A Finnish youth environmental activism documentary that is surprisingly genteel, and hence quietly effective and reflective, encouraging us to be compassionate to activists—and as activists—in active modes of disruption.
A staunch if conniving Catholic wife becomes a husband-cum-taxidermist’s worst nightmare in this ‘60s Mexican cult classic that plunges us into the depths of anger and frustration as well as laying bare the hypocrisy of religious faith in creating false narratives.
Glass’ sophomore feature is tense, stylish, violent, sexy and takes some artistic risks, headlined by an excellent Kristen Stewart playing a gym manager who falls in love with a female bodybuilder in a drugs-and-guns-infested small town.
This breakout hit from Sundance about growing up as an Asian-American in the late 2000s is energetic and emotionally resonant, overcoming its sense of familiarity through the sincerity of its filmmaking.
As vital a documentary as any in the last ten years, Derki courageously enters the lion’s den that is terrorist-infested Syria by posing as a war photographer, giving us an unprecedented view of what it is like to be in the company of religious extremists young and old.
Dupieux’s outstanding single-location film works as a sardonic meta-filmic commentary on art and performance as an audience member with a gun takes a theatre show hostage for producing ‘boring work’.
Grand yet intimate, this Cannes Un Certain Regard award winner, about a man who strikes up a friendship with a black stray dog in a small town, mostly avoids overt sentimentalism in its portrayal of changing times in rural China.
Modest but effective, and unexpectedly moving, this documentary on Taylor Swift gives us the broad strokes of a human being who is always trying to prove herself through her music artistry and compassion for others.
Possibly one of the finest ‘body horror’ films of the post-2000s era, Fargeat’s sophomore film takes on sexism and ageism in the entertainment industry with a middle finger so pointed that the violence and gore become saliently and nihilistically rewarding.
The desire to be eternally beautiful—and eternally relevant—in the modelling world is the subject of Ninagawa’s exuberant and darkly ironic sophomore feature.
Eternality Tan 