France
Film Review – Nouvelle Vague
The French New Wave has become such a milestone in the history of cinema that it risks being under appreciated. Take any film course and you’ll eventually arrive at it. It’s a major inflection point – we can see the change in filmmaking technique almost…
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Film Review – One Fine Morning
For many, life is not made up of big sweeping moments, but of small intimate struggles. Going to work, making money, taking care of our loved ones – these are the responsibilities that make up our daily existence. But the small things can eventually build…
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Film Review – Athena
When it comes to pure kinetic energy, few have matched the size and scope of Athena (2022). This is a propulsive, muscular film, exploding out of the gate with high octane action. Director Romain Gavras (who cowrites with Elias Belkeddar and Ladj Ly) has crafted a story that feels urgent in every…
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An Appreciation – Cléo from 5 to 7
Of the French New Wave filmmakers, Agnès Varda stands on a pillar of her own. Although her name may not be the first mentioned – shamefully – along the likes of Jean-Luc Godard or François Truffaut, Varda’s contributions to the movement are just as important, if not more so. Her…
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Film Review – The Summit of the Gods
The Summit of the Gods (2021) starts out as a mystery and evolves into something more than that. Featuring gorgeous, realistic animation, the film investigates the reasons why people go on personal conquests that put them in extreme physical danger. Whether it be diving into the…
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Film Review – Titane
If I were tell you the entire plot of Titane (2021) beat by beat, you probably wouldn’t believe me. This is a one-of-a-kind experience that is equal parts brutal, shocking, horrific, hilarious, and compassionate. Winner of the Palme d’Or at this year’s Cannes Film Festival,…
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TIFF Review – Petite Maman
Céline Sciamma is back at TIFF after her previous film, A Portrait of a Lady on Fire (2019) also screened at the fest in 2019. Petite Maman (2021) centers on Nelly (Joséphine Sanz), a young girl who is experiencing the aftermath of the recent death…
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Film Review – Portrait of a Lady on Fire
Céline Sciamma‘s Portrait of a Lady on Fire is a meticulously done film of scenes of time passing that put together a thoughtful and intriguing idea about romance and camaraderie in extraordinary situations. In the 18th century Marianne (Noémie Merlant), a female painter, is sent…
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