The absurdities of the privileged in the face of incoming disaster is smartly dissected in João Nuno Pinto’s Tallinn entry 18 Holes to Paradise.
18 Holes to Paradise Keeps Things Under Par
Tag: Film
A Diamond on The Hudson
Craig Brewer’s Song Song Blue is a surprisingly powerful musical biopic that rests upon the remarkable easygoing charm of Kate Hudson.
The Pupil Hauntingly Depicts Grooming Hidden in Plain Sight
At a time when “groomer” is used as a political smear, The Pupil shows us the truly sickening impact the reality can have on young boys and girls.
La criatura. Fleeing Fascism Through Zoophilia.
Made during Spain’s transition to democracy, La criatura is a fascinating time capsule that uses bestiality to represent the possibility of change.
Current Responses to a Degrading Status Quo
From Radu Jude’s take on AI slop to Benning’s pointedly political piece, Currents at NYFF has its experimental finger on today’s disintegrating world.
Black Phone 2. Hell’s Frozen Over.
Scott Derrickson’s marginally better sequel Black Phone 2, the spirit of Dante’s Inferno is chanelled to frosty — in both senses of the word — results.
Forastera. Teenage Grief Under the Mallorcan Sun.
Lucía Aleñar Iglesias’ promising debut finds a unique angle on coming-of-age and haunted house tropes — marking her as a director to watch.
An Eerie Maternal Bond, Under a Volcano’s Shadow
Borrowing Reygadas’ DOP, Ana Cristina Barragán’s taboo-breaking film The Ivy doesn’t satisfy, even if it keeps us curious.
Between Dreams and Hope. Between Risk and Compromise.
Farnoosh Samadi’s blistering thriller Between Dreams and Hope captures the compromises of a young trans man navigating the difficulties of modern-day Iran.
En el camino Updates the Queer Road Trip Playbook
David Pablos’ riveting Mexican film En El Camino, winner of the Queer Lion, presents a fresh take on the queer road trip movie.