Writer-director Michal Vinik explores arranged marriages in the Israeli Ophir-nominated film, Valeria Is Getting Married (Valeria Mithatenet). The world and North American premieres come a few weeks before the Ophir Awards–aka the Israeli Oscars–take place in mid-September. The film has nominations in nine of the eighteen categories, including Best Film, Director, Actor, Actress, and Supporting Actor. Surprisingly, Dasha Tvoronovich is the only lead who did not receive an acting nomination. A Ukrainian bride, Christina (Lena Fraifeld),…
"Valeria Is Getting Married – Venice 2022"Category: Film Festival
Both Sides of the Blade marks the return to the big screen for filmmaker Claire Denis but unfortunately, the film is a let-down. Love triangle films can either be good or bad. In the case of this film, you don’t find yourself rooting for anyone. While Jean (Vincent London) and Sara (Juliette Binoche) might be living together for ten years now, Sara still has feelings for her ex, François (Grégoire Colin). He also happens to…
"Both Sides of the Blade Is Not For Everyone"
Turn Every Page: The Adventures of Robert A. Caro and Robert Gottlieb takes audiences behind the scenes of their relationship. Readers are currently waiting for Caro’s fifth volume of the three-volume Lyndon Baines Johnson biography. But in the meantime, we have a documentary that explores both Caro and Gottlieb. There’s no shortage of humor, insight, or drama. Their work has had a tremendous impact on multiple generations at this point. This documentary will make for…
"Turn Every Page – Tribeca 2022"
Endangered explores a year in the life of a small number of journalists working in democracies and the intimidation from the far-right. The following words were said about journalists during a campaign rally in Brazil and it is absolutely sickening: “These reporters are criminals. These people need to be executed.“ Think about it. When someone speaks this sort of rhetoric on the campaign trail, it is absolutely reprehensible. If you spoke this way in the…
"Endangered – Tribeca 2022"
The Rebellious Life of Mrs. Rosa Parks, a Peacock original, is an in-depth documentary focusing on the legend in the Civil Rights movement. In this long-overdue full-length documentary, filmmakers Yoruba Richen and Johanna Hamilton draw on the biography written by Jeanne Theoharis. The film, executive produced by Soledad O’Brien, is comprehensive in every aspect. It covers more than just the bus boycott, voting rights marches, and her time working for Congressman John Conyers (D-Mich.). This…
"The Rebellious Life of Mrs. Rosa Parks – Tribeca 2022"
Peace in the Valley deals with the immediate effects of gun violence so if this is a triggering topic, please consider yourself warned. There’s no denying that gun violence is a serious issue in our country. But very rarely do films seek to explore the psychological trauma that comes with the violence. Moreover, the problem with this film is that it comes one year after two other films touched on the subject, Mass and The…
"Peace in the Valley – Tribeca 2022"
Cherry is a very timely film since its leading character must decide if she is going to abort an unplanned pregnancy or go through with it. Tribeca platforming this film does not absolve the fest for giving voice to anti-choice advocates. It is more important than ever to make sure that Roe v. Wade has a future. Films like Cherry, Unpregnant, Never Rarely Sometimes Always, and more are important because they add a voice to…
"Cherry – Tribeca 2022"
The John McEnroe Showtime documentary, McEnroe, sees the tennis great open up about his career and finally tell his side of the story. Four years ago saw the release of an archival documentary about the tennis great. This time around, he appears in a tell-all documentary where he opens up about his career. He acknowledges that he did a shitty job at being one of the greatest players on the court. His attitude shows through…
"McEnroe – Tribeca 2022"
The Wild One explores the journey of Holocaust survivor Jack Garfein and how his trauma would impact him as a director and filmmaker. Orson Welles once said of Garfein that “If there had not been a Jack Garfein, Hollywood would have invented him!” The generation of Shoah survivors are dying out. Garfein passed away at the end of 2019. Born in Czechoslovakia in 1930, his family moved to Hungary because they thought it would be…
"The Wild One – Tribeca 2022"
Unfinished Business tells the definitive story of the WNBA in documentary format while weaving in the 2021 New York Liberty season. The New York Liberty entered the 2021 season following one of their worst seasons in history. They were 2-20 during the 2020 season. Oregon guard Sabrina Ionescu became the league’s overall #1 draft pick in April 2020 when the Liberty selected her. Meanwhile, Betnijah Laney joined the roster for the 2021 season after having…
"Unfinished Business – Tribeca 2022"