If you’re looking for new outlets for checking out films, this article series is a perfect way to seek out new channels to dive into. In this edition, I highlight some of the films premiering at the 35th Philadelphia Film Festival!
Look Back
How can you remake a nearly perfect anime film like Look Back? When an acclaimed filmmaker like Hirokazu Kore-eda takes the reins, you have something quite special. Tatsuki Fujimoto’s manga is a powerful story about two friends connecting over their love of art and drawing. Kore-eda’s film is a gorgeous and beautiful film that has perfect sensitivity and warmth. The endearing connection between Fujino and Kyomoto has plenty of connections and chemistry. You fall for this friendship so quickly and authentically, with a heavy bit of tragedy that shakes you to the core. The performances of these young women feel so earnest and genuine, which allows the experience to hit so deeply. The third act of this film is a bold swing, and its emotional avalanche and bold surrealist elements elevate the film to a masterful cinematic experience. But the real masterful stroke is the intimacy and beauty of the creative process, and Kore-eda highlights the drawing process closely. The sound design of the film is quite compelling and engrossing. Look Back is one of the most impressive films of the year.
Mouse
Losing a best friend and losing a daughter are very different experiences, but the connection of grief is what Kelly O’Sullivan and Alex Thompson explore in their new film Mouse. This beautiful and poignant film just might be the strongest effort yet from this dynamic directorial duo, whose films like Saint Frances and Ghostlight have already made an impact over the last few years. O’Sullivan’s screenplay is detailed, layered, and impeccably written. There are scenes that feature conversations or confrontations between characters that are rich and powerful in their articulation of what this film is about. Sophie Okonedo is a revelation as this grieving mother who struggles to find a new path in life and takes her daughter’s best friend under her wing. Katherine Mallen Kupferer is a breakout star as the quiet young woman whose best friend tragically dies. Her performance has so much in her looks and body language while delivering authenticity to this experience. Chloe Coleman is a lightning rod for the brief time she is on screen (as the young woman who tragically dies). Supporting turns by Tara Mallen, David Hyde Pierce, and Iman Vellani tie this experience together so perfectly. It is hard to even count how many great scenes are sprinkled throughout this film. Mouse is a wonderfully balanced experience between heartbreak and humor.
Fjord
Cristian Mungiu has outdone himself with his most challenging and ambiguous film to date. Fjord does not make a single second of its two-and-a-half-hour runtime easy. The filmmaking is crisp, dynamic, and subtle. Mungiu is not interested in flash as he creates a wholly engrossing and stark experience. The stark and haunting Norwegian landscape makes for a cold and imposing setting for this drama. The film highlights a variety of conflicts, with the anti-religious sentiments of Northern Europe taking center stage as well as anti-immigrant sentiments. On the surface, this seems to be a pro-religious experience with a clear hatred for the government. But the subtlety allows plenty of layers to reveal themselves along the way. The strictly religious and detached father is not portrayed as a hero or good man. There is a clear fear in Sebastian Stan’s character of how the external forces in Norway (including the neighbor girl who deeply loves his daughter) are causing a “bad influence” on his children. Stan and Renate Reinsve are both incredible with their subtly affecting performances. This is a film that will deeply frustrate you and will get a rise out of you (in the most purposeful and impactful way). Mungiu threads in so many layers and ideas into this drama, which make for an incredibly rich and haunting experience. Fjord is just as worthwhile as it is challenging.
Tender Loving Care
Yet again, legendary filmmaker Mike Leigh crafts a naturalistic and deeply human story that hits all the right notes. This is a film about aging and the weighty effects on family. It is also a film about civil servants who are beaten down every day despite just trying to help society. Tender Loving Care is anchored by a quartet of characters who all come to life so vividly and authentically on screen. Kate O’Flynn plays Amy, who has been dumped by her partner of five years and moves back in with her best friend, Alice Bailey Johnson’s Rosie. There are a pair of quirky ladies who are both lovely and quite hilarious. Their chemistry is electric, making for a genuinely funny experience. But through the struggles of Amy’s parents (portrayed by Marion Bailey and Paul Jesson), the film takes a weightier turn with dementia slowly degrading one of these loving partners. The film is deep and rich in themes but also delivers plenty of laughter and tears. The filmmaking is refined, which is just the lovely cherry on top of this beautifully charming film.
Club Kid
Club Kid might be the little film to look out for this fall movie season. Writer/director/star Jordan Firstman crafts one of the most dynamic films, capturing the clubbing scene while delivering a powerful father-son story that will no doubt make you cry. Firstman’s film is a sobering experience that shows the excitement and hedonism of clubbing but also the adverse effects of drugs and this unhealthy party culture. Club Kid is one of the most unabashedly queer films of the year as well, with such a wonderful ensemble of characters from all walks of life. Firstman crafts a tone that delivers both consistent, riotous laughter and plenty of deep emotion. Firstman’s lead performance is powerful and engaging, as he brings the sharp dialogue of his script impressively while also selling the emotion. His chemistry with young Reggie Absolom is powerful and electric (as their growing connection as father and son is powerful). The filmmaking is excellent, with the club and partying sequences owning some of the most unique and dynamic visuals in film this year.
The Debut
With The Debut, Jesse Eisenberg delivers one of the most passionate expressions of the artistic experience while crafting one of the most quirky and charming cinematic experiences of the whole festival. The quirky and zany tone of this film is a revelation by Eisenberg, who crafts such a specific atmosphere that fits this charming tale so perfectly. What works best with The Debut is a towering turn by Julianne Moore. Her energy is infectious. The evolution of a mousy and timid housewife to a powerful and confident star is believable, entrancing, and compelling. Moore is so genuine in her performance and fully committed to crafting this strange yet endearing character in Mona Friedman. Paul Giamatti is the perfect casting as the resistant force that breaks Mona down and pushes her on this transformative journey. Their chemistry is undeniable, and the sharply acidic facade that Giamatti crafts is quite compelling. The rest of the supporting cast fit their roles so well and bring a lively ensemble to life. Eisenberg’s efforts to create his own musical within this film are very impressive, with plenty of infectious numbers that reinforce the experience. The Debut is a charming exploration of identity and the creative process (even if its absurdity goes a tad too far at times). The amount of heart this film has is admirable, and the amount of laughs it delivers is quite impressive.
All of a Sudden
All of a Sudden is an impressive feat of filmmaking, with an epic runtime and deeply intimate story. A tale of two women (Virginie Efira’s Marie-Lou and Tao Okamoto’s Mari) who meet by chance and develop an undeniable connection. A story of a powerful friendship (or maybe more…that is certainly left in the air to sometimes frustrating measures) that brings two women stuck in their own situations. Marie-Lou’s story is more plot-driven, and the thematic core of the film is that she runs a nursing home where she is attempting to transition to a more human-focused approach, to much pushback by the nurses and the financial backers. Mari is a creative genius whose life is coming to a near-sudden end due to terminal cancer. One fateful night shows a compelling and engrossing dynamic growing between them, and director Ryusuke Hamaguchi injects plenty of thematic elements naturally intertwined in the dialogue. The two performances from Efira and Okamoto are beautiful, rich, and powerful as they both deliver some intense humanity to the film, and their chemistry together is so magnetic that the 196 minutes of runtime move by so elegantly. Beautifully shot (the rich colors and precise blocking for sure), Hamaguchi found a profound story that earns most of that runtime (ever engaging but not always necessary).
Behemoth!
Who doesn’t love the art of film scoring? Tony Gilroy delivers one of the most creative and charming films for this awards season. Pedro Pascal portrays Alex Serian, an extremely talented and flawed third-generation musician. His whole family performed or created on film scores, and Alex finds himself back in Los Angeles to do the same as his mother is dying. But this is just the tip of the iceberg in Gilroy’s film. There might be elements that feel a little unbelievable, but the narrative is filled with conflict, drama, and passion. The use of score is impressive, as the action is intercut with Alex’s film orchestra performing impressive scores (composed by a team of nine composers, including some of the best working today). Pascal delivers one of the best performances of his career with plenty of charm and emotion. There are plenty of laughs along the way, but also thrills and tears. The supporting cast is stacked with memorable turns by Eva Victor, Will Arnett, Olivia Wilde, Hank Azaria, and more. The film is mysterious regarding its purpose, and when it finally reveals itself, there is so much emotional catharsis that you will be remembering this engrossing experience for a long time.
La Bola Negra
This epic film spans three timelines (and one flashback) that paint a striking mosaic of homosexuality throughout Spanish culture and time. Javier Ambrossi and Javier Calvo (known collectively as Los Javis) deliver a cinematic experience that has the scale of classic awards darlings like Ben-Hur and The English Patient. The cinematography is bold in that it captures the danger and desolation of war while finding the intimate moments between characters that are pregnant with emotion. The score is downright powerful, and the music is leveraged to impressive levels as plenty of emotions are conveyed through this towering film. All three threads don’t necessarily feel equally compelling, with the present-day one taking long to find its footing and significance, but the sum of these parts makes for a sprawling tale. The thematic work is rich and powerful, as this film will make you process the century-long struggle. The leads each bring emotion and humanity to their roles, which anchor the film. Penélope Cruz also shows up and tears the house down with her elegance and sexual magnetism. One of the boldest and grandest films out of the festival, this just might get plenty of attention this awards season.
Possible Love
What does acclaimed Korean filmmaker Lee Chang-dong have up his sleeve for his longest gestating film to date? Possible Love is a sprawling film with quite the runtime, which is filled to the brim with tension, trauma, and human struggle. Starting with a former colleague’s funeral, Sul Kyung-gu’s Ho-seok is struggling after getting laid off and vilified for a strike when his wife (Jeon Do-yeon’s Mi-ok) pulls him into a documentary about labor shifts in Korea. Cho Yeo-joeng’s Ye-ji portrays a voyeuristic documentarian who becomes transfixed by both Mi-ok and Ho-seok. Her wealthy and successful husband, Zo In-sung’s Sang-woo, joins the fray as these two couples collide in a powerful and compelling web of tension. Chang-dong’s screenplay is rich with character work and layers. The themes are incredibly rich and poignant. All four of the lead actors deliver totally different but all equally compelling and powerful performances. Some of the best acting out of this festival and plenty of incredible character work deliver one of the strongest efforts of award season so far.
Josephine
What would witnessing a rape do to a second-grade girl? That is the harrowing basis for Beth de Araujo’s new thriller. Josephine tells the story of Mason Reeves’ titular young girl who witnesses a brutal assault in the woods and must process this horrible experience while attempting to act as a witness in court. De Araujo takes a bold visual approach by delivering many moments in the film from the POV of young Josephine. The act is presented in such a disconcerting and visceral manner. The intimate and engrossing presentation of the film makes the experience feel so much more intense and unnerving. The choice to have the rapist appear randomly in Josephine’s personal space delivers plenty of horrifying and unnerving moments throughout the film. Reeves turns in such a powerful and dynamic performance for a child actor. Channing Tatum delivers arguably the best performance of his career. At times intense, vulnerable, loving, and terrifying, both Tatum and Gemma Chan prove they both have powerful range. This is a film that will shake you to the core with such a biting commentary on how society navigates rape and gender dynamics.
Tangles
Based on the beautiful graphic novel by Sarah Leavitt, director Leah Nelson brings the story of an adult lesbian artist to life who navigates the deterioration of her beloved mother. The striking black-and-white animation gives the film great texture as Nelson leverages some magical realism and Sarah’s creative style. Tangles has a sharp balance between deeply affecting emotion and hearty laughs along the way. The film explores the effects this diagnosis has on Sarah along with her father and sister. There is an added layer of connection as Sarah navigates a new and passionate connection with Domino and tries to be a supportive daughter across the country. Tangles does not shy away from the raw passions of life nor the horrible truths of Alzheimer’s. The cast ties it all together with excellent turns from Abbi Jacobson, Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Bryan Cranston, Seth Rogen, and more.
In Waves
Surfing is an experience that connects deeply to Hawaiian culture, connects you to the ocean, and can bring people together in such a powerful way. The new animated film In Waves uses surfing as the foundation for the love and connection in the film’s central romance. This is a tragic love story (as seen many times before on screen), but the beauty of the love and animation lifts this film above the rest. The gorgeous animation is so powerful in that it captures the ocean (where water is such a challenging element to visualize in animation). The love story is charming, offering an equal amount of romance and tragedy. The romance is also bolstered by genuine friendship, which makes for some truly moving and poignant scenes throughout the film. The film all leads to tidal waves of emotion and a beautifully rendered, cathartic finale. A strong voice performance by Lyna Khoudri is the cherry on top of this familiar yet powerful film.
Elsinore
This new film by director Simon Stone follows actor Ian Charleson, who got the opportunity to star in Hamlet at the National Theater as he is dying of AIDS. Andrew Scott delivers an emotional powerhouse performance that is deeply affecting at every turn. You feel every bit of pain, joy, and sadness that fills Charleson’s everyday life in his current position. Scott delivers all the complex physicality of a dying man running himself ragged. His sharp wit is another wonderful addition to the performance and much needed in such a tragic story. The film balances that British wit with deeply emotional impact. This is a familiar tale, but you soon forget that when you are enveloped in such a compelling and inspiring journey filled with memorable characters and performances. The likes of Olivia Colman, Billie Piper, Peter Mullan, and Johnny Flynn fill out the cast with memorable turns. But the personal connections that Charleson has in his queer community are the heart of the film. Moving, inspiring, and meaningful, Elsinore is yet another powerful film in the wide Hamlet-related canon.
Love is the Monster
Love is the Monster is a powerful artistic expression that combines a deeply human experience with a twisty geopolitical/dystopian genre tale. Neto Villalobos’ film is a striking experience with plenty of texture, crisp lighting, and a vivid expression of this distinct setting. The film is overflowing with tension and suspense (with the score playing a tad heavy-handed but still undeniably powerful) as the film puts the audience and the dying protagonist on edge. The most impactful element is the rich screenplay that plays with subtlety and detail instead of beating the audience over the head with expositional dialogue. The world-building is low-fi but fully realized, which creates an engrossing experience. The themes of navigating intergenerational conflict as well as bigger class struggles are powerful. Paulina Garcia delivers a powerful and commanding performance that anchors the film. The desperation that she displays is very powerful and makes for an increasingly tense and challenging experience. The final moments are haunting and will leave you shaken.
The Only Living Pickpocket in New York
Have you ever wanted to be teleported back to the 1970s with a classic and timeless type of story? Noah Segan delivers exactly that with his new crime drama The Only Living Pickpocket in New York. The film has a rich visual palette that has the texture of retro ’70s films, with a jazz-centric score that makes the film feel like one of the coolest things to hit the big screen in a while (courtesy of cinematographer Sam Levy and composer Gary Lionelli). This lean thriller is not even 90 minutes, but it tells an engaging story with strong character work and a classic tale of an aging man navigating a world that has left him behind. John Turturro’s Harry picks the wrong pocket, and it makes for the worst day possible as he attempts to care for his disabled wife. The film is peppered with intriguing characters, memorable moments, and plenty of humor and emotion. Turturro’s performance is one of the best of his career as he delivers engrossing reactions, expert dance moves, and some disarming emotion. A top-notch ensemble, great atmosphere, and a rich (if familiar) narrative make for a wonderful little time capsule.
Check back for Part Two, coming soon!
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