REVIEWS
Post-film thoughts.
Backspot: We’re All Just People
It is easy to see myself in Riley—in her anxious nature, in her drive to perfect her craft, in her ability to lose herself in her passions, sometimes at the detriment to the people around her.
I Wish You All The Best: In Search of Hope
Dorfman spoke about wanting to make a queer movie centered on hope, rather than trauma. And that is exactly what this film does—it shows that there is always love to be found in friends, chosen family, and community.
Songs From The Hole: A Visual Album Soaked In Humanity
The quality of JJ’88’s music, the visuals of ‘Songs From The Hole,’ and the way they magnify Jacobs’ circumstance of being both victim and perpetrator brings the film above the empty and vain marketing attempts that have become emblematic of music video production today.
7 Beats Per Minute: Of Consciousness and Human Connection
On the surface, ‘7 Beats Per Minute’ is about freediving and the prodigy champion Jessea Lu. But at its core, it is a story of emotional suppression and discovery, unshakeable determination, and the profound act of breathing.
Dickweed: Weird But True Crime
If you’re aching for a true crime story that starts with a bang and fades into a fascinating portrait of a potential sociopath, and you don’t mind a cable-soapy sheen, this will do the trick.
Ben and Suzanne: Love on the Rocks
Shaun Seniveratne’s ‘Ben and Suzanne, A Reunion in 4 Parts’ looks into a love that grows, consumes, and shudders to an end.
Beautiful Men: You Must Have Hair
Themes of healthy versus toxic masculinity, aging, emotional and physical insecurity, and how they all relate to one another percolate consistently in the back of this charming family dramedy, occasionally flowing into the foreground along with surprising but welcome elements of surrealism.
Au 8ème Jour: A Threaded World Undone
Agathe Sénéchal and Alicia Massez’s ‘Au 8ème Jour’ finds root in the symbolism of threads as mediums of connection and life, using a truly unique animation style that stitches this story together.
Wander to Wonder: Manifestations of Grief
Even with a short runtime, Wander to Wonder uncovers what layers of grief could look like.
The Bleacher: A Dark Display of Guilt
The Bleacher is a gruesome and upsetting display that while at first feels like senseless surrealism, presents a thought-provoking consideration of reactionary violence and guilt.
7 Keys: To Be Drifting In The Underbelly
The film, striking a thin balance between romance and violence against a synth-pop soundtrack, calls upon the unforgettable atmosphere of Refn’s ‘Drive.’
La Perra: Mother Knows Best?
La Perra is a captivating, clever, and erotic film that lets the audience come to their own conclusions, providing an open debate on womanhood and relationships.