 Denise Gough in The Good Traitor (2020) As the dramatic opening scene of The Good Traitor shows, Christina Rosendahl’s World War II historical drama starts with the potential to be an emotional rollercoaster. The introduction adds intrigue to character development, and leaves one wondering what could have led to such a violent action being portrayed on screen. But as the film gets going, the intrigue dissipates quickly. Rosendahl struggles to find a narrative strong enough to tell a story that sounds more fascinating on paper. Set in 1940s Denmark, the country is invaded by Nazi Germany with demands for immediate surrender. While the government surrenders and cooperates, Henrik Kauffmann (Ulrich Thomsen) refuses to take orders from the Nazis. As the Danish ambassador to the United States, Henrik declares himself independent representing Denmark, and engineers a plan to give the Danish people their freedom back. In addition to the historical drama, a more personal one unfolds. Henrik’s wife Charlotte (Denise Gough), who is frequently by his side along with their two daughters, discovers he’s having an affair. Given the uneven balance between storylines, The Good Traitor disappoints with indecisive storytelling where it’s unclear what the focus is intended to be.
In a film where dialogue is front and center, the task to make the words resonate falls heavy on the writers and actors. Unfortunately, moments of subtly are few and far between. The plot is so heavily explained all the way through, leaving little room for the actors to live and breathe through their roles. Ulrich Thomsen lacks the screen presence to carry a story written on his character’s shoulders. Denise Gough does her best to infuse energy, but while she does have some electric moments, Charlotte feels like a stock character trapped in a sea of tropes. Her character in particular turns out to be the most interesting; she has some sway with her husband’s decisions on the historical front, and a glimpse into her life at home shows she is trying to hold everything together in light of the affair. Themes of adultery and historical crossroads are channeled through her perspective, but it is Henrik’s point of view that gets the most attention. This is not to say that he should not be at the center, given the premise of this story. However, it does feel like a missed opportunity to introduce a character such as Charlotte without exploring her role beyond the surface. One of the biggest flaws of The Good Traitor is that the story seldom moves beyond surface level. The film plays by the numbers and moves at what feels like a snail’s pace. Most of the performances come across as actors reading off cue cards. The lack of emotion and energy hinders the weight of the story. Even bombshell moments meant to shake matters up, such as an impromptu visit to Henrik and his family having dinner, fall flat. The filmmakers make it a challenge to stay engaged in a story that sounds interesting on paper, yet does not possess the cinematic pull to resonate as a feature. There are some bright glimmers of what could have been a more stylized experience. The cinematography, sound design, and music establish a strong atmosphere. The frequent use of love songs throughout is a great choice playing in contrast to the protagonist’s crumbling marriage. But these elements are quick to get lost in a film of muddled storylines and a forgettable narrative. The push-and-pull between Henrik and Charlotte’s characters brings an indecisive focus to The Good Traitor, which makes for a few heightened conversational pieces but falls short as an engaging feature.
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 Paul Vachon in The Last Villains, Mad Dog & the Butcher (2021) The Last Villains, Mad Dog & the Butcher is a larger-than-life story in which reality transcends fiction. Directed by Thomas Rinfret, the documentary chronicles the legendary Vachon family of pro wrestlers as recounted by the family’s surviving member, Paul “The Butcher” Vachon. Paul wrote books about his perceptions of the past, hoping his stories could magically escape reality. The filmmakers have a strong foundation in their narrator Paul, who brings an insightful and authentic perspective as he opens a personal window into the Vachon world of wrestling. But this is much more than a wrestling story. Conversations around family, identity, purpose, and the passing of time make The Last Villains an endearing slice of a rather nomadic way of life.
The Last Villains is told through an effective storybook approach, and some chapters are naturally far more interesting than others. The consistent focus on family ties is the glue that holds this documentary together. Maurice Vachon, Paul’s older brother, was a Canadian professional wrestler and veteran of the ring known as “Mad Dog”. Along with their sister Vivienne, the Vachons were the only family to have three representatives in the wrestling Hall of Fame. The key to Maurice’s success in particular was that people hated him. Known as one of the most vicious villains in the wrestling world, as seen and heard in archival footage, he created a character that saw his notoriety soar among audiences. After 20 years in the ring, he traveled the world and became a legend in his lifetime. Seeing how wrestling shaped Maurice’s life was enough for Paul to follow in his older brother’s footsteps. As a former farm boy, Paul wanted the majestic life promised by the illusion he saw on television. One of the most resonating aspects of Thomas Rinfret’s storytelling is the way he maps out a narrative through the subject’s unique memories. It’s an interesting juxtaposition between the unwritten rule of wrestling, never break character and never shatter the illusion. The Last Villains explores how much of the Vachons’ identities are rooted in wrestling as a way of life, and how much their careers were defined by whether or not their ring names were memorable. The documentary also adds a strong layer about living almost in the shadows of successful family members and wanting to make one's own way. Mad Dog’s success had a ripple effect on Paul and their sister Vivienne, who inspired a generation of women to become professional wrestlers. Underneath all the wrestling personas is a family who went their separate ways to pursue paths that took them around the world. Mad Dog has a constant presence throughout, but there is a far more interesting narrative happening elsewhere, one of which is Paul trying to find his purpose outside of wrestling. He and his wife Rebecca take road trips to sell his wrestling memorabilia, books, and knick-knacks. His books are a tunnel into the past, an outlet for him to keep the memories alive when the general public have forgotten his presence. Another interesting narrative regards the women in Paul’s life, sister Vivienne who died suddenly at 48 and daughter Luna (who also went into wrestling and developed a villainous character much like Mad Dog). It’s both endearing and heartbreaking to hear Paul’s recognition of lost time, which brings him to make efforts to rekindle extended family connections. The Last Villains, Mad Dog & the Butcher embarks on an impactful journey about family. While the wrestling subject matter doesn’t garner a lot of interest personally, the relationship dynamics are what carry this story. The documentary is a strong reminder of how quickly time vanishes and how a carefully crafted identity can change the course of one’s life.  Melissa McCarthy and Octavia Spencer in Thunder Force (2021) Thunder Force marks the fifth feature film collaboration between writer-director Ben Falcone and star Melissa McCarthy (who has also co-written some of their previous projects). This time around, the comedic duo tackle the superhero universe. In an alternate Chicago where super villains (also known as miscreants) are commonplace, two childhood best friends reunite as superheroes after one creates a treatment that gives people powers to fight back. Given the premise and cast, Thunder Force boasts fun potential. There are a few admirably refreshing themes brought to the forefront, from friendship and the power of inner strength to watching the two leads break stereotypes. For starters, rarely are women of their age given the opportunity to lead in a superhero universe. Do these themes translate well onto the screen? Ben Falcone unfortunately drops the ball in creating an experience that maintains connection to whatever happens on screen. His direction is strangely apathetic; moments that should be pulsating with energy feel eerily drained and vacant. As a comedy that doesn’t often play to the actors’ strengths, Thunder Force falls spectacularly flat.
Melissa McCarthy and Octavia Spencer play superhero characters whose powers go beyond super strength and invisibility. Their inner strengths also shine through, particularly in Spencer’s character Emily, who builds her own headquarters for creating treatments that give people superpowers. Having lost her parents in the crossfire of a miscreant attack, her determination and intelligence see her through to spectacular success after years of work. Lydia (McCarthy) is more on the free falling side; she works the odd job and leads a very different life to her former friend. When Emily doesn’t shop up at a high school reunion night, Lydia decides to surprise her at work. It’s a surprise that Emily welcomes without hesitation, a smart way of indicating perhaps she too was reminiscing and thinking about her former friend. Spencer and McCarthy make a great duo on paper; both deserved a much stronger film to share their chemistry, although they do at least bring some presence. The way their friendship is depicted on screen is one of the few admirable aspects of the film. There’s the awkwardness of rekindling what was once an inseparable bond. There’s the recognition in each other certain traits that show why they became friends in the first place. But given the weak combination of Falcone’s direction and writing, there is only so much those two can do to shine beyond the material. McCarthy tries hard to maintain the energy, while Spencer is a lot more subdued than the zany tone the film appears to be going for. They share a few charming moments, but ultimately there’s an overwhelming feeling that this film is a waste of their talents. Thunder Force feels like different films cobbled together as one. It’s a goofy superhero comedy full of outrageous characters such as The Crab (Jason Bateman with claws for hands), The King (Bobby Cannavale as a seedy politician), and Laser (Pom Klementieff as a villainous accomplice), who are all known as Miscreants (evil superhumans). Everyone does a fine job, especially Bateman given his connection to McCarthy’s character. But much like the leads, their talent feels wasted. Thunder Force is also a story chronicling a strong female friendship from childhood to adulthood. Lydia and Emily are inseparable, until they aren’t. They have a falling out, Emily goes on to achieve great success, and Lydia pushes through nerves to contact her again several years later. Their friendship makes for an admirable theme, but the screenplay rushes through their relationship without much tact, in favor of pushing for a zany experience in the vein of a project like Barb and Star Go to Vista Del Mar. While the two films are incredibly different, both do share a similar thread of portraying female friendship in a larger-than-life adventure. Barb and Star fully embraces the ridiculousness (much to the film’s success), which is an approach that perhaps could have improved the floundering experience that is Thunder Force. Thunder Force is now streaming exclusively on Netflix. http://www.netflix.com/thunderforce  Hélène Joy in Woman In Car (2021) Anne leads a life of sophistication. She lives in a beautiful scenic house on the hill surrounded by serenity, but something is bubbling underneath the surface. Nearby is a bow and arrow, ready for her to take aim. Anne (Hélène Joy), the protagonist of Vanya Rose’s first feature film Woman In Car, is an incredibly observational character. She is full of intensity and in perpetual hesitation, always on the verge of unraveling. She is overcome with something, and Hélène Joy’s performance is a masterclass of withholding as much as possible until secrets come to light. The film plays on vagueness and sits with its characters, in moments of rest and silence, as though waiting to see what they choose to reveal. Woman In Car is a hypnotic journey of family secrets and class, led by Hélène Joy’s fantastic performance as a woman haunted by the skeletons rattling in her closet.
The story unravels around Anne, who appears composed on the surface. The countdown to her wedding day winds down. Following her previous marriage, which ended under mysterious circumstances, she is on the verge of a fresh start in life. But in watching Joy’s detailed and layered performance, there is an immediate sense that something is not right. The gears in her mind are turning. What is she thinking about? Writer-director Vanya Rose makes the brilliant decision to tell this story as though puzzle pieces are slowly coming together. The film begins in the midst of Anne’s idyllic livelihood, which begins to crumble when her stepson Owen (Aidan Ritchie) returns home with his girlfriend Safiye (Liane Balaban) and triggers secrets from the past. Anne develops an obsession with Safiye, an “outsider” whom she fears could destroy her privileged protective bubble. The possibility of Anne’s life being ruined looms over her, and she struggles to keep her secrets hidden. The performers, especially Hélène Joy in the lead role, bring this journey to life with plenty of lived-in details. Hélène Joy carries this film with her remarkable screen presence, felt deeply from the first frame. She conveys the paranoia of Anne’s world slowly closing in on her, and the steadfast resistance from being caught in a web of secrets. Through her performance, she evokes that there is more to Anne than meets the eye. Some of the most interesting revelations happen in moments of complete silence, when the camera simply focuses on her observations and facial expressions. The direction and writing compliment her strengths as an actor incredibly well. Vanya Rose has an intriguing vision and a strong emotional investment in showing, rather than telling. What makes Woman In Car so special is a thoughtful, layered character study at the center. Rather than reveal Anne’s past front the get-go and spend the rest of the film teasing whether she’ll be found out, the film opts for a far more interesting build-up. Vanya Rose slowly chips away at the polished, wealthy facade Anne masks herself with. It is through this approach that Rose explores upper class privilege and the power characters of that world wield around like threats. This is certainly a film that benefits greatly from not knowing too much about plot points beforehand. Woman In Car is a consistently engaging and mysterious experience with an accomplished lead performance at its core. The 2021 Canadian Film Fest runs from April 1st to April 17th. 🇨🇦  Zaarin Bushra in White Elephant (2021) The quest for self-love plays a compelling role in White Elephant, the first feature written and directed by Andrew Chung (as Andrew C). Set in 1996 Scarborough-Markham, the film follows Pooja (Zaarin Bushra), a South Asian teenage girl with a passion for movies and a crush on a white boy who works at a video store across from her high school. From the dreamy Luhrmann-esque Romeo + Juliet fish tank scene to the rock/pop anthem opening credits, the 90s certainly shine through in a charming way. As does the naïveté of young love, which in just an hour’s runtime becomes a well-paced intersectional slice of life about a girl who discovers the importance of self-love.
The strength of realism in world-building is refreshing to see in this film. Growing up in a South Asian neighbourhood, Pooja and her friends experience daily racism seen particularly from boy crush Trevor (Jesse Nasmith) and his friends. In addition, Pooja’s admiration for mainstream Hollywood love stories is an interesting detail that trickles down to the way she sees Trevor. The story initially plays out as a romantic comedy, which then branches out into so many resonating themes and gives the film a unique point of view. White Elephant is instantly endearing, a quality maintained by Zaarin Bushra’s accomplished performance in the leading role. While most of the performances feel on the one-dimensional side, which speaks more to the short runtime of the film, this story has a talented anchor in Bushra’s work. She conveys a sentimental yearning for the love depicted in movies she holds near and dear, including Luhrmann’s Romeo + Juliet, from which Chung replicates another scene towards the end of the film. Infusing this grand love story in particular, not to mention evoking sensations remarkably similar to what is felt in Luhrmann’s adaptation, feels like a fitting homage for Pooja’s wistfulness and dramatic change of heart. Zaarin Bushra’s performance is a wonderful unity of optimism, frustration, and dream-like longing. A charming car scene of Pooja’s dad driving her home evokes the feeling of pretending to be in a music video. Another car scene, which features an insightful conversation between Pooja and her dad, brings strong characterization to the forefront of this film. White Elephant reflects a strong coming-of-age story about a teenage girl who wants more in life. She doesn’t want to hang out at a coffee shop every single day “like a bunch of senior citizens.” Pooja is an incredibly endearing character brought to life by a performance that makes one yearn for more screen time and hopeful for what Andrew Chung (and Zaarin Bushra) do next. The 2021 Canadian Film Fest runs from April 1st to April 17th. 🇨🇦  Kelly McCormack in Sugar Daddy (2021) The Canadian Film Fest (CFF) is a non-profit organization devoted to the celebration, promotion and advancement of Canadian filmmaking talent. 🇨🇦 CFF celebrates its 15th anniversary this year, and brings audiences a selection of Canadian independent films (features and shorts) through a virtual festival experience. Kicking off the festival was the Toronto premiere of Wendy Morgan’s feature film Sugar Daddy, written by and starring Kelly McCormack. Read the full review below!
With an emotionally resonating and layered story at its core, Sugar Daddy is an experimental gem in filmmaking. This film explores a specific moment in a young woman’s life where she feels conflicted about her own voice and seeks approval outside of her self. The protagonist, Darren (Kelly McCormack), dreams of becoming a musician but doesn’t have the time nor money she wants to fully create. She works multiple part-time jobs from catering to babysitting, anything she can find to pay the rent. At one particular catering gig, Darren meets a woman whose college tuition is being paid off from having a sugar daddy. Their encounter plants a seed, and after Darren suddenly gets fired that same night, she decides on signing up to a paid-dating website. What follows is a wickedly intriguing and observational drama about self-worth, femininity, and reconciliation. Sugar Daddy is a compelling film that showcases incredibly bright talent in front of and behind the screen. One of the most intriguing strengths about this film is the potent exploration of artistry. Darren processes her emotions through creating music; the way she conjures and visualizes her thoughts, especially in response to certain situations that arise in her life, creates moments on screen that provide a glimpse into her mind. These moments feel like something out of a music video, yet simultaneously fit like puzzle pieces in a film that explores a woman’s personal journey. Kelly McCormack’s screenplay doesn’t follow a three act formula often seen in films, especially ones about young adults finding themselves. The character of Darren doesn’t have an enormous arc where she suddenly finds success as a musician. She has a social media account where she posts her videos, but there is no insight given into her follower count or who is listening. Sugar Daddy explores the tiny ups and downs of her creative process, the glimmers of promise and the disrespect of feeling commodified. The visual performance art scenes that appear throughout the film add a resonating layer to this story, giving a moment’s pause to Darren’s internal journey. Kelly McCormack’s performance as Darren gives a fascinating window into this world. She plays a character who makes some questionable decisions, and she maintains a strong emotional connection as the story follows her through the perpetual chaotic process of self-discovery. McCormack conveys her character’s feeling of disrespect and dissatisfaction within the industry, as her femininity and self-worth are being commodified on so many levels. Her performance feels incredibly passionate and truthful, which drives the story to explore realistic conversations about self-worth. While she spends most of the film looking for money and time, her real desires underneath call for reconciliation and self-approval, which she often seeks from everyone but herself. It’s a compelling exploration of internal conflict that McCormack captures incredibly well. Her impeccable screen presence carries the film, and she raises the game with her fellow co-stars who don’t quite reach her level. McCormack’s talent as a screenwriter also shines through a thought-provoking story. The film touches on layers upon layers of self-worth, approval from men, reconciliation with family members, relationship dynamics between friends, and the way women are commodified beyond sex work. The relationship between Darren and her roommate Peter (Ishan Davé) is a compelling thematic ground as he begins to weigh the value of their friendship by how much she gives back to him. He’s always there for her and gets nothing in return, to which she replies, is her friendship not enough? There are a lot of resonating themes being explored in a fascinating way that gives a moment’s pause and poses multiple questions, especially in retrospect. Perhaps the most potent ground for discussion is the dinner scene, in which a conversation takes place between Darren and her circle of friends after they find out she’s doing paid-dating. A difference of opinions erupts and the tension in the room is palpable to say the least. Wendy Morgan’s direction, Kristin Fieldhouse’s cinematography, and Christine Armstrong’s editing add to the visceral experience of this film. Each and every moment of performance art in particular, a perfect example being a magnetic ‘car opera’ scene, feels like entering a rabbit hole of the protagonist’s mind where her creativity lives. The consistent strength of Sugar Daddy is having Darren at the center, watching her feel through specific moments in time through music and art. The story brings up a strong exploration of how she observes the world around her, how others perceive her to be, and how their perceptions of her change over the course of the film based on commodity and self-expression. Sugar Daddy is an electric experience to behold, most of all thanks to a wonderful performance by Kelly McCormack who carries the film to fruition. The 2021 Canadian Film Fest runs from April 1st to April 17th. 🇨🇦  Rachel Sennott in Shiva Baby (2021) Emma Seligman’s stunning debut feature Shiva Baby is a funny, invigorating, fully realized pressure cooker. Expanding on her short film of the same name, Seligman creates an anxiety-inducing experience in the most compelling of ways. She explores a young woman coming of age while facing family dynamics, traditions, sexuality, post-college pressure, and power shifts in relationships. The story is a day in the life of Danielle (Rachel Sennott), who attends a shiva (a mourning tradition in the Jewish community), where she runs into her sugar daddy Max (Danny Deferrari) and her ex-girlfriend Maya (Molly Gordon). Danielle’s hovering parents are also present, whisking her to meet so-and-so who can help her with such-and-such. Seligman tells an incredibly grounded and authentic story rooted in universal themes that resonate down to the tiniest details. Shiva Baby is a remarkable blend of comedy and drama, with hints of horror that add a layer of tension to the story.
Shiva Baby takes place in one day, in real time, as Danielle swerves from one interrogative family encounter to another inside a crowded house. Her career path is in limbo. She is anxious about her future. She is unemployed and unmarried, at a family gathering, which immediately brings forth a relatable feeling. Figuring out who you are, while presenting another version of yourself to family members who have expectations of who you ought to be, is so easy to identify with as a young woman. There is an instantly relatable aspect in watching family members sink their teeth into a young woman’s future prospects and who she should become in their world. At the heart of this story is a multi-layered protagonist with an array of identities that are at odds with one another. With no escape from an endless line of questioning that follows Danielle nonstop, emotions build and her feverish anxiety rises. The drama and tension are conveyed to perfection by Rachel Sennott. In a brilliant performance so completely in tune with her character, Sennott gives a masterclass on how to embrace complexities, vulnerability, and lean into truthfulness. Danielle has a fascinating journey throughout the film; the power dynamics shift constantly as she tries to find her footing with certain characters. Maya and Max have a history with Danielle; the former knows her but hasn’t seen her in a long time, and the latter unexpectedly runs into her having just spent the morning with her. Seligman brilliantly maps out how all these characters discover where they stand with one another, and the answers change all the time depending on who has control. Shiva Baby has a fantastic balance of tone channeled through the extraordinary cast Seligman assembled. Sennott is surrounded by a pitch perfect ensemble, and everyone plays off one another so well with compelling chemistry. Polly Draper and Fred Melamed (who play Danielle’s parents) shine bright, as do Dianna Agron (who plays Max’s wife) and total scene-stealer Molly Gordon. The characterization is outstanding, and the quick witted screenplay gives the actors golden material to play with. The sense of humour is a delight, providing constant laughs and lines so great you must keep up because you won’t want to miss them. Shiva Baby infuses cool inspiration from the horror genre, through the use of playful jump scares and Ariel Marx’s wonderful horror score. These elements emphasize the panic swirling in Danielle’s mind as everyone closes in on her in a frenetic way. The music tracks the tension and anxiety so well, which constantly makes one question if any given moment will be the one where Danielle reveals what she’s been holding in. There are brilliant pressure cooker moments sprinkled throughout, with one particularly feverish scene towards the end that feels like being inside Danielle’s racing heartbeat. Emma Seligman has a deeply resonating and lovable debut feature under her belt. Shiva Baby fires on all cylinders and leaves behind a lot of anticipation for Seligman’s next project.  Jasna Ðuričić in Quo Vadis, Aida (2021) Set during the Bosnian war, Quo vadis, Aida is a devastating dramatization based on the Srebrenica genocide that took place in July 1995. Prior to the genocide, the United Nations had declared this small town a “safe zone” under UN protection. The town was then invaded and captured by the Serbian army. 30,000 Bosnian civilians were expelled from their homes and left looking for shelter. 8,372 Bosnian men and boys were murdered. For her fifth feature film, writer-director Jasmila Žbanic avoids explicitly showing the violence of such atrocities. She stays with the citizens, showing the solidarity between people who are displaced and who are desperately holding onto a semblance of promise. The story is told from a fascinating perspective, that of a woman walking through two worlds with the weight of both on her shoulders.
The titular character Aida (Jasna Ðuričić) is a translator for the UN in Srebrenica. When the Serbian army takes over the town, her husband Nihad (Izudin Bajrović) and son Ejo (Dino Bajrović) are among the civilians looking for shelter, while her son Hamdija (Boris Ler) is at a full-capacity UN base with her. The majority of the film takes place at this base, where thousands of civilians (and thousands more outside the gate with nowhere else to go) await news of what comes next. All the while, their fates have been cruelly decided. As an interpreter, Aida is one of the first to learn crucial information about what's going on behind closed doors. Given the horrific failings by the UN, Aida wrestles with taking care of her family while also doing her job. Quo vadis, Aida is a haunting, collective experience that transcends the screen and makes an unforgettable emotional impact. The film opens with a conversation about the fate of 30,000 people. Aida is sat at a table interpreting negotiations between Serbian forces and UN peacekeepers. What will be done to ensure the civilians’ safety? Will everyone be moved to a shelter? While this scene is full of blatant false promises, Žbanic still maintains a sense of lingering hope which can also be felt deeply throughout the film, through her depiction of the humanity in this community of civilians. Characters are sometimes heard in the background calling Aida’s name to ask for help, or because they want her to explain what’s going on. These are her neighbours, her friends, people she went out dancing with (as seen in a haunting flashback that lingers on many of their faces). 30,000 civilians were displaced, and everyone had their own story. The fictional character of Aida is not based around one person, but on countless experiences of women who lived through the atrocities of what happened. As a result, Žbanic’s discussions with women and research on witness documents helped shape the protagonist. Jasna Ðuričić gives a tour de force performance as Aida. She carries the weight of this story with unrelenting humanity. From the moment she appears on screen, it’s clear that she is the one to lead this journey and carry the film on her shoulders. Ðuričić maintains an extraordinarily immersive, visceral connection and commands every second of her screen time. Her performance is a stunning reflection of a character existing in two worlds; Aida’s destiny is linked to everyone else’s, and at the same time, her job provides a window of security that she uses to benefit her family as much as she can. She’s in an emotionally draining position of having to make such crucial decisions on the fly. She's also carrying the weight of her role as UN interpreter, having to translate dire news to thousands of Bosnian civilians who have no clue what’s going to happen and whom she cannot protect. In addition to Ðuričić’s performance, and a wonderful supporting cast who make this experience all the more immersive to watch, one of the film’s greatest strengths is the screenplay. Žbanic maintains a strong depiction of how dehumanization starts with language, and how quickly words crumble in the face of pressure. During the few negotiation scenes in this film, only words are spoken and there is still an immense feeling of tension polluting the air. Žbanic also brings a lot of focus onto interesting dynamics between Aida and the civilians, to whom she is connected, yet her access gives her a level of protection not afforded to them. Aida shares compelling dynamics with each of the characters she comes into contact with, including the UN officials whose failed response during a time of need propels her to take matters into her own hands. Quo vadis, Aida is a harrowing journey and a compelling film to watch unfold. It’s a powerful depiction of history that raises awareness about the Srebrenica genocide and the lives that were so brutally taken. It’s a resonating story about solidarity, humanity, and hope bringing people together. It’s a phenomenal showcase of Jasna Ðuričić’s talent, as she plays a mother who will do absolutely anything in her power to protect her family. Filmmaker Jasmila Žbanic explores so many layers of this subject matter from an invigorating point of view, and poses a reminder that Aida’s perspective is a collection of so many real-life experiences. Happy spring everyone! 💐🌷
This season is a time of change. A fresh start, a new outlook, a moment of growth. The transition from winter to spring is a rejuvenating one, energized by an eagerness to create something new and stop to smell the roses in sun-kissed weather. Spring can be felt deeply on screen, whether or not stories are set during this season. Some movies purely look like spring, full of rolling hills and vibrant flowers. Some movies are about characters who go through a personal metamorphosis and blossom into a new way of life. Here are some inspiring springtime favorites to check out.  Olivia Colman and Anthony Hopkins in The Father (2021) Perspective plays a compelling role in The Father, the debut feature by writer-director Florian Zeller. Adapted from Zeller’s 2012 stage play, this film tells a sensitive and terrifying story about Anthony (Anthony Hopkins), who refuses assistance from his daughter Anne (Olivia Colman) and numerous carers as the fabric of his mind rapidly changes. Suffering from dementia, Anthony tries to make sense of his circumstances and begins to doubt his loved ones in the process. Zeller’s direction holds a mirror reflection to Anthony’s loss of memory, communication, and thinking. The film evokes a strong feeling of disorientation, like being in one place and somewhere else at the same time. Rather than focusing on an outsider’s point of view, the effects of dementia are conveyed directly from Anthony’s perspective. How does this character feel about what’s happening to him? How does his illness change the way he looks at his family? How does he navigate other people’s perceptions of him? How does he react to the constant changes in space and time? Zeller tackles all of these questions and then some, which makes the experience of watching The Father feel so heartbreakingly real.
The story takes place primarily in one setting: a small North London flat that becomes another character in the film. Through the use of furniture, proportions, and lighting, Zeller is able to create a place that feels familiar and different at the same time. After a while of seeing the same knick knacks and corridors, there is a feeling that something has changed at some point without knowing exactly what. Peter Francis’ production design on this film is absolutely stellar, as is Cathy Featherstone’s set decoration. Over the course of the story, subtle differences are made to the positioning of objects and the location of rooms. The metamorphosis of Anthony’s flat is a striking example of how the film holds a mirror to his frame of mind from a technical standpoint. The editing by Yorgos Lamprinos is also completely in tune with Zeller’s vision. One of the reasons for The Father’s journey being so emotionally resonating is the structure, which strives for a truthful depiction of Anthony’s point of view in each and every moment. For example, when the film first introduces Anthony in his flat, there is no doubt that this place is his. The pacing of the film has a slow start but in retrospect, Zeller is laying out a truthfully inventive foundation for the maze of contradictions that follows. Situations arise and Anthony begins to question himself. He realizes just how far away he is from the fabric of his own reality. He realizes just how quickly time slips away. The film incorporates a resonating symbol into this story, a recurring moment between Anthony and his watch. Believing that his watch was stolen, every now and then he will recall that he needs to look for it. The watch is an interesting symbol of time disappearing…one can’t make more of it, nor can one control it. To watch Anthony's shock and confusion by the passing of time is devastating. In addition to the structure and technical details, the film brings together a remarkable group of actors (especially Hopkins and Colman) who create magic on screen. Florian Zeller initially wrote The Father with Anthony Hopkins in mind, hence the character’s name Anthony. To see Hopkins bring this character to life, with the screenplay by Zeller and co-writer Christopher Hampton as a springboard, is an astonishing experience. He completely embodies the role and gives the best performance of his career. Anthony’s fear, heartbreak, confusion, loneliness, and moments of vicious spite are a tough watch. This is a character crumbling in real-time, losing his bearings from one moment to the next. Hopkins commands the screen with an instinctive, profoundly moving performance that gets inside the headspace of a person living with dementia. Another example of pitch perfect casting is Olivia Colman as Anthony’s daughter. Anne is a character one can immediately empathize with; she’s in a tough spot of answering the question of what to do when someone you love is suffering from dementia. The responsibility falls on her to make decisions on her father’s behalf, and at the same time, she tries so desperately to make him understand the reality of what’s going on but she can’t get through to him. Colman has such an exquisite talent, and once again shows her ability to convey such complex emotions in the blink of an eye. Anne’s dedication, vulnerability, sadness, and pure love for her father are written across her face. So many of her interactions with Anthony are devastating to watch, particularly when a third character is involved and she’s trying to make peace with everyone. Committed performances by Olivia Williams, Imogen Poots, Mark Gatiss, and Rufus Sewell further perpetuate an atmosphere of paranoia. Their characters are also seen from Anthony’s perspective and thus take on a different meaning throughout the film. From the outside looking into this depiction of dementia, one can never truly know what it’s like to live with this illness. What makes Florian Zeller’s debut feature so compelling is his decision to tell the story from Anthony’s perspective, following so closely alongside his frame of mind throughout the film. Zeller introduces a strong narrative and presents reality as Anthony knows it, which shows the day-to-day effects that dementia has on this character. It’s a story told from the inside out, creating the experience of being inside Anthony’s head and feeling a part of something much bigger than him. The film shares universal topics of living with dementia, along with being a family member of someone who has this illness, in an up-close and personal kind of way. The Father is a phenomenal achievement, a stunning balance of drama and psychological horror that leads with big-hearted sensitivity. |
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