Jonathan Romney

All articles by Jonathan Romney

Reviews

Ish: Imran Perretta’s remarkably beautiful film captures the brutal challenges of adolescence

A police stop-and-search creates a rupture in the friendship between two Luton teens in this memorable evocation of childhood’s end.

By Jonathan Romney

Ish: Imran Perretta’s remarkably beautiful film captures the brutal challenges of adolescence

Lists

Sight and Sound’s original verdict on 15 of Cannes’ biggest Palme d’Or winners

By Lindsay Anderson, John Gillett and others

Sight and Sound’s original verdict on 15 of Cannes’ biggest Palme d’Or winners

Festivals

Rosebush Pruning: strong performances and stylish visuals can’t save this hollow skewering of the ultra-rich

By Jonathan Romney

Rosebush Pruning: strong performances and stylish visuals can’t save this hollow skewering of the ultra-rich

From the Sight and Sound archive

“This is definitely a closing movie because I collected everything”: Béla Tarr on his final film, The Turin Horse

By Jonathan Romney

“This is definitely a closing movie because I collected everything”: Béla Tarr on his final film, The Turin Horse

Obituaries

Béla Tarr obituary: Hungary’s slow-cinema visionary

By Jonathan Romney

Béla Tarr obituary: Hungary’s slow-cinema visionary

Interviews

Enemy of the state: Jafar Panahi on It Was Just an Accident

By Jonathan Romney

Enemy of the state: Jafar Panahi on It Was Just an Accident

Reviews

The Stranger: François Ozon’s insightful re-reading of Camus’ classic novella explores themes of queerness and Algerian identity

By Jonathan Romney

The Stranger: François Ozon’s insightful re-reading of Camus’ classic novella explores themes of queerness and Algerian identity

From the Sight and Sound archive

Perfect Blue: Kon Satoshi’s twisted pop dream

By Jonathan Romney

Perfect Blue: Kon Satoshi’s twisted pop dream

Festivals

Rose of Nevada: a remarkably beautiful Cornish time-loop drama

By Jonathan Romney

Rose of Nevada: a remarkably beautiful Cornish time-loop drama

Discoveries

13 discoveries from Cannes 2025

By John Bleasdale, Thomas Flew and others

13 discoveries from Cannes 2025

Festivals

The History of Sound: Desire is more studied than felt in this timid romantic drama

By Jonathan Romney

The History of Sound: Desire is more studied than felt in this timid romantic drama

Reviews

When the Light Breaks: sadness simmers beneath the surface in this quietly affecting Icelandic drama

By Jonathan Romney

When the Light Breaks: sadness simmers beneath the surface in this quietly affecting Icelandic drama

Reviews

The End: bunker-bound billionaires make a song and dance of the apocalypse

By Jonathan Romney

The End: bunker-bound billionaires make a song and dance of the apocalypse

Interviews

“We use virgin olive oil, and oil the eye”: the Quay brothers on the method behind their uncanny worlds

By Jonathan Romney

“We use virgin olive oil, and oil the eye”: the Quay brothers on the method behind their uncanny worlds

Features

2024: the year in late style

By Jonathan Romney

2024: the year in late style

Reviews

Sky Peals: Faraz Ayub is alienation embodied in this ghostly British service station sci-fi

By Jonathan Romney

Sky Peals: Faraz Ayub is alienation embodied in this ghostly British service station sci-fi

Obituaries

Anouk Aimée obituary: French New Wave embodiment of sophisticated romance

By Jonathan Romney

Anouk Aimée obituary: French New Wave embodiment of sophisticated romance

From the Sight and Sound archive

Inside Out: tales of ordinary sadness

By Jonathan Romney

Inside Out: tales of ordinary sadness

Interviews

“Neorealism is part of our DNA as Italians”: Paola Cortellesi on There's Still Tomorrow

By Jonathan Romney

“Neorealism is part of our DNA as Italians”: Paola Cortellesi on There's Still Tomorrow

Reviews

The Fall Guy: a witty, action-packed tribute to stunt performers

By Jonathan Romney

The Fall Guy: a witty, action-packed tribute to stunt performers

Features

Conflict zone: on Jonathan Glazer’s Oscars speech

By Jonathan Romney

Conflict zone: on Jonathan Glazer’s Oscars speech

Reviews

The New Boy: realism is undercut by magic in Warwick Thornton’s Outback fable

By Jonathan Romney

The New Boy: realism is undercut by magic in Warwick Thornton’s Outback fable

Reviews

Four Daughters: the facts and fictions of a Tunisian family’s history blur in this fascinating hybrid documentary

By Jonathan Romney

Four Daughters: the facts and fictions of a Tunisian family’s history blur in this fascinating hybrid documentary

Festivals

Pepe: Pablo Escobar’s philosophical hippo takes viewers on a radically inventive journey

By Jonathan Romney

Pepe: Pablo Escobar’s philosophical hippo takes viewers on a radically inventive journey

Reviews

Napoleon: Ridley Scott’s confident biopic confirms his own status as a cinematic general

By Jonathan Romney

Napoleon: Ridley Scott’s confident biopic confirms his own status as a cinematic general

3 to see

3 to see at LFF: French films

By Jonathan Romney

3 to see at LFF: French films

Reviews

Paris Memories: an ambitious but flawed drama

By Jonathan Romney

Paris Memories: an ambitious but flawed drama

Reviews

Oppenheimer: Nolan’s dazzling expressionistic flourishes bring this sombre chamber drama to life

By Jonathan Romney

Oppenheimer: Nolan’s dazzling expressionistic flourishes bring this sombre chamber drama to life

Reviews

Pamfir: an otherworldly Ukrainian gangster movie

By Jonathan Romney

Pamfir: an otherworldly Ukrainian gangster movie

From the Sight and Sound archive

The first slacker film noir: The Big Lebowski reviewed in 1998

By Jonathan Romney

The first slacker film noir: The Big Lebowski reviewed in 1998