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Leiden 2023 Review: “The Old Oak”

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The Leiden International Film Festival (LIFF), spanning from October 26 to November 5 this year, presents a rich array of cinema, stretching from the thought-provoking arthouse to the more accessible mainstream, offering a feast for all film lovers. Since its first edition in 2006, it has blossomed into one of the Netherlands’ most-anticipated film gatherings. This review of Ken Loach’s ‘The Old Oak’ kicks off a series of reviews spotlighting some of the films showcased at LIFF.

VIFF 2023 Review: “The Mother of All Lies”

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“The Mother of All Lies” by Moroccan filmmaker Asmae El Moudir is a masterfully crafted, intimate, and personal experimental documentary. With a meticulous handmade set and figurines, El Moudir dives deep into her family’s history in the Casablanca neighborhood, seeking to heal past wounds and strengthen family bonds. This in-depth exploration of family dynamics explores the indelible mark of the past on our characters and relationships. This immaculate project earned the film a Best Director accolade at this year’s Cannes’ Un Certain Regard section.

VIFF 2023 Review: “Here”

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With “Here”, Belgian auteur Bas Devos delivers another transcending meditative experience, reflecting both the familiar hallmarks of his filmmaking style and refreshingly innovative steps into brighter realms. As is familiar with Devos, viewers are treated to small leisurely walks along Belgian streets in a small but incredibly impactful portrayal of a few days in the lives of his protagonists. However, in a departure from his usual visual style, colors pop where darkness once dominated.

VIFF 2023 Review: “Only the River Flows”

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“Only the River Flows” takes its viewers to a neo-noir world set against early 1990s rural China. Here, a murder case casts a dark shadow over a quaint town by the river. The mind behind this atmospheric piece is Wei Shujun, who, in collaboration with Kang Chunlei, adapted Yu Hua’s evocative short novel, “Mistakes By The River.” This film is an audiovisual treat that seamlessly pairs its immaculate style with an ever-engaging puzzling narrative that thrives on ambiguity prompting audiences to ponder the underlying themes rather than simply absorb a linear story.

VIFF 2023 Review: “Terrestrial Verses”

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In a year where grim stories about Iran and its government have dominated Western news outlets and social media, “Terrestrial Verses,” the new film by Ali Asgari and Alireza Khatami reflects the somber sentiments widely portrayed. Through many carefully constructed vignettes, the film reveals the everyday struggles of Iranians, offering a more intimate, complex, yet at times monotonous perspective on life in the country.

San Sebastián 2023 Review: “A Silence”

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In “A Silence”, Belgian writer-director Joachim Lafosse exposes the unsettling truth about abuse that often goes unnoticed in the shadows of societal achievements. The film unearths the disturbing realities that can exist within successful, bourgeois households by peeling back the layers of prosperity and success. Through its nuanced storytelling, Lafosse’s tenth feature film sheds light on cycles of abuse, the line between loyalty and complicity, and the insidiousness of silence, pulling back the curtain on the darker aspects of domestic life.

TIFF 2023 Review: “Mimang”

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Kim Taeyang’s debut film “Mimang” is a beautiful exploration of time and its inevitable impact on the heart of Seoul and its inhabitants. The Korean word “mimang” embodies a complex range of emotions, including being unable to make sense from ignorance, being unable to forget what one wants to forget, and searching far and wide. Through the lens of Kim, these interpretations of “mimang” unfurl in three intertwined chapters, shot over four years, that explore how time, surroundings, and individuals evolve and change over time in the gorgeous city of Seoul.

TIFF 2023 Review: “The Tundra Within Me”

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“The Tundra Within Me” is a captivating drama that explores the themes of identity, heritage, and community through the lens of the rarely depicted Sámi culture. Directed by Norwegian Sámi filmmaker Sara Margrethe Oskal, the movie presents a conventional narrative structure, yet effectively showcases the complexities of its characters. Oskal’s astute direction paints a vivid picture of a community and a way of life seldom seen on screen, offering deep cultural and emotional insights.

TIFF 2023 Review: “Riddle of Fire”

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Weston Razooli’s “Riddle of Fire” is a visual and narrative homage to the storytelling styles of yesteryears, peppered with references to 1980s culture. By weaving a tapestry of fantasy, nostalgia, and nostalgia through fantasy, Razooli embarks on a journey that nods to the storytelling traditions of magical quests and fairytales, providing an engaging backdrop for quests that would normally seem mundane to the adult mind. This coming-of-age film invites audiences, especially those with a soft spot for retro aesthetics, to look into the world of a child’s imagination.

TIFF 2023 Review: “A Road to a Village”

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“A Road to a Village,” directed by Nepalese filmmaker Nabin Subba in his return after six years, offers a multi-layered narrative set against the backdrop of Eastern Nepal’s stunning mountainous landscapes. The narrative centers on Maila, a humble basket weaver, his wife Maile, and their seven-year-old son Bindray. Living a simple, traditional life, the family finds itself at a crossroads when a newly constructed road brings the wider world, along with all its modern resources, to their remote village.