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.
Tag Archives: France
TIFF 2023 Review: “Bye Bye Tiberias”
Lina Soualem’s documentary “Bye Bye Tiberias” offers an emotionally charged and complex portrait of her family’s relationship with their Palestinian roots. Using archival footage, family interviews, reenactments, and personal reflection, the film examines the lasting emotional impact of displacement and the occupation on the Palestinian diaspora.
TIFF 2023 Review: “Banel & Adama”
From the talented Senegalese director Ramate-Toulaye Sy, known for her 2021 Oscar-qualifying short ‘Astel’ and her remarkable screenplay for the 2019 Rwandan film ‘Our Lady of the Nile,’ comes her debut feature, “Banel & Adama.” Having made its debut in the prestigious competition at the 2023 Cannes Film Festival, the film manages to exceed all expectations and establishes Sy as a masterful storyteller. “Banel & Adama” is a searing romantic drama set in a remote Senegalese village, distinguished by its intimate characters and an intricate narrative that deftly tackles issues of tradition, gender, and disruptive climate change.
TIFF 2023 Review: “Not a Word”
“Not a Word,” The latest film from Slovenian-German director Hanna Slak, presents a psychologically profound examination of the troubled dynamic between a mother and her quiet son. Set between Germany and France’s wintery, frigid landscapes, the drama delves into the effects of passion and emotional neglect on its central characters. The story captures how the mother’s professional ambitions lead to a growing distance between parent and child, ultimately impacting the son’s emotional growth. With its jarring narrative, “Not a Word” delivers a stunning commentary on passion, communication, and parenting. It’s a compelling look at a woman torn between her passion and the real-world emotional needs of her child that she’s failing to meet.
TIFF 2023 Review: “The Monk and the Gun”
In his second feature film, “The Monk and the Gun,” Bhutanese filmmaker Pawo Choyning Dorji presents a multifaceted story of various characters, each with a unique perspective on the influence of globalization on Bhutan and the country´s transition to democracy in 2006. Against the stunning mountainous landscapes, this culturally rich film offers a brilliantly written critique of a society caught between the perseverance of their culture, Westernization and enforced modernity.
Venice 2023 Review: “Heartless”
“Heartless” is the debut feature from the Brazilian director duo Nara Normande and Tião. Prior to this film, they had made three short films, including the critically acclaimed animated short “Guaxama,” which won awards at many film festivals. “Heartless” premiered at the 2023 Venice Film Festival and is based on the director’s 2014 short of the same name. The film follows a girl from a fishing village, as she prepares to leave for college in the city of Brasilia. During her last few days in the village, she becomes intrigued by a strange girl. While exploring societal constructs, going as far as delving into the origin of toxic masculinity, in addition to a character analysis that shows how such mentalities persist in future generations, the film leaves many other narrative threads underdeveloped, leading to a rather chaotic experience at times.
Venice 2023 Review: “Behind the Mountains”
“Behind the Mountains” by Tunisian director Mohamed Ben Attia shows the filmmaker delving into daringly new territories, as he adds a fantastical element to the social realist style he was previously known for with his acclaimed films “Hedi” and “Dear Son.” This film is an emotional tale about a father-son relationship that interweaves elements of reality and fantasy to dissect the complexities of human relationships and escapism.
Venice 2023 Review: “God is a Woman”
Andrés Peyrot’s “God is a Woman” is an impactful documentary that serves to empower a community, but also teaches an essential lesson about ethical filmmaking. Premiering as the opening film of the Critic’s Week of the Venice Film Festival, this Swiss-Panamanian creation avoids the traditional ‘outsider-looking-in’ approach, instead providing the Indigenous Kuna people of Panama with agency to shape their own narrative.
Locarno 2023 Review: “Essential Truths of the Lake”
Essential Truths of the Lake, the latest work from acclaimed Philippine director Lav Diaz, arrives at the Locarno Film Festival as a fascinating prequel to last year’s When the Waves Are Gone. It is a film of contradiction, complexity, and deep resonance, weaving political commentary, existential pondering, and a grounded police procedural into a textured and innovative work.
Cannes 2023 Review: ´All to Play For´
Directed by Cannes newcomer Delphine Deloget, ‘All to Play For’ is a stirring and poignant drama set to premiere at the Cannes Film Festival’s Un Certain Regard competition. Anchored by an emotionally charged performance from the recent César Award-winner Virginie Efira, the film explores the harsh reality of a single mother striving against societal and systemic obstacles in modern France.
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