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Writer's pictureOwen Wilczek

Fall Film Festivals Recap



The leaves are starting to change colors, and the temperature is beginning to drop! That can only mean one thing: fall film festival season is here! The fall film festivals, such as the New York Film Festival and the Philadelphia Film Festival, are a great time to catch up on the best films from the Berlin, Cannes, and Venice film festivals, as well as to see some films that will release later in the year. This year, I took trips to the 62nd New York Film Festival and the 33rd Philadelphia Film Festival, where I saw a combined nine different films, which I will be reviewing here! I hope you check out all these films when they release in the future!


62nd NEW YORK FILM FESTIVAL:


Film #1: The Brutalist


The Brutalist is an American epic like no other! Brady Corbet crafts a very compelling film about an immigrant pursuing the American Dream in this three-and-a-half-hour film. It’s riveting to watch, and the runtime flies by! The scope and scale of this film are nothing short of impressive. The performances, too, are top-notch, especially Adrien Brody, who gives a career-best performance, in my opinion, as he plays Hungarian architect László Tóth. Guy Pearce also delivers a great performance. The technical work in the film, such as the cinematography and score, is outstanding and some of the very best of the year. While it isn’t without its flaws, The Brutalist is easily the directorial achievement of the year so far and one of the year’s best as well!


Review: 4.5/5 Stars


Film #2: Dahomey


Dahomey, the winner of the Berlin Film Festival Golden Bear, is a solid reflection on the 26 pieces of artwork from the Kingdom of Dahomey returned to the people of Benin. The film is immersive in its visual style, and the use of unique voiceovers was interesting for a documentary. It tackles themes of reparations, colonialism, and more in a very effective way. Mati Diop, the director, engages in a simple story but elevates it with her visual language and direction. It suffers from some pacing issues, and while I was not blown away by this documentary, it is certainly one I would recommend checking out.


Review: 3.5/5 Stars


Film #3: Anora


Anora, the 2024 Palme d’Or winner at the Cannes Film Festival, is easily Sean Baker’s best work to date, in my opinion. This screwball comedy is insanely funny but also wears its heart on its sleeve and has an emotional impact at the end. The film is genuine and funny and is certainly one you want to watch with a crowd. Mikey Madison is an absolute star in the film and radiates so much energy and emotion. Sean Baker is quickly turning into one of my favorite directors with his work. I highly recommend seeking out Anora when you get the chance! One of my favorite films of the year!


Review: 4.5/5 Stars


Film #4: No Other Land


No Other Land is a very powerful documentary and one I would encourage everyone to check out. It follows a Palestinian and Israeli journalist as they document the destruction by Israeli authorities of the West Bank’s Masafer Yatta region. This documentary also details the friendship that exists between Yuval Abraham (an Israeli journalist) and Basel Adra (a Palestinian journalist). It is an intimate look at the events and the absolute devastation to the families of this region. It is undoubtedly one of the best and most important documentaries of the year so far and one that will stick with me for a very long time.


Review: 4.5/5 Stars


Film #5: Maria:


Maria, which had its world premiere at this year’s Venice Film Festival, details the life of opera singer Maria Callas. The film is restrained in its approach and often feels hollow in its screenplay, which is weaker than Pablo Larraín’s previous films. The technical work on display, though, is exquisite, especially the cinematography by Ed Lachman. Finally, the performance by Angelina Jolie is really great and elevates the film to a whole other level. The film suffers from a weak screenplay but makes up for it through its performances and technical craft, making the overall film a decent watch.


Review: 3/5 Stars


33RD PHILADELPHIA FILM FESTIVAL:


Film #1: Memoir of a Snail


Memoir of a Snail is a very vulnerable film at its core and a story about life and its hardships. It is one of the saddest films of the year but also one of the most thematically beautiful. Adam Elliot crafts an absolutely gorgeous stop-motion animated film with heartfelt characters and a lived-in world. The production design, character design, and musical score are beyond impressive. The voice performances by Sarah Snook and Kodi Smit-McPhee are excellent. The film is so sincere and delivers a powerful message at the end. Memoir of a Snail brought me to tears, so make sure to bring tissues to your screening of the film!


Review: 4.5/5 Stars


Film #2: Flow


Flow is a gorgeously animated film without a single line of dialogue, following a group of animals as they unite and traverse flooded landscapes. Gints Zilbalodis, using lighting and dynamic camerawork, creates an anxiety-inducing and captivating experience for the audience. The eyes of each of the animals, in particular, are designed so well. The story is quite simple and straightforward at points, but it is still captivating to watch these animals move through flooded landscapes. Breathtaking work by Zilbalodis and certainly one of the most beautiful animated films this year!


Review: 4/5 Stars


Film #3: Nickel Boys


I was very impressed by RaMell Ross’s film Nickel Boys. The film itself is somewhat experimental, with first-person point-of-view shots and the use of archival footage, but all are used to add to the overall film. It is truly a stunning achievement. The story of these two boys in this film is so important to tell, and Ross details this friendship in such a poetic and powerful way. It is unlike any film I’ve ever seen, in the best way possible. Ross has easily cemented himself as one of the most interesting filmmakers working today. I can’t wait to rewatch it, and I’m almost certain the rating will go up the more I think about it and rewatch it!


Review: 4/5 Stars


Film #4: Hard Truths


Hard Truths left me mixed at the end of the screening. On the one hand, the performance by Marianne Jean-Baptiste is really good, and she absolutely commands the screen. The screenplay is good, tying comedic moments into this emotional character study. Ultimately for me, it was really hard to empathize fully with Jean-Baptiste's character. The film does begin to deconstruct her character about halfway through, which was the best part of the film in my opinion. Overall, a fine film by Mike Leigh, but one that was ultimately carried heavily by its lead performance.


Review: 3/5 Stars


Want more Film Festival Coverage? Check out my 2024 Locarno Film Festival, 2024 Tribeca Festival, 2024 Cannes Film Festival & 2024 Philadelphia Film Society SpringFest Recaps Here:





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