When Sami returns with his wife and son to his Arabic village for his brother’s wedding, he plans a quick return to Jerusalem, where his business and mistress await. Just as he is leaving, the village is unexpectedly put under lockdown by Israeli soldiers, and Sami finds himself caught in an uneasy web of personal and political intrigues. This adaptation of Sayed Kashua’s 2006 novel mixes wry comedy with a touch of the absurd to create a perceptive, winsome satire.[…]
Teenager Joey and his little brother are delighted to be placed back with their mother Daphne after two years apart. All seems to be going well. Daphne has a job and Joey finds his niche with a dance group. But when Daphne sinks back into old, destructive patterns, Joey does whatever it takes to keep social services away. How long can he keep it up and at what cost? Scriptwriter Jaroen Scholten van Aschat collaborates with lead actor Yfendo van Praag to create a personal, earnest portrait of a boy fighting to reach adulthood.[…]
One of the most celebrated and influential comic book artists in all of Asia, Chen Uen drew influence from Chinese ink and western-style painting, wuxia films, and the world around him. He crafted a signature style, one that he adapted across art forms including video games and puppet shows. A series of emotional interviews are combined with a stunning visual showcase of his work to present an intimate portrait of a monumental talent, his evolution across different media, and his enduring legacy.[…]
Writer-director debbie tucker green daringly adapts her acclaimed stage work for the screen, a layered collection of scenes that give voice to the joys, struggles, triumphs, and defeats of the ongoing struggle for racial equality. Cinematic flourishes, from invigorating closeups and dynamic camera movement to riveting light design, give visual depth to the arresting dialogue. A blistering examination of racial injustice in the U.S. and U.K., ear for eye is a breathtaking work of anger, joy, and contemplation.[…]
Newly single, twentysomething aspiring journalist Hanna leaves Stockholm to move back in with her parents in her small hometown. Already feeling adrift, her world is turned upside-down when her father, a respected priest, informs his family that he wants to come out as Marianne. How can Hanna, who hardly believes in herself, accept her father for who she really is? Charming and heartbreaking, the film is inspired by award-winning writer Ester Roxberg’s 2014 autobiographical novel.[…]
