Reviews

Manic Street Preachers are still making great political music

The Manics can sing about art, architecture, poetry, alienation, grief, politics and feelings and present them in a musical package made for stadiums and arenas

Sweetheart—an LGBT+ film without the usual tragedy

Sweetheart is an endearing and sweet coming of age film about family, falling in love and finding out who you are

Nobel-prize winning author Wole Soyinka returns with grisly new tale

Chronicles From the Land of the Happiest People on Earth is a chilling story of corruption, violence, and horror at the top of Nigerian society

Gagarine—a council estate where dreams are housed

Facing impending demolition, teenager Youri turns his block of flats into a space station, in a film that blends the real and imaginary

Film asks if after trauma, can building a house help rebuild your life?

The film Herself tries to balance between a tale of abuse and an uplifting story of overcoming the odds. Most of the time it does it well, writes Sarah Bates

A long way from Vietnam

In A Long Way From Vietnam, BBC journalist Nga Pham looks at why Vietnamese migration is the second highest in Britain.

Twenty years of anti-war visual art

Stop the War Coalition presents a 20-year account of artistic output in the anti-war movement

Caught on film—the neglect that caused the Grenfell fire

This powerful new documentary captures Grenfell residents’ safety battles—and how they were ignored with catastrophic results

Bush’s thirst for Afghanistan war—as told in his own words

Featuring interviews with George Bush and his closest advisers, this BBC documentary reveals how they thirsted for war—and why

Souad—coming of age in Egypt

Souad paints a portrait of sisterhood, and the bond between two sisters growing up within the traditions of faith and family.

Babylon’s Burning—music, culture and the fight against fascism

Author Rick Blackman told Socialist Worker about his new book linking three campaigns, from 1958 to today

Censor—a cult horror film that’s a gory tribute to cult horror films

Censor has plenty of knowing references to the video nasties of the 1980s

Red Soil—when earning a living also means losing your life

Based on a chilling reality, Nour uncovers hidden truths while working as a nurse at the French chemical plant her father has been at for 30 years

Struggles, fights and danger in pursuit of a payout

Desperate people thrashing to escape perilous situations forms the plot of this South Korean film, Beasts Clawing at Straws.

Brilliant dystopian thriller where money reigns supreme

A rich woman is forced into turmoil as violent uprisings and coups surround her. It’s a stark reminder of the realities in Latin America, says Fran Yepes

Medicine for the soul—the Edinburgh Festival returns

Physically-distanced theatre is now permitted in Scotland. Critic Mark Brown offers highlights from this year’s Edinburgh International Festival and Fringe