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.
About Boxwalla Film
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
Boxwalla Film June 2018 Review
Boxwalla's packaging is beautiful! The box is really high quality and very sturdy. It could easily be used for storage or gifts. This month's theme is "Fathers." Boxwalla typically sends out their film box at the very end of the month, so it did not arrive in time for Father's Day, but there's really not a bad time to watch a good film about family dynamics. This letter was included with information about the films that I was sent. 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.
Film #1: Bicycle Thieves (1948) - Retail Value $39.95 (found here for $31.96)
Directed by Vittorio De Sica, Bicycle Thieves is widely considered the hallmark film of the Italian neorealist movement. It was made in post-World War II Italy, a time when humanism was popular, and movies had a tendency toward the poor and working classes. On its surface, it's the story of a poor man who gets a new job, but his bicycle is stolen. He sets off on a search for the thieves with his young son. But, it's really more about the relationship between the father and son, with some striking commentary about the era thrown in.
The film also came with this beautiful book. It has great pictures and information about the film and the era.
Film #2: Still Walking (2008) - Retail Value $29.95 (found here for $23.96)
Oh this film was just lovely! I really liked this one. It is a slice of life film from Japan directed by Hirokazu Kore-eda, and it centers around a large family that is gathering and preparing for a ritual that is gradually revealed throughout the film. There's not a lot of drama, but rather just routine conversations and snippets from the lives of the characters as they are busy with preparations. I especially like that so much of it centers around food preparation because honestly, that's where a lot of family life occurs.
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.
Boxwalla Film has a discussion group on Facebook! Subscribers can now meet up online to chat about the movies!
The Verdict: Every box I have ever received from Boxwalla Film is very thoughtfully curated, and the films taken as a whole are striking, both independently and together. I feel like the movies are all really important pieces in the history of film. That doesn't always make them easy to watch! It's often just the opposite. Boxwalla Film is a great way to feed your brain if you enjoy independent cinema!
To Wrap Up:
Can you still get this box if you sign up today? A one-time box can be purchased here! Check back here for when the October subscription opens.
Value Breakdown: The retail value of the box's contents is $69.90. This box costs $49.95 shipped. This represents a discount of 29%.
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What do you think of Boxwalla Film box? Which film did you prefer?
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