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
Tag: film blog
Rewrite – ★★★★ Fantasia 2025
Daigo Matsui’s terrific Rewrite takes the time loop story. It gives us a film full of contemplation on how we allow our past to define our future and how small moments can have drastic consequences on one’s life. Yasuhiko is a transfer student to a classroom with Miyuki. She barely
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
Frankie Freako – ★★★★
Steven Kostanski has found a unique, cheesy, weird and most importantly, fun corner of cinema to thrive in, and that continues with his latest film, Frankie Freako. It’s bizarre, but a whole lot of fun and sometimes, that’s all you need in life. Workaholic yuppie Conor is in an existential
Videoheaven – ★★★★
Alex Ross Perry’s documentary Videohaven is the perfect visual dissertation that hits all the right emotional and thoughtful notes you want it to without being overly sentimental. Socio-cultural hub, consumer mecca, and source of existential dread, the video rental store forever changed the way we interact with movies. With narration
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.
Redlight to Limelight ★★★ 1/2 – Sheffield Doc Fest
Dreams are everywhere; everyone has them. In Bipuljit Basu’s empathetic Redlight to Limelight, we see those who are the most fragile dreaming, and all you can do is dream with them. Sex workers and their kids in a Kolkata brothel run Cam-On, a video production unit where they create stories.
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
Load More