Can movies save the world? LWLies 75 special issue
Our latest print edition features guest contributions from Guillermo del Toro, the Safdie brothers and more.
Some FAQs before we kick things off. Yes, Little White Lies has reached the ripe old age of 75 (that’s issues, not years). Party streamer emojis all round. And no, there isn’t a new movie out called ‘Can Movies Save the World?’ that we’ve chosen to splash on our cover. It’s a question we have asked to our friends and collaborators.
Imagine if you had the most influential people in the world as a captive audience for the length of a single film. We’re talking about politicians, industry leaders, tech giants, celebrities, diplomats – the people with what you might define as possessing power (whatever that is these days). What would you screen to them, and why? Perhaps a film whose message might change their mind or alter their perception? Maybe something which might punish them for their laying the planet to waste? Maybe offer a vision of happiness to remind them that the world might just be worth saving? Or something else entirely?
This issue celebrates cinema as a force for good, a thought experiment inspired by the idea that so much narrative cinema now involves saving the planet from destruction. Pick up a copy to find out what the likes of Guillermo del Toro, the Safdie brothers, JA Bayona, Hope Dickson Leach, Colin Trevorrow and Michael Smiley would screen to avert total annihilation.
On the cover
Wales-based typographer and illustrator Adam Hayes was tasked with creating a playful vision of the apocalypse on our 75th edition cover. See more of his work at mrahayes.com
Inside this issue…
A fully-illustrated rundown of the films that might just save us from collective demise from above and those politicians with their finger hovering over the red button.
Devised and designed by Laurène Boglio, with type and illustration by Sophie Mo, Simon Hayes, Oliver Stafford, Roca Balboa, Justin Poulter, Filippo Fontana, Diego Cadena Bejarano and Allison Filice.
In the back section:
Alongside our usual curated selection of reviews of films released in May, June and July…
Matt Thrift speaks to Argentine maestro Lucrecia Martel about her mesmerising tale of colonial misadventure, Zama.
Toni Colette tells Hannah Woodhead about her off-the-chain-and-then-some performance in horror opus, Hereditary.
David Jenkins meets French actress Laetitia Dosch to chat about her break-out performance in the charming Jeune Femme.
Arnaud Desplechin speak to David Jenkins about the playful and mysterious Ismael’s Ghosts.
Nick Pinkerton tells the story of the late, great Hollywood gunslinger Budd Boetticher ahead of a major new Blu-ray release.
LWLies 75 is on general sale 11 May. Subscribe today to make sure you never miss another issue.
