B- relationship drama Written by Mazarine Pingeot, Fanny Burdino, and Joachim Lafosse Directed by Joachim Lafosse The French divorce drama After Love feels very true to life. It reminded me of actual marriages I've seen fall apart. It captures the arguments, the money problems, and the parenting issues to the letter. But that, in and … Continue reading After Love: How marriage dies
Category: Drama
Drama
Death and virtual life in Marjorie Prime
A- Futuristic drama Written by Michael Almereyda; from the play by Jordan Harrison Directed by Michael Almereyda One of the hardest parts about losing a loved one is the knowledge that you will never talk to them again and hear a response. This moody, near-future drama posits a way that you just might be able … Continue reading Death and virtual life in Marjorie Prime
Harmonia: Genesis and classical music in my last Jewish Film Fest screening
Today (Sunday) is the last day of this year's San Francisco Jewish Film Festival. But I'm not attending the Festival today. Therefore, the one movie I saw yesterday closed out the Festival for me. Luckily, it was a really good film. A- Harmonia This wonderful musical drama places the Biblical story of Abraham, Sarah, Hagar, Ishmael, … Continue reading Harmonia: Genesis and classical music in my last Jewish Film Fest screening
Unhappy marriages: Thursday night at the Jewish Film Festival
Thursday night, I caught two movies at the San Francisco Jewish Film Festival. One was very good. One was very bad. No filmmakers attended their films at the Albany Twin that night. That's normal after the Festival moves from San Francisco to the East Bay. A- Personal Affairs This surprisingly sad comedy looks at a quietly dysfunctional … Continue reading Unhappy marriages: Thursday night at the Jewish Film Festival
Jewish Film Festival: Planetarium isn’t much to look up to
I caught an 8:45 SF Jewish Film Festival screening of Planetarium Tuesday night. Unfortunately, the movie wasn't worth watching. The story was absurd, and worse, its execution was dull and boring. Only one of the three main characters was at all interesting, and we never really got to know her. The film follows the adventures of … Continue reading Jewish Film Festival: Planetarium isn’t much to look up to
Person to Person: Not that personable
C Multi-story drama Written and directed by Dustin Guy Defa Dustin Guy Defa wants to be Robert Altman - or at least he wants to make Altman-like movies, with multiple stories weaved together as a portrait of a time and place. But Person to Person is no Nashville. It lacks a theme to tie the … Continue reading Person to Person: Not that personable
13 Minutes: The difference between life and death in Nazi Germany
A- Historical drama Written by Léonie-Claire Breinersdorfer and Fred Breinersdorfer Directed by Oliver Hirschbiegel This spellbinding and sometimes gruesome story about Nazi Germany feels very relevant today. It's a must see, even though it will probably turn your stomach. No matter how much you like 13 Minutes, you probably won't want to see it twice. … Continue reading 13 Minutes: The difference between life and death in Nazi Germany
Maudie: Beautiful biopic of a painter
A biopic Written by Sherry White Directed by Aisling Walsh I went into this beautiful story without knowing that it was based on the life of a real person. I came out wanting to know more about Maude Lewis, a painter of moderate renown from Nova Scotia. Her paintings are colorful, simple, and cheerful. She … Continue reading Maudie: Beautiful biopic of a painter
Summertime: Lesbian love in 1971
A- Romantic drama Written by Catherine Corsini and Laurette Polmanss Directed by Catherine Corsini Note: I wrote this review almost a year ago, shortly before the film's screening at the 2016 Frameline festival. I assumed that it would receive an American theatrical release. It didn't. I just discovered that the movie is available on several … Continue reading Summertime: Lesbian love in 1971
The Student teaches us about religious fascism
A Drama Written and directed by Kirill Serebrennikov One determined student can manipulate his schoolmates, teachers, and the administration, disrupting an entire high school. All he needs is a fanatical belief and the will to do anything to achieve his goals. Kirill Serebrennikov's powerful drama, The Student, shows exactly how it can be done. It's … Continue reading The Student teaches us about religious fascism
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