These are mini reviews of a collection of some other international films from the year that I also caught up to, on top of the “big ones” I’ve individually reviewed. Please note that these are just a few of the many movies I will have watched each year, and my initial grade for any one of these films may change over time, for better or worse. To stay up to date on my thoughts about other movies and any potential changes in my opinion on these, follow me on Letterboxd.
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LA GRAZIA
Plot, Via Letterboxd: President Mariano De Santis’ term is coming to an end. Disparagingly nicknamed ‘reinforced concrete’ for his intractable nature and overly careful approach to politics, he has grown lonely in the echoing halls of the presidential palace, mourning the loss of his wife and listening to hip-hop. Before returning to civilian life, De Santis must make a series of bold decisions – a pair of presidential pardons and a groundbreaking policy bill that will cement his legacy
Mini Review: I liked this quite a bit, A hell of a lot better stuff from Sorrentino than whatever the hell he was thinking with PARTHENOPE.
I found this to be a fascinating look at a man at the end of his career, and his life, thumbing through the ghosts of his past and watching them test his faith, values, and the reverence he has for his family and friends. I loved the subtle touches of the modern score and the bits of levity throughout.
It takes on a bit more than it can handle with the many subplots, but overall I still enjoyed it a lot. At the very least, I can easily see this sneaking onto my personal International Feature ballot.
Initial Grading: B+
MY FATHER’S SHADOW
Plot, Via Letterboxd: Kid brothers Remi and Akin get to spend a gift of a day with their estranged father Folarin. They go on a voyage into Lagos observing the colossal city for the first time and the hoops their father must deal with to provide. All this happens in the backdrop of a huge 1993 presidential election result which calls into question his ability to get them home.
Mini Review: Really dug this. It felt like watching one of those days when your Dad would pick you up from school, or had to take you to work, and you’d inevitably end up following him around on a bunch of side quests.
Only this time it’s taken to extremes, amplified by the backdrop of real-world events and the major revelations the kids learn about their Dad along the way.
For a debut, this is rock-solid work from Akinola Davies Jr.. Another banger international film in a year full of them.
Initial Grading: B+
RESSURECTION
Plot, Via Letterboxd: In a world where humanity has lost the ability to dream, one creature remains entranced by the fading illusions of the dreamworld. This monster, adrift in reverie, clings to visions no one else can see - until a woman appears. Gifted with the rare power to perceive these illusions for what they truly are, she chooses to enter the monster’s dreams, determined to uncover the truth that lies hidden within.
Mini Review: Sorry to report this was more of a miss for me than it seems to have been for others.
On a crafts level, it’s staggering. The direction is rock-solid, the cinematography is beautifully haunting, the production design is operatic, and those first ~20 minutes evokes the great early 1920s silent classics.
But the larger narrative kept slipping out of my grasp. I genuinely started nodding off during the snow sequence, and the pacing was very sluggish. There’s a lot in this that should be “Me-coded”, but the story execution was a struggle for me.
It’ll still squeak out a positive mark with me because the artistry is just too good to ignore, but narratively I felt left out in the cold.
Initial Grading: B-
SOUND OF FALLING
Plot, Via Letterboxd: Over the course of a century, as four girls from different time periods experience their youth on a German farm, their lives become intertwined until time seems to dissolve.
Mini Review: For whatever reason, even with the time-warp sorta’ premise, this made me think of those ambitious 60s-80s epics that European auteurs made.
It’s impressively crafted on a technical level, and the period scenes especially are beautiful to look at. Unsurprisingly, it goes to dark places, carrying the weight you’d expect from its influences. I do wish the pacing had been a bit tighter, but overall, I really liked this for what it was.
And considering this is only the second film from Mascha Schilinski, it feels like she’s just getting started. With international cinema more accessible, it wouldn’t surprise me if she’s a movie or two away from making something that breaks into Best Picture conversation.
Solid film. I can see why I’ve seen some list it as one of their favs from the year.
