Author: Sarah Manvel

Female Characters, Female Filmmaker, Female Writer, Film Festivals, Film Reviews, Women in Film, World Cinema

Jeanne du Barry: Cannes Film Festival 2023 Review

Year: 2023 Runtime: 113 minutes Director: Maïwenn Writers: Maïwenn, Teddy Lussi-Lodeste, Nicolas Livecchi Actors: Maïwenn, Johnny Depp, Melvil Poupaud, Benjamin Lavernhe, Suzanne De Baecque, Capuine Valmary, Laura Le Velly, India Hair, Ibrahim Yaffa, Djibril Djimo, Pauline Pollmann, Thibault Bonenfant, Diego Le Fur By Sarah Manvel It is an undeniable fact that casting Johnny Depp as the King of France in “Jeanne du Barry” is a … Continue reading Jeanne du Barry: Cannes Film Festival 2023 Review

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Documentaries, Female Characters, Female Filmmaker, Feminism, LGBTQ Cinema, Music, Reviews, Women in Film

Review: Fanny: The Right to Rock

Year: 2023 Runtime: 93 minutes Directed by Bobbi Jo Hart Featuring: June Millington, Jean Millington, Brie Darling By Sarah Manvel If you’re ever shed any teardrops onto your guitar, this movie is for you. Nowadays a band of four women – two sisters, two white, two teenagers, two Filipina-American and two lesbians – would market themselves on their identities alongside their music. In 1970, when … Continue reading Review: Fanny: The Right to Rock

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Female Characters, Female Filmmaker, Female Filmmakers, Female Writer, Film Festivals, Indie Film, LGBTQ Cinema, Women in Film

Jess Plus None: BFI Flare 2023 review

Year: 2023 Runtime: 101 minutes Written and directed by Mandy Fabian Actors: Abby Miller, Marielle Scott, Rory O’Malley, Matt Walsh, Alexis Krause, Tate Ellington, Craig Thomas, Shalim Ortiz, Asenneth del Toro, Scott Speiser, Michael Dunn, Scout Durwood By Sarah Manvel It’s unclear how old this group of shakily connected but long-term friends are supposed to be. The plot revolves around them coming together for a … Continue reading Jess Plus None: BFI Flare 2023 review

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Female Characters, Female Filmmaker, Female Filmmakers, Female Writer, Film Festivals, Film Reviews, LGBTQ Cinema, Women in Film, World Cinema

The Five Devils (Les Cinq Diables): BFI Flare 2023 review

Year: 2023 Runtime: 103 minutes Director: Lea Mysius Writers: Paul Guilhaume, Lea Mysius Actors: Adele Exarchopoulos, Sally Dramé, Moustapha Mbengue, Swala Emati, Daphne Patakia, Hugo Dillon By Sarah Manvel This is an unusual and unusually disturbing movie for reasons that are very hard to articulate without spoilers. Without going into too many details, it boils down to a family being trapped in a time loop … Continue reading The Five Devils (Les Cinq Diables): BFI Flare 2023 review

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Documentaries, Female Filmmaker, Film Festivals, Film Reviews, Uncategorized, Underrepresented in Film, Women in Film, World Cinema

Under the Sky of Damascus: Berlinale 2023 Review

Year: 2023 Runtime: 88 Minutes Directed by Heba Khaled, Talal Derki, Ali Wajeeh By Sarah Manvel Sometimes the purpose of a documentary is to shine a light on a part of the world most people will never see. Sometimes the purpose is to provide a voice to people who feel they have no voice of their own (which is nonsense of course, we all have … Continue reading Under the Sky of Damascus: Berlinale 2023 Review

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Female Characters, Female Filmmaker, Female Filmmakers, Female Writer, Film Festivals, Film Reviews, Indigenous People, Reviews, Underrepresented in Film, Women in Film, World Cinema

Sweet As: Berlinale 2023 Review

Year: 2022 Runtime: 87 minutes Directed by Jub Clerc Written by Jub Clerc and Steve Rodgers Actors: Shantae Barnes-Cowan, Ngaire Pigram, Mark Coles Smith, Tasma Walton, Carlos Sanson Jr., Andrew Wallace, Pedrea Jackson, Mikayla Levy By Sarah Manvel Most movies about teenagers get it wrong. Either the teens are treated like little kids, behaving perfectly and being perfectly cared for, or they are treated like … Continue reading Sweet As: Berlinale 2023 Review

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Female Characters, Female Filmmaker, Female Filmmakers, Female Writer, Film Festivals

She Came to Me: Berlinale 2023 Review

Year: 2023 Runtime: 102 minutes Written and directed by Rebecca Miller Actors: Anne Hathaway, Marisa Tomei, Peter Dinklage, Joanna Kulig, Brian d’Arcy James, Evan Ellison, Harlowe Jane, Dale Soules By Sarah Manvel “She Came to Me” is an old-fashioned movie in the best possible way. What we have here is a stacked cast including two Oscar winners, an unusual setting in a familiar location (Brooklyn), … Continue reading She Came to Me: Berlinale 2023 Review

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Female Characters, Female Filmmaker, Female Filmmakers, Female Writer, Film Festivals, Film Reviews

Past Lives: Berlinale 2023 Review

Year: 2023 Runtime: 105 minutes Written and directed by Celine Song Actors: Greta Lee, Teo Yoo, John Magaro, Moon Seung-ah, Leem Seung-min By Sarah Manvel There is nothing more human than wanting the best possible life, and no greater show of humanity than wondering if all the struggle was worth it. The choice of a new life and the promise it holds is amplified when … Continue reading Past Lives: Berlinale 2023 Review

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Female Characters, Female Filmmaker, Female Filmmakers, Female Writer, Film Festivals, Women in Film, World Cinema

Someday We’ll Tell Each Other Everything: Berlinale 2023 Review

Year: 2023 Runtime: 132 minutes Directed by Emily Atef Written by Emily Atef and Daniela Krien Actors: Marlene Burow, Felix Kramer, Cedric Eich, Sike Bodenbender, Florian Panzer, Jordis Triebel, Christian Erdmann, Victoria Mayer By Sarah Manvel This is an absolutely gorgeous and smoking hot answer to the question of what a person with limitless options should do with their life, and what happens when those … Continue reading Someday We’ll Tell Each Other Everything: Berlinale 2023 Review

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Female Characters, Female Filmmaker, Female Writer, Film Festivals, Film Reviews, Sundance Film Festival, Women in Film, World Cinema

When It Melts (Het Smelt): Sundance 2023 Film Review

Year: 2023 Runtime: 111 minutes Director: Veerle Baetens Writers: Veerle Baetens and Maarten Loix, based on the novel by Lize Spit Starring: Charlotte De Bruyne, Rosa Marchant, Sebastien Dewaele, Naomi Velissariou By Sarah Manvel The callousness and narcissism of teenagers, especially male ones, are seen as an immovable part of human nature, and adults will do almost anything to dodge dealing with that. Whether that’s … Continue reading When It Melts (Het Smelt): Sundance 2023 Film Review

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