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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

An illustration of the Washington Square Arch. Behind the arch sits gray and brown alternating high-rises. On the top right are the words “The Daybook” in an arched shape.

What to do this week: Free ice skating, NYU Club Fest, student film festival

The Daybook is WSN’s weekly column listing in-person and online events at NYU and across New York City. This week: Jan. 30-Feb. 5.
Adrianna Nehme, Deputy News Editor January 29, 2023

A screening of Shyamalan's suspenseful ‘Knock at the Cabin' 7-9 p.m. at AMC 19th Street, 890 Broadway Attend the NYU Program Board’s pre-release screening of “Knock at...

An elderly man looks down at his watch in front of a beige building. He is wearing a black derby with an indigo striped suit, a pink shirt and a purple patterned tie. He is also holding a light brown wooden cane in his right hand.

Review: ‘Living’ is a remarkably pointless rendition of an all-time classic

“Living,” the British remake of Akira Kurosawa’s “Ikiru,” excels in being just that, but unfortunately offers nothing new. 
Yezen Saadah, Deputy News Editor December 15, 2022

South African filmmaker Oliver Hermanus’ latest film, “Living,” is a British adaptation of the 1952 masterpiece by Akira Kurosawa, “Ikiru.” It is a story about Mr. Williams...

A silhouette of a puppet with a long nose walking through an open gate with a bright ray of light shining through it.

Review: Stop-motion animation in ‘Guillermo del Toro’s Pinocchio’ emotionally captures life’s transience

Guillermo del Toro and Mark Gustafson’s adaptation of the classic fairytale reaffirms why animation matters with a profound, heartful and incredibly moving narrative. The film is now playing at the IFC Center and available to stream on Netflix.
Yezen Saadah, Deputy News Editor December 12, 2022

“Guillermo del Toro’s Pinocchio” is one of the most prolific animated films since 2014’s “The Lego Movie.” Directors Mark Gustafson — who is best known for his work...

An illustration of two people. On the left is a man wearing a dark suit looking to the left. On the right is a woman with dark hair facing sideways while looking to the front.

Review: ‘Closed Circuit’ fails to examine human condition through its provocative filmmaking

Tal Inbar’s “Closed Circuit,” an international selection at DOC NYC, undermines cinema’s humanist value in exploiting trauma for insincerity and shock value.
Yezen Saadah, Deputy News Editor December 7, 2022

Tal Inbar’s “Closed Circuit” is about as disingenuous as a documentary can be. This isn’t because of its subject matter or lack of atmosphere, but rather its excessively...

An illustration of a group of white figures dancing on stage with red curtains against a black backdrop.

LA-based ‘Dances with Films’ festival hits the East Coast

The 26th annual “Dances with Films” festival debuted for the first time on the East Coast from Dec. 1 to 4 at Regal Union Square.
Safia Ahmad, Contributing Writer December 5, 2022

The “Dances with Films” festival, a beloved Los Angeles indie film festival, celebrated its 26th anniversary by screening never-before-seen projects on the East Coast. While...

An illustration of two figures, one dark purple and one dark crimson, sitting on the rear bumper of a vehicle. Bumper stickers read “Reagan Bush ’84” and “My wife yes, my gun no.”

Review: ‘Bones and All’: Unequivocally romantic, unconventionally cannibalistic

Luca Guadagnino’s latest release, “Bones and All,” starring Taylor Russell and Timothée Chalamet, is a deft fusion of the romance and horror genres. The film was released in select theaters in New York City on Nov. 18.
Stephanie Wong, Film & TV Editor November 22, 2022

Spoiler warning: The following article contains spoilers for “Bones and All.” Luca Guadagnino’s latest feature film, “Bones and All,” is a visceral, alchemic fusion...

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...

Against a purple background, a reel of film with the yellow text “IS THIS BLACK ENOUGH FOR YOU !?!?” imprinted on it.

Review: ‘Is That Black Enough for You?!?’ reappraises Black filmmaking

“Is That Black Enough for You?!?” documents the forgotten chapter in American film history when Black directors drove the industry. The film is currently playing in select theaters and is available to stream on Netflix.
Yezen Saadah, Staff Writer November 14, 2022

The new documentary “Is that Black Enough for You?!?” was recently screened at the New York Film Festival. It describes the history of Black cinema and its long-lasting impact....

A photograph of two girls in a bathroom near the sink and mirror. One girl has curly red hair, black rimmed glasses, black clothes and is looking into the camera. The second girl is wearing black clothes, short black hair and is looking into the mirror fixing her eyelashes.

Review: ‘All the Beauty and the Bloodshed’ is a stunning portrait of Nan Goldin

Laura Poitras’ documentary about Nan Goldin chronicles her life through art and activism.
Saige Gipson, Staff Writer November 11, 2022

Laura Poitras’ striking documentary “All the Beauty and the Bloodshed” juggles many topics without losing sight of the film’s subject: photographer and activist Nan Goldin....

A man wearing a checkered blue shirt and beige pants leaning on the shoulder of a woman wearing a white shirt and black dress. They sit under a large tree with more greenery in the background.

Film Forum hosts ‘New Waves,’ a retrospective of New Taiwanese Cinema

“New Waves: Rediscovering Taiwanese Cinema of The 1980s” is a curated series of rare gems and classic films from this revolutionary period in film history. Tickets are available at the Film Forum box office and on their website. 
Mick Gaw, Staff Writer November 9, 2022

In partnership with the Taipei Cultural Center and the Taiwan Film and Audiovisual Institute, Film Forum, an independent repertory cinema, will be hosting “New Waves: Rediscovering...

A black and white still image from a film depicting a man and a woman walking past each other against a sign filled with propaganda posters in Mandarin.

NYU’s 10th Reel China Biennial envisions promising future for independent Chinese cinema

The Tisch Cinema Studies Department, the Asian Film & Media Initiative, and the Center for Religion and Media co-presented the first Reel China festival since the start of the pandemic.
Mick Gaw, Staff Writer November 8, 2022

Hosted from Oct. 28-30, NYU’s 10th Reel China Biennial was the festival's first post-pandemic iteration and celebrated a two-decade-long mission to showcase some of the most...