Disclosure: Trans Lives On Screen takes a deep dive into cinematic and television history in order to start a conversation about transgender lives. According to GLAAD, 80 percent of Americans have never met a transgender person. Here’s to hoping that Disclosure changes this statistic because this documentary is the film that we’ve all been waiting for. It’s a film that puts transgender lives on screen in a new perspective. There’s a lot to take in…
"Sundance 2020: Disclosure: Trans Lives On Screen"
Once Upon a Time in Venezuela profiles the Venezuelan village of Congo Mirador and looks at how the community has been impacted by the country’s politics. Politics are a running theme throughout this year’s selection of Sundance documentaries. I know it’s a cliche to say that all art is political but its true. Anabel Rodríguez Ríos takes us on a journey down to Venezuela to share the story of a village in her home country.…
"Sundance 2020: Once Upon a Time in Venezuela"
Whirlybird documents a pair of news reporters in turmoil while soaring high above the ground and taking in the sights of Los Angeles. When it comes to Zoey Tur, there is life pre-transition and post-transition. The large bulk of her news career took place before transition. I can resonate with what she went through in life because I was also assigned the wrong body at birth. Hell, we can see it all happening before our…
"Sundance 2020: Whirlybird"
Beast Beast is a timely story set in the American south about three teenagers from first-time feature filmmaker Danny Madden. There’s a type of culture that one will find in southern towns. Though to be fair, you’ll see different cultures in a larger city compared with the rural communities. Danny Madden continues Krista’s (Shirley Chen) from a previous short film and fills it with characters like skateboard-obsessed Nito (Jose Angeles) and gun-loving Adam (Will Madden). …
"Sundance 2020: Beast Beast"
Solzy at the Movies previewed a number of shorts that screened in the shorts programs during the 2020 Sundance Film Festival. Meats Ashley Williams certainly couldn’t have picked a better project for her directorial debut. Imagine being a vegan but finding yourself having strong cravings for eating meat. What would you do in such a predicament? For Lane (Ashley Williams), it’s eat as much meat as you possibly can. Lane considers herself to be an…
"Sundance 2020: The Shorts Program"
Jumbo is one of the stories that are stranger than fiction and yet this coming-of-age drama is surprisingly inspired by a true story. Jeanne (Noémie Merlant) is a shy young woman that works late nights at the local amusement park. While Jeanne’s mom would prefer that she meet a man already, she’d rather be doing other things. For instance, Jeanne is always building miniature theme park rides in her bedroom. When the park gets a…
"Sundance 2020: Jumbo"
Happy Happy Joy Joy: The Ren & Stimpy Story takes us through the journey of Ren & Stimpy while also touching on creator John Kricfalusi’s dark side. Ren & Stimpy was a hit for Nickelodeon when it first hit the airwaves. Outside of those working on the series, nobody could have ever guessed what happened beyond the scenes. No, not creator John Kricfalusi performing the storyboards while pitching his ideas. It’s worse than this to…
"Sundance 2020: Happy Happy Joy Joy"
Aggie shows how far one art collector and philanthropist will go when it comes to criminal justice and having a dialogue on social action. Agnes “Aggie” Gund’s life has been rather impressive. By serving as a longtime president of the Museum of Modern Art, Gund has an important name in the industry. And yet, she’s not afraid of using her name when it comes to important causes. As one should, of course. However, some of…
"Sundance 2020: Aggie"
Miss Americana presents a very open look at singer-songwriter Taylor Swift with raw conversations and new insight into Swift as a person. Taylor Swift is one of the most popular singers in the world. It’s no surprise that a documentary starring Swift would premiere on opening night at Sundance. However, audiences were allowed into see a side of Swift that we don’t usually see on social media or her TV appearances. Here’s a musician who…
"Sundance 2020: Miss Americana"
The Painter and the Thief documents the friendship between a Norway artist and the man who ended up stealing her artwork. This film reminds me of the Neo-Nazis who reform their lives and start speaking out against hate. Here we have Oslo-based artist Barbora Kysilkova choosing to become an ally to Karl-Bertil. Of all friendships to happen in the history of the world, this is among the oddest of couplings. The fact that she chooses…
"Sundance 2020: The Painter and the Thief"