A free-wheeling, three-part riot of formal invention, Víctor Iriarte’s excellent debut is at once aesthetically rigorous and politically pointed.
The Freewheeling Spirit of Bolaño Is Excellently Channelled in Foremost By Night
Redmond Bacon
Redmond is the editor-in-chief of Journey Into Cinema.
Sidonie In Japan. Translation, Adrift
Sidonie In Japan is a classic example of a fine actress phoning it in, wasting Huppert’s talents in a generic, unconvincing cross-cultural examination of grief.
Life Is Not a Competition, But I’m Winning. Mostly Winning.
Life Is Not a Competition, But I’m Winning imagines the future of queer and intersex people in sport in a variety of spirited and thoughtful means.
Stolen Just Keeps Getting Better
Indian movie Stolen levels up scene after scene, moving from a tense, whodunnit to a full-blown, white-knuckle thriller — live from Venice Film Festival.
Chuck Chuck Baby. I Said Maybe!
A not-quite musical filled with loveliness and laughs, Chuck Chuck Baby is the operatic soap opera I never knew I needed — live from Edinburgh Film Festival.
Critical Zone Fails to Hold Interest
A stoner comedy without the comedy; an arthouse drama without the art; a deep dive into social ills without going too deep; Critical Zone is inessential.
First Case Cross-Examines Coming-of-Age
Work and sex inevitably tangle in First Case, a classically French throwback to the golden era of sexy 90s legal thrillers — live from Locarno Film Festival.
Go With the Sensual Flow of On The Go
The spirit of Godard, Greenaway and Gregg Araki combine in this Andulasian road trip filled with spontaneity, creativity and a sense of open discovery.
Stepne Ploddingly Trudges Through Ukraine’s Tragic Past
Dull visuals and an unengaging plot make Ukrainian village tale Stepne, playing in competition, an enervating watch — live from Locarno Film Festival.
All The Fires Flickers Weakly
Mexican LGBTQI+ coming-of-age drama All The Fires is well-meaning and well-acted, yet fails to leave much of a lasting impression — live from Locarno.