet with the hopes...

“Dark Red Forest” is a documentary directed by Jin Huaqing. This documentary captures the annual retreat of thousands of red-cloaked Tibetan nuns to the Tibetan Plateau. (Photo Courtesy of Cinetic Media)

‘Dark Red Forest’ points you toward nirvana

Directed by Jin Huaqing, “Dark Red Forest” is a loving ode to religious perseverance in adverse conditions. The film is currently playing as part of ND/NF 2021.
Nicolas Pedrero-Setzer, Arts Editor May 4, 2021

Thousands of Tibetan nuns retreat to the Tibetan plateau each year and live in small wooden houses under extreme weather conditions. Jin Huaqing’s directorial debut “Dark Red...

All Lights, Everywhere provides a  stunning and insightful commentary on the development of cameras, and surveillance. The film delves deep into how the images produced are shaped not only by the camera but the people behind the lenses. (Image courtesy of NEON Productions)

‘All Light, Everywhere’ offers an enlightening viewing experience

Theo Anthony’s documentary on surveillance, policing and the strange relationship between the development of guns and cameras will close out this year’s New Directors/New Films Festival.
Nicolas Pedrero-Setzer, Arts Editor May 3, 2021

Theo Anthony’s “All Light, Everywhere” is that rare type of film that forces viewers to reappraise their reality. It chips away at viewers’ preconceptions of authority...

"The Mirror" is a 1975 Russian film directed by Andrei Tarkovsky, following a dying man in his forties as he remembers his past. There is a new restoration of Andrei Tarkovsky's "The Mirror" at the Lincoln Center. (Photo Courtesy of Cinetic Media)

The recent restoration of ‘The Mirror’ and the need to resurrect cinematic discourse

Although movie theaters have reopened, film culture remains stagnant. A recent trip to experience Andrei Tarkovsky’s “The Mirror” at Lincoln Center revealed how issues of isolation currently threaten cinematic discourse.
Nicolas Pedrero-Setzer, Arts Editor April 27, 2021

It seems silly to write about Andrei Tarkovsky’s “The Mirror” after so much has been already said about his seminal masterpiece. It seems even sillier attempting to add to...

Wim Wenders’ directorial debut, “The Goalie’s Anxiety at the Penalty Kick,” is finally free to all via the Museum of Modern Art and Film at Lincoln Center’s New Directors/New Films festival. Based on a novel of the same name by Nobel laureate Peter Handke, this movie is a distinct investigation into a German generation consumed by a condition of aimlessness. (Staff Illustration by Susan Behrends Valenzuela)

‘The Goalie’s Anxiety at the Penalty Kick’ review: A languid look at aimlessness

This long-lost directorial debut by German director Wim Wenders about alienation in post-war Germany is playing for free as part of the 50th edition of the New Directors/New Films festival.
Nicolas Pedrero-Setzer, Arts Editor April 22, 2021

After decades of being inaccessible to cinephiles due to its rarity, Wim Wenders’ directorial debut, “The Goalie’s Anxiety at the Penalty Kick,” is finally free to all...

Arab Strap's latest album, “As Days Get Dark,” depicts statuesque bodies on its album cover. “As Days Get Dark” is Arab Strap's first studio album in 16 years. (Staff Photos by Alexandra Chan, Manasa Gudavalli, Staff Illustration by Manasa Gudavalli)

‘As Days Get Dark’ Review: Arab Strap’s Latest Offers Drab Diction and Lulling Lyrics

Arab Strap’s latest album, “As Days Get Dark,” comes at a depressing time with saddening songs. Featuring a bout of lackluster experimentation, the album doesn’t amount to much despite its intentions.
Nicolas Pedrero-Setzer, Arts Editor March 9, 2021

With their latest album, “As Days Get Dark,” Arab Strap doubles down on the thickness of their Scottish brogue while delivering deliberately dreary dance tunes. Fluctuating...

Originally released in 1991,“Thank You and Good Night” was restored by IndieCollect and acts as a love letter to Jan Oxenberg’s grandmother, Mae Joffe. Choosing to infuse the film with a childlike wonder, a sense of nostalgia blossoms that illustrates the beautiful dynamic between her existence as a child being attached to a notion of care bestowed by her grandmother (Photo Courtesy of Nico Chapin)

‘Thank You and Good Night,’ A Film Like No Other

Jan Oxenberg’s newest movie,“Thank You and Good Night”, acts as a love letter to the director’s grandmother as it grapples with themes of death and decay.
Nicolas Pedrero-Setzer, Film & TV Editor September 25, 2020

It is rare for a filmmaker to be present in every single frame of a film, to envelop themselves in every speck of celluloid and convey themselves in their own art; yet somehow...

The New York Film Festival (NYFF) is an annual film festival held every autumn in New York City, presented by the Film Society of Lincoln Center. This year, it will kick off with virtual accessibility for all and this guide should be your companion in deciding which film to check out. (Staff Illustration by Deborah Alalade)

NYFF: A Digital Celebration of Cinema

With New York Film Festival 58 offering unprecedented accessibility, WSN Film Editor Nicolas Pedrero-Setzer has created a guide to understand the festival’s many titles and lineups.
Nicolas Pedrero-Setzer, Film Editor September 18, 2020

As New York Film Festival 58 kicks off with virtual accessibility for all, this guide might aid you in deciding what films are worth checking out. Due to the ongoing effects of...

Claire Denis’ re-write of a classic Herman Melville novel comes to life in ‘Beau Travail’ - a film about a South African troop stationed in Djibouti. The LGBT Drama showcases the love and jealousy between men in the group and how far they will go for the one they love. (Image Courtesy of Nico Chapin)

‘Beau Travail’s’ Restoration Re-animates the Beauty of Denis’s Cinematic Gem

Janus Films’ restoration of Claire Denis’s “Beau Travail” relivens the film for a new generation. Agnès Godard’s cinematography has never looked better and Denis’s style remains as remarkable as it did at the brink of the millennium.
Nicolas Pedrero-Setzer, Film Editor September 10, 2020

Sunbaked bodies bustle under the African Sun in Claire Denis’s loose re-telling of Herman Melville’s “Billy Budd.” Under Officer Galoup’s (Denis Lavant) eyes, the aptly...

Ewurakua and Ewuradjoa Dawson-Amoah launched Melacast network, an organization aimed at bringing POC creators together eight weeks ago. The founders sought to create a space where under-represented voices are magnified and have the ability to diversity the film industry. (Image courtesy of The Melacast Network)

The Melacast Network: A Casting and Collaboration Platform for POC by POC

Melacast — recently created by NYU alumna Ewurakua Dawson-Amoah, Tisch sophomore Adrian Sobrado and Ewuradjoa Dawson-Amoah, a graduate from Rutgers University who currently works for a Fortune 500 company — aims to act as a casting and collaboration platform for creatives of color from all walks of life.
Nicolas Pedrero-Setzer, Film Editor August 31, 2020

It was celebrated Senagalese filmmaker Djibril Diop Mambéty who stated, “I am interested in marginalized people because they do more for the evolution of a community than the...

Other Music, a record shop that used to stand on the corner of East 4th Street and Lafayette, closed its doors in 2016. Tisch alumnus Rob Hatch-Miller and co-director Puloma Basu pay tribute in a newly released documentary. (Photo by Lukas Sheehan)

Other Music, Other Times

Tisch Alumnus Rob Hatch-Miller and co-director Puloma Basu remember Other Music and the community it fostered.
Nicolas Pedrero-Setzer, Music Editor April 27, 2020

After 20 years of musical wizardry, famed record shop Other Music shut its doors in 2016. With their latest documentary, Rob Hatch-Miller and Puloma Basu memorialize its magic,...

Childish Gambino just dropped his newest album "3.15.20" on March 21st. Despite the unprecedented drop, "3.15.20" failed to offer anything new or worthwhile. (Staff Illustration by Alex Tran)

Childish Gambino’s Latest Is A Full-Blown Disaster

To everyone’s surprise, Childish Gambino released his new album in the midst of a quarantine. Maybe he shouldn’t have.
Nicolas Pedrero-Setzer, Music Editor March 25, 2020

On March 21, Childish Gambino spontaneously dropped a new album. Unfortunately, the surprise factor did not arise from the fact that the drop had been unprecedented; most Gambino...

Max von Sydow was a Swedish actor with an extensive career in both European and American cinema. During his acting years, he was famous for not only the roles in "The Seventh Seal," "The Exorcist" and "Flash Gordon." (Image via Wikimedia Commons)

In Memory of Max von Sydow

An ode to one of the greatest actors to ever grace the silver screen.
Nicolas Pedrero-Setzer, Music Editor March 11, 2020

Two nights ago, I watched “The Seventh Seal.” In it, Max von Sydow faces Death and finds himself in a constant battle of wits with the ominous entity only to be gracefully...

Live punk concerts. such as alternative band Model/Actriz's act in Brooklyn, are places that foster creative expression. Rising pop artists such as Charli XCX and Rico Nasty raise an interesting question as to whether they represent a new manifestation of pop and punk, or a new melding of the two. (Staff Photo by Nicolas Pedrero-Setzer)

The End of the World Beckons Pop’s Death

A wave of punk appears to be consuming the sounds of pop, pointing to a zeitgeist full of anxiousness manifesting itself through anarchic experimentalism in the music scene.
Nicolas Pedrero-Setzer, Music Editor March 2, 2020

Recent releases by artists rising in popularity who might’ve been considered fringe artists a mere three years ago like — Billie Eilish, Tame Impala, Rico Nasty, King Krule,...