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

Sister & Sister (Las Hijas): SXSW 2023 Review

Year: 2023 Runtime: 80 minutes Director/Writer: Kattia G. Zúñiga Actors: Ariana Chaves Gavilán, Cala Rossel Campos, Fernando Bonilla, Joshua De Leon, Milagros Fernandez, Gabriela Man By Rosa Parra Latin American cinema, Central American cinema in particular, isn’t given the necessary attention and acknowledgment it deserves. “Sister & Sister” (Las Hijas) is an example of why this type of cinema should be talked about alongside the … Continue reading Sister & Sister (Las Hijas): SXSW 2023 Review

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

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

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

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

Smoke Sauna Sisterhood: Sundance 2023 Film Review

Year: 2023 Runtime: 89 Minutes Director/Writer: Anna Hints By Morgan Roberts In Estonia, women gather to a dark smoke sauna to discuss life, loss, insecurities and strengths. Joining the women in this intimate setting, “Smoke Sauna Sisterhood” highlights the power of stories and connection. The idea is that, in this space in the damp heat, the women can share their pain and shame to remove … Continue reading Smoke Sauna Sisterhood: Sundance 2023 Film Review

Retrospective: Jeanne Dielman, 23 quai du Commerce, 1080 Bruxelles (1975)

Film critic Calum Cooper writes a retrospective piece on Sight & Sound’s newest greatest film of all time, Chantal Akerman’s Jeanne Dielman. Continue reading Retrospective: Jeanne Dielman, 23 quai du Commerce, 1080 Bruxelles (1975)