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Metrograph Journal 10 Best Reads of 2025
For your reading pleasure, 10 of the best pieces published this year in the Metrograph Journal.
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As the year winds to a close, we arrive at our annual tradition of honoring the work we’ve published in the Metrograph Journal. Below, you’ll find a selection of 10 of the Journal’s most popular pieces of 2025 for you to visit or revisit: interviews with filmmakers, actor profiles, the latest editions of our ongoing columns, and essays on films we love.
We want to thank all of our wonderful Journal contributors and readers, and look forward to sharing more great writing with you in 2026. Until then, if you haven’t already picked up a copy, you can find more great writing in Issue 2 of our print magazine, available to order here.
–The Editors
Cracked Actor: Keanu Reeves
by Paul McAdory
On the mysterious magnetism of the transcendent action star in the films he made pre-stardom.
Read more from this contributor in the Journal.
Wardrobe Department: Tabea Blumenschein
by Elissa Suh
On the fearless sartorial artistry of the German underground icon, who counted the likes of Ulrike Ottinger and Patricia Highsmith among her admirers on and off screen.
Futures And Pasts: Scattered Clouds
by Nick Pinkerton
Metrograph’s Editor-at-Large considers Japanese master Mikio Naruse’s swan song, Scattered Clouds (1967).
Read more from this contributor in the Journal.
Listen Up! Flaming Star
by Bruce Bennett
A look at the all-time best Elvis movie with the all-time least Elvis songs, Don Siegel’s Flaming Star (1960).
Cracked Actor: Lee Kang-sheng
by Dennis Zhou
On the pleasures and pains of Tsai Ming-liang’s lifelong muse.
Interview With Mariama Sylla
by Marie-Julie Chalu
A conversation with the filmmaker about her late sister’s dynamic, largely nonfiction portraits of those living on the margins of Senegalese society.
Interview With Pedro Costa
by Edward Mccarry
An interview with the Portuguese filmmaker on his teacher and heroes António Reis and Margarida Cordeiro.
Cracked Actor: Magdalena Montezuma
by Isabella Trimboli
On the transformative ascent of the chameleon actress, the longsuffering muse and collaborator of Werner Schroeter.
Love Hotel
by Jawni Han
On the generation-defining Shinji Sōmai’s singular foray into Roman Porno.
Read more from this contributor in the Journal.
Listen Up! The Silent Eye
by Joshua Minsoo Kim
A look at Amiel Courtin-Wilson’s revelatory, experimental portrait of Cecil Taylor and Min Tanaka.
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