An engaging coming-of-age tale, The Bearded Girl is so full of charm that you can’t help but fall for it. Honest and true to itself, it’s a film about finding yourself even when you have a pre-defined legacy to uphold. Jody Wilson has marked herself out as a filmmaker we
Tag: cinema
La Mort N’existe Pas ★★★ 1/2 Fantasia
La Mort N’existe Pas is a sublimely hand-drawn animated film from Félix Dufour-Laperrière. There is great power in its message on political action and inaction. While imperfect, this will hit the right notes for many. Young activists attempt an armed attack that fails, leading one of the activists, Hélène, to
Hold the Fort – ★★★★ Fantasia 2025
Hold the Fort is the horror comedy of the year, an absolute blast that, once the action starts, becomes a non-stop riot. William Bagley’s film delivers in every conceivable way. Lucas and Jenny finally buy their first home out in suburbia, the only problem is they have moved in just
500 Days in the Wild ★★★ Raindance 2025
For as gorgeous and inspirational as Dianne Whelan’s 500 Days in the Wild is, there is a tendency to drift into near aimlessness due to the sweeping nature of Whelan’s journey. What stays true, however, is that there is a great kindness in humans of all kinds to be present
Katwe – ★★★★ 1/2 Sheff Doc Fest
Katwe is a powerful and essential documentary from Nima Shirali about the working class in the salt pans of Uganda—those left behind from one broken promise after another. A deserted salt factory casts a very long shadow of an unfulfilled promise. In contrast, the politicians promise to free the community
Casas Muertas ★★★ 1/2 – Sheffield Doc Fest
One thread runs through all of the multi-generational subjects in Rosana Matecki’s excellent documentary, Casas Muertas – they are all haunted in some form by ghosts, whether that is family who are lost, or a country that resembles nothing of what it once was; these people are haunted and lost.
Shards of Light ★★★★ Sheffield Doc Fest
Marcus Lenz and Mila Teshaieva’s emotional sequel to When Spring Came to Bucha takes us on the next phase for the people of the city, rehabilitation. The heavy weight of trauma complements the unflinching truth of what it’s like to live on in the wake of destruction. The residents of
Blue Has No Borders ★★★ 1/2 – Sheffield Doc Fest
There’s a lot to like about Blue Has No Borders, as the filmmaker Jessi Gutch provides us with a documentary that tackles Britain’s identity crisis and shows that, like everything in life, it was already there right in our faces and is a lot more hopeful than we think. In
Bestiari, Erbari, Lapidari – ★★★★★ Cinecittà: Italian Doc Season 2025
If there is one thing that you come away with from Bestiari, Erbari, Lapidari by filmmakers Martina Parenti and Massimo D’Anolfi, it is that the planet would thrive without humans on it. This powerful documentary warrants your fullest attention, as it takes your breath away. Divided into three acts on
Trade Secret ★★★★ – Sheffield Doc Fest
A haunting documentary about the disgusting commercial trade of polar bear fur, Abraham Joffe’s Trade Secret expertly exposes the betrayal of those meant to protect a vulnerable species. Each year, hundreds of polar bears fall victim to a brutal international trade. The situation seems dire, but hope emerges when three
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