“Inside Out 2 – Four Stars
Directed by Kelsey Mann, this sequel ventures back into the psyche of young Riley, voiced by a cast that includes Amy Poehler, Phyllis Smith, Kensington Tallman, and Ayo Edebiri, to name a few. The film, certified G and running for 96 minutes, explores the chaos that puberty causes in Riley’s mind. Whilst being highly entertaining with solid jokes and an engaging adventure, the film doesn’t shy away from the inherent sadness of the adolescent years, suggesting that they are dominated by feelings of stress, jealousy, shame, and monotony. However, Inside Out 2 is far more enjoyable than that description implies.
Sasquatch Sunset – Four Stars
This film comes to you from the minds of David and Nathan Zellner, a peculiar film about a group of peculiar creatures. Sasquatch Sunset stars Jesse Eisenberg, alongside Riley Keough, and Nathan Zellner himself. Rated 12A and running for 88 minutes, the plot follows the primal existence of the title’s crypto-creatures and their daily routine of physical intimacy and foraging. This eccentric and often shocking dramedy, filled with quirky scenes of self-pleasure and bodily functions, has garnered significant buzz in Berlin and Sundance film festivals, bearing resemblance to past films such as Swiss Army Man.
Ama Gloria – Four Stars
A film by director Marie Amachoukeli-Barsacq starring Louise Mauroy-Panzani and Ilça Moreno Zego, Ama Gloria is a film of 85 minutes, shown only in select cinemas. Full reviews for all films can be found in their respective publications.”
The emotionally charge semi-autobiographical work of former Caméra d’Award recipient Amachoukeli-Barsacq harks back to the child-focused works of Céline Sciamma, particularly Petit Maman and My Life as a Courgette. This effort, Ama Gloria, is anchored in the author-director’s own bond with her nanny when she was a child. Underscoring the story is the young protagonist Cléo, a six-year old without a mother, who idolises her Cape Verdean caregiver, Gloria. There is an allure in perceiving a colonial history through Cléo’s hesitant letting go of the only motherly figure she’s had. Yet, it’s the eerie portrayal by Louise Mauroy-Panzani that strictly draws us into the child’s emotional complexities. It is a poignant and magnificently sober work. TB
Hounds has earned a four-out-of-five star rating. Kamal Lazraq helms this piece with Ayoub Elaid, Abdellatif Masstouri, Mohamed Hmimsa, Abdellah Lebkiri, and Lahcen Zaimouzen leading the cast. This gripping narrative, which lasts 94-minutes, is being released on a limited basis.
After a failed abduction in Casablanca, a father and son are forced to dispose of a body before dawn breaks. Adding a slice of dark wit to the tale, a failed endeavour to rope in an intoxicated fisherman culminates in an entirely misadventurous encounter. As expected in such narratives, the deceased person soon becomes a source of absurd suspense. However, Hounds gains further traction from its subtle exploration of the tense father-son dynamics. Amine Berrada’s roving camera effectively captures the city’s raw and intensity, which only enhances the enjoyment of this unique thriller film. Full review DC.