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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

A red mug and a laptop with an image of a young girl looking over a fence drawn on a purple background.

Off the Radar: Redefining national images in ‘The Scent of Green Papaya’

Off the Radar is a weekly column surveying overlooked films available to students for free via NYU’s streaming partnerships. “The Scent of Green Papaya” is available to stream on Kanopy.
Mick Gaw, Film & TV Editor February 9, 2024

Having fled Vietnam and immigrated to France at the age of 12, Trần Anh Hung has established himself as a singular filmmaker in world cinema — a master in producing fleeting...

A garden with green grass, chairs and stone paths, surrounds a shallow pool that children are playing in while adults watch. Behind the garden, there is a wall with barbed wire, guard towers and a large red-shingle roofed building.

Review: Why ‘The Zone of Interest’ asks you not to watch, but listen

“The Zone of Interest” is an experimental audiovisual portrait of Auschwitz that questions the nature of violence.
Tony Jaeyeong Jeong, Staff Writer February 6, 2024

The lights dim in the theater as “The Zone of Interest” is about to play. The audience puts away their phones, expecting an opening shot that might give them a hint of what's...

An upside-down shot of actor Leslie Cheung, his face covered in white face paint, and pink-and-black makeup. He is wearing an orange-and-blue, jewel-covered outfit, a matching headpiece and pearls.

Review: ‘Farewell My Concubine’ restoration upholds film’s undying legacy

In celebration of the film’s 30-year anniversary, Film Movement’s uncut, 4K restoration breathes new life into a modern classic.
Mick Gaw, Film & TV Editor September 21, 2023

Thirty years after “Farewell My Concubine’s” triumphant showing at the Cannes Film Festival — where it took home the coveted Palme d’Or prize — a new, uncut 4K restoration...

A doctor wearing a pair of black-framed glasses, a blue mask and scrubs.

Review: ‘De Humani Corporis Fabrica’ cuts deep into the human body

In their latest documentary feature, Véréna Paravel and Lucien Castaing-Taylor bring viewers on a transformational journey of human anatomy. “De Humani Corporis Fabrica” is currently showing at the IFC Center. 
Mick Gaw, Staff Writer May 1, 2023

The intrusive lens of the micro camera burrows through cavernous organs and once unseen crevices of the human body in “De Humanis Corporis Fabrica.” First premiered at the...

An illustration of a silver and black laptop with an image of a prisoner wearing a mask in a dimly lit room.

Off the Radar: 6 minutes of masks and fascism in ‘The Fall’

Off the Radar is a weekly column surveying overlooked films available to students for free via NYU’s streaming partnerships. “The Fall” is available to stream on Kanopy.
Mick Gaw, Staff Writer April 28, 2023

Jonathan Glazer’s short film “The Fall” depicts a spiraling descent into a macabre dimension of human barbarism and fascistic mob violence. Released in 2019, six years after...

Five people take pictures in front of a mural that depicts green mountains, tan buildings and trees. A Chinese national flag is drawn in the foreground. Two Asian people are smiling at the camera as they point to the Chinese slogan “collective prosperity” on the bottom of the mural.

Q&A: Chinese filmmaker Jia Zhangke on China’s changing identity

WSN spoke with celebrated Chinese filmmaker Jia Zhangke about nationalism, the internet and capturing contemporary China.
Nicolas Pedrero-Setzer, Arts Editor February 20, 2023

Jia Zhangke is often seen as the North Star of Chinese independent cinema. His continued interrogation of the nation’s cultural changes ever since he took up filmmaking in 1997...

A donkey wearing a strap and a wreath of carrots around its neck stands on a grass field.

Review: ‘EO’ and a donkey’s odyssey across Europe

“EO” centers around a donkey’s experience in captivity, interactions with various sects of society, and eventual journey to liberation. “EO” is currently playing at Film Forum.
Mick Gaw, Staff Writer November 21, 2022

In acclaimed Polish filmmaker Jerzy Skolimowski’s latest film “EO,” a wandering donkey moves from one place to the next as the viewer bears witness to some of the darker...

Rahimi, played by Zar Amir-Ebrahimi, looks into the distance. She wears a black headscarf.

‘Holy Spider’ is a striking work of Iranian social commentary

"Holy Spider” opened at the IFC Center on Friday, Oct. 27.
Yezen Saadah, Staff Writer October 31, 2022

Iranian Danish filmmaker Ali Abbasi's latest film, “Holy Spider,” is the most unrelenting, pragmatic and cynical film of the year. There is no denying the film’s shockingly...

A man wearing a blue-and-white striped button down shirt, a gray hoodie and a jean jacket holds his hands up with a scared expression on his face.

NYFF 60 Review: ‘Triangle of Sadness’ is an outrageous and heavy-handed work of brilliance

Ruben Östlund’s newest social satire comments on class warfare, socioeconomic inequities and contemporary politics in a ridiculously heightened and often hilarious way. “Triangle of Sadness” recently screened at the 60th New York Film Festival and is playing in select theaters across the city.
Yezen Saadah, Staff Writer October 12, 2022

Swedish filmmaker Ruben Östlund’s “Triangle of Sadness,” which took home the Palme d’Or at the Cannes Film Festival this year, is one of the year’s most anticipated...

An illustration of two Black women side by side and surrounded with a dim purple light. The woman on the left is dressed in a purple jacket. The woman on the right is dressed in a pink jacket.

Review: The deafening silence of ‘The Silent Twins’

Agnieszka Smoczynska’s third feature film uniquely tells a new story of famous twins Jennifer and June Gibbons. “The Silent Twins” is currently playing in many theaters across New York City.
Saige Gipson, Staff Writer September 30, 2022

Making her debut in English language film, Polish director Agnieszka Smoczynska presents viewers with the visually mesmerizing and transportive "The Silent Twins." While Smoczynska...

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...

An illustration of a computer on a bed covered with a blue blanket. The computer’s screen displays a black-and-white illustration of Apu in the film “Pather Panchali.” Next to the computer is a small teacup.

Off the Radar: ‘Pather Panchali,’ the poetic low-budget film that put Indian cinema on the map

“Off the Radar” is a weekly column surveying overlooked films available to students for free via NYU’s streaming partnerships. “Pather Panchali” is available to stream on NYU Stream.
Amira Aboudallah, Contributing Writer March 11, 2022

With a technical crew of first-timers, Satyajit Ray’s debut film “Pather Panchali” (1955) became the first internationally critically acclaimed Indian film. Its success is...