Film Festival – Whether you are a closet film critic or the most lavish of voyeurs, this recent decade has really exploded around the world with wondrous variety in independent cinema and festivals. These three movies from film festivals in July are the need of the hour if you were looking for top picks.
1. “Past Lives”
– Director: Celine Song
– Genre: Drama, Romance
Synopsis: “Past Lives” Former childhood friends Nora and Hae Sung have reunited after two decades, in a graceful story of love by fate. The hints start appearing when they meet in New York-where love, destiny and the choices that shape our lives must all be placed on Waiting for Bojangles’ infinitely moving eponymous stage.
-Why to Watch: Known for its richly layered dialogue and potent performances, “Depth of Field” has received accolades for its treatment of human relationships. A haunting reflection on identity, cultural history and human bonds in the face of time.
2. “The Zone of Interest”
– Director: Jonathan Glazer
– Genre: Drama, Historical
San Francisco Chronicle- Synopsys: A chilling portrait of a cultured Nazi officer, his wife and her first husband who command Auschwitz from zero ground in the new Martin Amis novel “The Zone Of Interest.” In the film, everyday life is contrasted with scenes from Auschwitz to expose a blatant discrepancy reflective of human nature and moral complicity.
Why to Watch: An eerie narrative combined with an unusual artistic vision has placed this film in high esteem on the festival circuit, swiftly garnering acclaim for its mysterious tone and visually innovative style. Quietly brutal, Glazer uses his restrained eloquence to show us the banal evil of those unscathed by conscience.
3. “La Chimera”
– Director: Alice Rohrwacher
– Genre: Adventure, Drama
– Plot Synopsis: “La Chimera” follows the story of Arthur, a youthful archaeologist with an ability to see into the past who gets together with certain tomb scavengers in Italy. Arthur’s journey and his relationships with those around him are used to reflect on themes of history, cultural heritage, and the divide between past and present in the film.
Why Watch: A dose of magical realism and poignant storytelling that has seen La Chimera (The Chimaer) appeal to audiences and critics. It is one of the most tonally-bizarre films that I have ever seen but Rohrwacher knows how to use her unique language and it provides us with so many beautiful images both generally and emotionally speaking, profoundly including in terms of history….
The titles span numerous new genres and storytelling forms, each showcasing the original proficiency of some of our most distinctive voices in film today. If you love the insightful intensity of a good drama, lost in history sagas or thrilling tales from across space and time; then these top picks form this past July’s essential film festival circuit will not disappoint.
