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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 woman sitting across from two men at a table with a snowy landscape in the background.

Review: ‘About Dry Grasses’ is a wintery tale of discontent

The ninth feature from filmmaker Nuri Bilge Ceylan is an intimate epic of melancholic circumstances and conflicting moralities.
Nolan Morris, Contributing Writer February 27, 2024

Set in a small Eastern Anatolian village, the newest feature from Turkish filmmaker Nuri Bilge Ceylan captures the existential burdens of a group of school teachers completing...

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...

An illustration of six identical female faces overlapping each other. The image has an orange hue and background, giving a tint of orange to each face.

Review: ‘The Five Devils’ stuns at some points and baffles at others

The fantasy drama is at times confusing, but ultimately a visually stunning and touching watch.
Saisha Kapoor, Contributing Writer April 27, 2023

Last May, Léa Mysius’ second feature film, “The Five Devils,'' screened at the Directors’ Fortnight section of the Cannes Film Festival and earned a five-minute standing...

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...

A portrait of an Asian woman in front of a store. The banner on top of the window reads “Wing On Wo & Co.” The woman has black short hair with bangs. She wears a beaded necklace, a black shirt and a military green jacket.

WSN’s guide to the 13th annual DOC NYC Film Festival

This year's DOC NYC includes screenings across IFC Center, Cinépolis Chelsea, SVA Theatre and online nationwide starting Nov. 9. WSN gears up for the festival and outlines must-see titles from the current lineup.
David Melean, Contributing Writer November 7, 2022

For the past 13 years, New York City-based annual film festival DOC NYC has cemented itself as an incubator for the year’s best documentary productions, aiming to expose audiences...

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...

An illustration of a house with a gray exterior and blood soaking through its walls, displayed on a laptop.

Off the Radar: ‘The House That Jack Built’ attacks the cultural cult of the serial killer

Off the Radar is a weekly column surveying overlooked films available to students for free via NYU’s streaming partnerships. “The House That Jack Built” is available to stream on Kanopy.
Mick Gaw, Staff Writer October 28, 2022

A highly divisive film from a director that is no stranger to controversy, Lars von Trier’s “The House That Jack Built” (2018) uses the serial killer genre to delve into...

Frankie Corio in a yellow shirt laughs in a crowd of adults.

Q&A: Frankie Corio speaks about her debut acting role in ‘Aftersun’

Frankie Corio sat down with WSN to talk about her first feature film, favorite actors and artists, and plans for the future.
Stephanie Wong, Film & TV Editor October 17, 2022

“Aftersun” notably features the debut role of 12-year-old child actress Frankie Corio, who plays Sophie in her youth. The film tells the story of a woman, Sophie, reminiscing...

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...