Boxwalla is a really unique subscription box service that offers four different types of subscriptions: Food, Beauty, Books, and Film. Subscribers can subscribe to multiple boxes, or can hop around among the four boxes from shipment to shipment. Fun! I love movies! Boxwalla's website states:
'Art Cinema is Boring.' The Film Box challenges this notion by demystifying the work of the best filmmakers, by creating a context within which to view them.
Boxwalla kindly sent us this box for review purposes. (Check out our review process post to learn more about how we review boxes.)
This review is of the Boxwalla Film, $49.95 every other month, box.
The Subscription Box: Boxwalla Film
The Cost: $49.95 per shipment (every two months)
The Products: Two films from The Criterion Collection plus an insert are mailed to you. Additional material is emailed to you before and after you have watched the films.
Ships to: U.S. for free, Canada for $11.95, Internationally for $18.95
Check out all our Boxwalla reviews and the Artisan Subscription Box Directory!
Keep Track of Your Subscriptions: Add this box to your subscription list or wishlist!
Boxwalla's packaging is beautiful! The box is really high quality and very sturdy. It could easily be used for storage or gifts. This letter was included with information about the films that I was sent. Honestly, I never read it before I watch the movies because I hate any kind of spoiler! I always read it afterward, though, and it is always helpful. I have to mention here, that Boxwalla sends their film box at the very end of the month. They usually send a post-film discussion 3-4 weeks later, but they are in the process of change right now, so it was a little different this month.
Film #1: The Piano Teacher - Retail Value $29.95 (found on sale here for $23.96)
I have to be honest, I watched this film first based on the cover. I was in the mood for something steamy! It turns out, it was never steamy, it was disturbing and kinky and weird almost from the beginning. I like weird stuff, but as this movie went on, it got harder and harder to watch. Of course, this makes it a brilliant film because wow, mission accomplished, I was super uncomfortable! I think this film definitely falls under what you might call a "psychosexual thriller." It reminded me a little of Fatal Attraction, but this film was from 2002, and it was on a whole other level. Very interesting stuff, to say the least!
Film #2: Au Hasard Balthazar - Retail Value $29.95 (found on sale here for $23.96)
Oddly, Boxwalla Film did not proclaim a theme this time as they normally do. The theme, however, became quickly apparent when I started watching this film! This one was even more difficult to watch! The theme seems to be violence and dehumanization. It's important subject matter, but still really difficult to watch. I am among those who find violence toward animals sometimes even more repulsive than violence toward people, but this film had both. This film was directed by Robert Bresson, who also directed a previous Boxwalla film pick, Mouchette. Another one that was very hard to watch.
There has been some flux lately in the fate of the Post-Film Discussion. There was none for the August Box, but instead subscribers were asked to submit questions they had about the films. I submitted some questions as I thought some key questions would be selected for a group discussion. I never heard back until about a week ago, when my questions were personally answered. I asked if this was going to be an ongoing feature for all subscribers and was told yes, it would be. So wow, that's actually the highest level of individual attention I have ever seen for a subscription box! I was also told that essays would be sent at random times throughout the year, and this picture is an example of that. It does seem very much like the usual post-film discussion, though.
Both movies are part of The Criterion Collection, which is an organization that works to preserve and restore classic and modern films that are considered important. The films are published in editions that offer the highest technical quality as well as fantastic supplemental material.
As it mentions in the email, Boxwalla Film has a discussion group on Facebook! Subscribers can now meet up online to chat about the movies!
The Verdict: It may not seem like it, but this was another awesome box from Boxwalla Film! The quality of the films they send is just excellent. The movies this month were both very difficult to watch, but I think each made an important statement that needed to be expressed. This month's retail value is about $60 or about $48 using sale prices. The value of this box tends to fluctuate, but it is usually at least a few dollars more than the cost. I think the personalized education factor is a huge value, myself. More importantly, however, I think Boxwalla Film is a great way to feed your brain if you enjoy independent cinema!
What do you think of Boxwalla Film box? Which film is your favorite?
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