One Night in Miami
Regina King’s subtle touch allows a single evening to reflect on the perception and symbolism of the achievements of four US icons and their relevance to today. Jim Ross reviews at TIFF 2020.
Category Archives: Festival Coverage
Apples
Christos Nikou’s APPLES takes a setting adrift from the contemporary world to reflect on modern identity and memory. Jim Ross reviews at TIFF 2020.
Nomadland
Chloe Zhao’s NOMADLAND is a beautiful and melancholic story embodied with heart and strength by Frances McDormand. Zhao’s film scatters the shattered remains of the American Dream amongst the breathtaking vistas of the ‘land of the free’; a romantic sonnet dedicated to a broken place. Jim Ross reviews.
Clemency
Chinonye Chukwu’s CLEMENCY is engaging and thoughtfully constructed, with a stifling atmosphere underscored by Alfre Woodard’s lead performance.
The Traitor
The Maxi Trial, which took place between 1986 and 1992 and saw the prosecution of nearly 350 members of the Cosa Nostra, remains an abiding fascination in contemporary Italian history – and, naturally enough, in Italian cinema too.
The Sea Beyond
THE SEA BEYOND, directed by former actor Achero Mañas, presents to us a beguiling near-100 minutes of skilful filmmaking, and a refreshing take on the favourable road trip movie. When Ernesto’s (Ernesto Alterio) mother, Lola, informs him that when she dies she wishes to be buried at sea on the shores of her hometown of … Continue reading The Sea Beyond
Sweat
In recent years, the rise of the social media influencer has become an interesting phenomenon, with their faces, products and ads flooding the internet. Magnus von Horn’s SWEAT is an intimate look at the mechanisms of modern influencer life and the reality of popularity in the world of tech. Most notably, he moves away from … Continue reading Sweat
Rom
ROM details the life of a lottery runner, a young boy tasked with delivering betting slips to his neighbours, and supplying them with numbers to bet on, all the while avoiding the local gangsters and his fierce rival Phuc. Set in the heart of a Vietnamese housing complex, and supported by a powerful cast, ROM … Continue reading Rom
Montmartre de Papa
MONTMARTRE DE PAPA, directed by Min Byung-woo (CATS AND DOGS) is an enthralling documentary that follows the life of Min Hyeong-sik, a retired art teacher. The question posed to the audience throughout the film’s first half, and encouraged by Min Hyeong-sik’s son is, quite simply, what will he do after his retirement? Determined to follow … Continue reading Montmartre de Papa
The Fourth Wall
Science fiction has slowly become a much more introspective genre- replacing large set pieces and technical jargon for minimal sets and contemplative screenplays that question man, the universe, and morality. The claustrophobic dwellings of a deer farmers apartment may not sound like the most obvious setting for a sci-fi drama about alternate realities, however, Chong … Continue reading The Fourth Wall