AUTHOR Bettina Gracias
Bird Grove
In Bird Grove, Alexi Kaye Campbell examines the fraught relationship between George Eliot and her father, revealing the limits of liberal thinking in a rigid Victorian society. Encouraged to value education and independent thought, Eliot’s rejection of church attendance exposed the contradiction at the heart of her father’s progressive ideals. The play focuses on how personal rebellion becomes political, highlighting the constraints placed on women in the 19th century. Through Eliot’s unconventional life and loves, Bird Grove reflects on autonomy, faith and the social cost of defying expectation.
Franco Battiato
Franco Battiato (1945–2021) was a visionary Italian musician, filmmaker and spiritual seeker who captivated audiences in Italy while remaining largely unknown in the English-speaking world. Following the release of Il Lungo Viaggio and the exhibition Un’altra vita at Rome’s MAXXI, this article explores the life, music and philosophy of an artist who searched for a permanent centre of gravity beyond fame and success.
Recensione della Fenice
Una prima esperienza operistica alla Fenice si trasforma in un viaggio emotivo profondo e inatteso. Il Simon Boccanegra di Verdi offre uno spazio raro di abbandono, in cui dolore e gioia possono essere sentiti e condivisi liberamente.
Simon Boccanegra at La Fenice – Opera Review
A first-time opera experience at La Fenice becomes an unexpectedly profound emotional journey. Verdi’s Simon Boccanegra, directed with restraint and insight, offers a rare space to release suppressed feeling and reconnect with collective human emotion.
Khartoum
In a world where migrants are increasingly treated as faceless numbers, Khartoum offers a vital and deeply humanising portrayal of five Sudanese people forced to flee war. Filmed entirely on iPhones, the documentary allows its subjects to tell their own stories with honesty and emotion, using roleplay reminiscent of Gestalt therapy to revisit painful memories. At a time when compassion is in short supply, Khartoum reminds us why empathy matters.
London Film Festival 2025: Must-Watch Films
In this passionate review of the London Film Festival 2025, Bettina Gracias reflects on over twenty films ranging from heart-warming international gems to politically charged dramas and major Oscar frontrunners. She highlights the films that lingered in her memory, exploring themes of tradition, loss, migration and artistic legacy, and reveals which titles are most likely to capture audiences—and awards—over the coming year.
Review of Arundhati Roy’s New Memoir ‘Mother Mary Comes to Me’
Arundhati Roy’s memoir Mother Mary Comes to Me is as bold and unflinching as the author herself. From her complex relationship with her mother to her fearless activism and extraordinary encounters with India’s marginalized communities, Roy offers a deeply personal yet universally resonant reflection. This review explores her courage, wit, and resilience as a writer who refuses to be silenced.
Water: A Bold New Opera for Our Times
Beverly Andrews’ new opera Water breaks barriers with an epic story spanning centuries — from the slave trade to space exploration. Three reviewers reflect on its voices, vision, and bold relevance for our times.