Cruel Summer
Cruel Summer, a film based on a tragically wrongheaded crime, is a knockoff of Larry Clark’s Bully. I’m fine with that; following that model isn’t necessarily problematic.
February 2018
Wylie Writes @ Ulrike Ottinger in Asia
All of us should occasionally stop and consider how lucky we are to have the TIFF Bell Lightbox. On top of the populist arthouse fare that populates the majority of their schedule, the Lightbox occasionally introduces a brand-new audience to underrated, underappreciated, or simply underseen filmmakers. The latest addition to this tradition is the Goethe Institute-curated mini-retrospective, Ulrike Ottinger in Asia; a program of four features, three of which are Ottinger’s celebrations of various Asian cultures (the…
Black Hollow Cage
By: Nick van Dinther Black Hollow Cage is so visually special, you could watch it on mute. The fact that writer/director Sadrac González-Perellón attaches a surreal story and engaging characters to the presentation makes this a must-see.
Mom and Dad
Mom and Dad is a touchy sell, even if the film is up front with its maniacal plot about parents killing their children and how it shoots for the moon in terms of dark comedy.
My Piece of the City
Focused on Toronto’s Regent Park, My Piece of the City follows a few local kids as they prepare for their community-inspired stage production, The Journey.
Loveless
There are some things that Andrey Zvyagintsev is very good at, such as political commentary. There are some things that Zvyagintsev is awful at, such as portrayals (or occasionally even the inclusion) of women in his films. So, what happens when Zvyagintsev makes a political film with a female lead? You end up with a disappointing monstrosity; one that could have been a masterpiece if a good forty percent was discarded. You end up with…
In Between
In a remarkable directorial and screenwriting debut from Arab-Israeli filmmaker Maysaloun Hamoud, In Between encapsulates the struggle between identity and conflicting cultural expectations.
Shiners
By: Jessica Goddard An intercontinental survey of the state of the archaic shoe shining profession, Stacey Tenenbaum’s Shiners is endearing in its graceful simplicity and ability to shine a spotlight on truly memorable, delightful characters. Tenenbaum has a genuine gift for seeking out excellent subjects – from the quirky and lovable, to the inspiring and pleasantly puzzling. All have in common a philosophical attitude towards the work of shoe shining; whether they consider it a bona…
Before We Vanish
Sometimes, subpar movies can challenge our opinions and still manage to stick out. Such is the case for Kiyoshi Kurosawa’s Before We Vanish, a mid-level sci-fi flick with eccentric comedy, explosive action, and dry drama thrown into the mix.
A Year in an English Garden: Flicker + Pulse
And here I was thinking that this week’s scatological doc Poop Talk was going to be the most pointless release of the year.