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Irish Times
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Irish Times
Harvest review: Trippy medieval parable where allegory overpowers the drama
Harvest Harvest Director : Athina Rachel Tsangari Cert : 18 Genre : Folklore Starring : Caleb Landry Jones, Harry Melling, Rosy McEwen, Arinzé Kene, Thalissa Teixeira, Frank Dillane Running Time : 2 hrs 11 mins Athina Rachel Tsangari, sometime Yorgos Lanthimos collaborator and leading light of the Greek Weird Wave, returns to features following a nine-year hiatus. Harvest, her first English-language film, is a trippy medieval parable drawn from Jim Crace's novel of the same name. Although imbued with the same off‑kilter humour that powered Attenberg and Chevalier to international success, here Tsangari pursues an angular, folkloric register, situating her story in an unnamed Scottish border hamlet confronted by enclosure, cartographic bureaucracy and outsiders blamed for an unexplained blaze. Walter Thirsk, portrayed by Caleb Landry Jones with fraught fragility, occupies the nebulous space between peasantry and gentry; childhood ties bind him to benevolent yet ineffectual landlord Master Kent ( Harry Melling ). Their complicated kinship – both recent widowers – grants the picture its most persuasive emotional anchor. Around them swirl suspicious villagers, mysterious wanderers and the comparatively worldly map‑maker Earle (Arinzé Kene), whose parchment lines foreshadow dispossession. The arrival of Kent's ambitious cousin Jordan (Frank Dillane) hastens the transformation of fields into profitable pasture, pushing the settlement toward further fracture. READ MORE Cinematographer Sean Price Williams lenses mud, mist and ember skies with handsome texture – 16mm grain and flares showing – producing tableaux that recall Bruegel as much as Gaspar Noé. Tsangari's taste for ritual detail – a buttercup dabbed across a child's cheek before the Gleaning Queen selection, the burning of a corn dolly – creates searing imagery. Unhappily, the film's allegorical ambitions overpower its drama. Often-hapless characters frequently stand for positions rather than pulse with personality or motive, slowing momentum across an already‑stretched running time. When violence finally erupts – a humiliating shaving, a ghastly pillory interlude – the shock registers, but the preceding drift lessens the impact. Landry Jones and several co-stars, capable of real and feral unpredictability, are restrained by dialogue that sounds stock. There's plenty to admire – the earthy sound design, inventive point‑of‑view shifts, flashes of sly humour – while simultaneously yearning for the vivacity that enlivened the director's earlier work. Like the village it depicts, the film is meticulously crafted yet oddly two-dimensional: a map, not a place.
Daily Express
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Express
Sabah dancers bring home ballet medals
Published on: Friday, July 18, 2025 Published on: Fri, Jul 18, 2025 By: Lorena Binisol Text Size: Farish won second place in Solo National and Folkdance Boys category. Kota Kinabalu: The all-girls team from Ballet By Nora, who represented Malaysia at the Dance World Cup 2025 (DWC2025) in Burgos, Spain, brought home four international medals, making history for Malaysian ballet. Competing in eight categories – six solos, one duet and one group – the dancers earned the followings: Advertisement Silver: Children Solo National & Folklore by Tiara Izz Zayani Silver: Mini Solo Ballet Any Style by Ivana Iman Mohammad Ezral Silver: Children Classical Ballet Duet/Trio En Pointe by Ashlyn Chong & Shanelle Santani Bronze: Group Classical Ballet/Repertoire (Valse Reverie) by Adrea Yu, Faith Kennedy, Ashlyn Chong, Shanelle Santani, and Ivana Iman. Coach Nora Ridzwan praised her students' graceful movements and strong connection on stage. 'Their connection on stage was like poetry, and their hard-work had paid off' she said. Tiara, who previously won gold in the Children's Folklore Trio at the 2024 finals, impressed the crowd with her performance of 'Kreasi Zapin Galit.' Despite dancing in pain, she finished with strength and determination. 'Tiara danced until her nails came off, but she never complained,' said her mother, Tuya, tearfully. 'She told me, 'I just wanted to finish strong.' Ten-year-old Ivana won silver in the Mini Ballet Any Style Solo category, shared that she felt nervous at first, but once she started dancing, she just imagined she was home. She felt proud to be able to dance in international stage. Coach Nora added, 'This double silver means more than just medals. It shows years of hard work, late nights, and strong commitment. Tiara and Ivana have inspired us all.' Ivana's parents, Dr. Natassia and Mr. Mohammad Ezral, said,'We're very proud of Ivana. She danced with joy, and that joy brought her this far. We're also happy to celebrate this moment with Tiara and her family.' These young dancers are now seen as ambassadors for Malaysia, showing the world the beauty of Sabah's culture and talent. Meanwhile, more Sabahan dancers won on the world stage when in the Children's National and Folklore categories, the Parhakow team placed 4th in the world in two events, namely; Small Group National and Folklore (Boya), just 0.1pc behind the 3rd place winner, and Small Duo/Trio National and Folklore (Nyebang). Team member Farish Hail Umar Farruq, 13, won a silver medal in the Solo National and Folkdance Boys category. He was accompanied by his mother, Maria Sularso, who was extremely proud and excited about the team's achievements, even though none won gold. Another Sabahan team from Tawau students brought home bronze, they are two students from SK Muhibbahraya, Tawau also made Sabah proud by winning third place at DWC2025. Muhd Syahmi Asyraf bin Sulaiman and Muhammad Ammar Asyraf bin Mohd Taufik impressed judges with their energetic Zapin performance titled 'Suara Siam.' Their success was guided by teachers Sarena Sanin and Basri Kambung, with support from headmaster Tuan Haji Sapri bin Haji Raupu, who said the win reflects the school's vision to help students succeed internationally. These young dancers competed among 120,000 participants from over 60 countries, proving that Sabahan talent can shine on the global stage. * Follow us on our official WhatsApp channel and Telegram for breaking news alerts and key updates! * Do you have access to the Daily Express e-paper and online exclusive news? Check out subscription plans available. Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express's Telegram channel. Daily Express Malaysia
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Taylor Swift Explains the Real Pain Behind One of Her Greatest Hits in Resurfaced Footage
Taylor Swift Explains the Real Pain Behind One of Her Greatest Hits in Resurfaced Footage originally appeared on Parade. Taylor Swift may have risen to fame writing songs about romance gone wrong, but the 'Cruel Summer' singer also dives deep into the nuances—and heartbreak—of friendship in many of her songs. In a recently resurfaced conversation with producer and frequent collaborator Jack Antonoff, the 35-year-old, 14-time Grammy Award winner gives new insight into the pain behind one of her most thoughtful tracks, 'My Tears Ricochet,' from her 2020 masterpiece the video, Swift can be seen wearing her Folklore-era attire, complete with an oversized patterned coat and jewel-toned newsboy cap that hides her signature blonde locks. Sitting outside, Swift explains how the emotional song came to be. 'I wrote that one alone,' Swift shares. 'It's one of the saddest songs on the album.' Antonoff compliments Swift, calling it one of the best on Folklore. Swift responds with deeper insight into her writing process and the inspiration behind the song: 'It's a song about greed. It's a song about how somebody could be your best friend and your companion and your most trusted person in your life, and then they could go and become your worst enemy who knows how to hurt you because they were once your most trusted person.' Swift compares the end of a friendship to a divorce before likening it to superhero stories. 'Writing this song, it kind of occurred to me that in all of the superhero stories, the hero's greatest nemesis is the villain that used to be his best friend… There's this beautiful moment in the beginning of a friendship where these people have no idea that one day they'll hate each other.' View this post on Instagram A post shared by Songs by Taylor Swift (@songsbytaylor)While some fans speculated whether Swift was referencing a specific friendship breakup, others were simply happy to join the conversation in the social media comment section—one encapsulating the mood with, 'Love this woman.' 🎬SIGN UP for Parade's Daily newsletter to get the latest pop culture news & celebrity interviews delivered right to your inbox🎬 Taylor Swift Explains the Real Pain Behind One of Her Greatest Hits in Resurfaced Footage first appeared on Parade on Jul 14, 2025 This story was originally reported by Parade on Jul 14, 2025, where it first appeared.
Daily Express
02-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Express
Six Sabahans in dance team at Spain event
Published on: Wednesday, July 02, 2025 Published on: Wed, Jul 02, 2025 By: Lorena Binisol Text Size: Sabah dancers representing Malaysia at the event in Spain. Kota Kinabalu: Six dancers from Sabah are in the Malaysian team that will compete in Burgos, Spain, from July 3 to 12. They will compete with some 120,000 dancers from over 60 countries, showcasing the best of youth dance performances. Their journey reflects months of training, national qualifiers, and countless hours of hard work and sacrifice. Alyssa Lim, a parent accompanying the group, said they are aiming for as many medals as possible. 'Our dancers will perform both classical ballet and traditional folklore dance, combining discipline and national identity in every performance. 'They've prepared for months to reach this level, and we're proud to bring Malaysia's name to the international stage,' she said. One of the participants, Tiara Izz Zayani (11), was a champion in the Children's Folklore Trio at the DWC 2024 Grand Finals. This year, she has again qualified in the Children Solo in National and Folklore Category 2025 with her performance titled 'Kreasi Zapin Galit'. Tiara, who dreams of becoming a cultural dance ambassador, is passionate about promoting Malaysian heritage through movement. Another dancer, Ivana Iman Binti Mohammad Ezral, 10, placed seventh in classical ballet at the DWC 2024 Grand Finals. She will once again represent Malaysia this year. Faith Kennedy, 13, will perform classical ballet in the Children Solo Ballet Repertoire category. She believes this experience is more than just a competition, it's a chance for cultural exchange. 'This journey is about more than winning. Dance is a universal language. From ballet to traditional folk dance, our dancers represent Malaysia's diversity, strength and warmth. 'As they share our stories through dance, they'll also make global friendships and learn from others,' Alyssa said. She said the team brings Malaysian flag pins to exchange as gifts, small tokens of identity and goodwill, connecting hearts across cultures. The dancers call this a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, made possible through generous government sponsorship and support. 'We're very thankful to our State and Federal leaders, namely Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor, Datuk Seri Dr Jeffrey G. Kitingan, Datuk Ewon Benedick, Datuk Armizan Mohd Ali, Datuk James Ratib, Datuk Matbali Musah, Chan Foong Hin, Mustapha @ Mohd Yunus Sakmud, Datuk Ghulam Haidar Khan Bahadar, and many more agencies and supporters,' she added. The team was grateful to the Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture (Motac), Sabah Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Environment, Tanjung Aru Eco Development (TAED), and Uniqlo Malaysia, for providing travel wear that kept dancers comfortable and stylish. They also expressed gratitude to the IEC Art Foundation for continuously supporting and nurturing youth talent in the arts. 'All this support made their dream possible,' she said. * Follow us on our official WhatsApp channel and Telegram for breaking news alerts and key updates! * Do you have access to the Daily Express e-paper and online exclusive news? Check out subscription plans available. Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express's Telegram channel. Daily Express Malaysia
Time of India
29-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Will Taylor Swift ever write about Travis Kelce the way she wrote about Joe Alwyn?
's love life has always been intricately tied to her music—but not all romances have made it into her discography the same way. As the world watches her high-profile relationship with superstar unfold under the spotlight, a question lingers among fans and critics alike: Will Swift ever write about Kelce the way she wrote about ? From poetry to stadium lights: How Taylor's songwriting has shifted with love Joe Alwyn, though a much more private figure than Kelce, was the quiet muse behind some of Swift's most haunting, emotional tracks. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Songs like 'Exile,' 'Champagne Problems,' 'Peace,' and 'The Archer' are steeped in vulnerability, emotional distance, and deep introspection. Much of her Folklore and Evermore albums, co-written in part with Alwyn under his pseudonym William Bowery, reflect a love that was fragile, poetic, and—ultimately—ephemeral. Taylor Swift - The Archer (Lyric Video) Travis Kelce, in contrast, brings a completely different energy to Swift's life and possibly her future lyrics. Charismatic, loud, and proud to be seen with her, Kelce lives out their romance on the jumbotron, not in cryptic metaphors. Yet the public nature of their relationship—hand-in-hand Super Bowl moments, stadium PDA, and cheeky podcast quips—raises the question: Can such a visible romance ever translate into the kind of timeless, introspective songwriting that fans crave from Swift? Depth vs delight: Will Travis Kelce ever be the heartache behind the pen? Joe Alwyn's influence on Taylor's music wasn't about flashy moments or public declarations—it was about emotional depth and quiet unraveling. As one fan put it online, 'Joe gave her silence, space, and sadness—Travis gives her noise, joy, and boldness.' And that difference matters. Swift's most iconic breakup songs are not about perfect love stories; they're about pain, longing, and the inability to make love last. That's the kind of storytelling that earned her a devoted fanbase. But could Kelce's chapter still hold lyrical weight? Possibly. If the relationship ends, Swift might tap into the tension between two public identities trying to blend. If it lasts, it may usher in a new era of songwriting—one that's celebratory, cheeky, and unafraid to be happy. Also Read: Until then, one thing's clear: Joe Alwyn inspired verses whispered in the quiet. Travis Kelce might inspire anthems that roar. But only Taylor knows which pen she'll pick up next.
