Irena’s Vow: A Glimpse of Heroic Holocaust History Even as History Repeats Itself
ReviewJim SlotekIrena’s Vow, TIFF 23, WWII, Nazis, Nazi era Poland, Louise Archambault, Dan Gordon, Sophie Nélisse, Dougray Scott, Maciej Nawrocki
Wicked Little Letters: Sharp Period Piece Carries Timeless Feminist Message
ReviewJim SlotekWicked Little Letters, Thea Sharrock, Jessie Buckley, Olivia Colman, Timothy Spall, TIFF 23, Period piece, British film, Drama, Black comedy, Feminist feature, Gemma Jones, Anjana Vasan
Shayda: An Homage to The Resilience of Women
The Queen of My Dreams: Mother-Daughter Conflict Reigns Across Eras and Cultures
ReviewJim SlotekThe Queen of My Dreams, Canadian film, TIFF 23, Fawzia Mirza, Debut feature, Amrit Kaur, Nimra Bucha, Hamza Haq, Ayana Manji, Meher Jaffri, Ali A. Kazmi, Gul-e-Rana
Uproar: An Unsubtle but Charming Kiwi Coming-Of-Age Tale
ReviewJim SlotekUproar, TIFF 23, Paul Middleditch, Hamish Bennett, Erana James, Jada Fa’atui, Rhys Darby, Minnie Driver, Julian Dennison, New Zealand, coming of age, Comedy
One Life: Anthony Hopkins Brings Gravitas (and Tears) to True-Life WWII Story
ReviewJim SlotekOne Life, TIFF 23, James Hawes, Anthony Hopkins, Helena Bonham Carter, Lena Olin, Johnny Flynn, Drama, British film, WWII, Biopic
Original-Cin Q&A: One Life Director James Hawes on Capturing a Hero’s Essence
By Bonnie Laufer
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Hey, Viktor!: Adding a Lowbrow Dimension to Canadian Cringe
ReviewJim SlotekHey, Viktor!, TIFF 23, Canadian film, Cody Lightning, Smoke Signals, Comedy, Hannah Cheesman, Simon Baker, Colin Mochrie, Adam Beach, Phil Burke, Conway Kootenay, Indigenous films and filmmakers
About Dry Grasses: Misanthropic Turkish Teacher Learns a Lesson, Maybe
ReviewJim SlotekAbout Dry Grasses, Turkish, TIFF 23, Nuri Bilge Ceylon, Deniz Celiloglu, Merve Dizdar, Musab Ekici, Ece Bagci, Drama, Foreign films
Seagrass: Superb Canadian Drama Captures Dynamic of a Family in Free Fall
The Monk and the Gun: A Refreshing Political Satire from Bhutan
ReviewJim SlotekThe Monk and the Gun, Bhutan, Pawo Choyning Dorji, Tandin Wangchuk, Deki Lhamo, Pema Zangmo Sherpa, Tandin Sonam, Harry Einhorn, Kelsang Choejay, TIFF 23
The Promised Land: Sweeping Epic a Showcase for Mads Mikkelsen’s Talent
ReviewJim SlotekTIFF 23, The Captain and Ann Barbara, Ida Jessen, Adaptation, The Promised Land, Nicolaj Arcel, Anders Thomas Jensen, Mads Mikkelsen, Simon Bennebjerg, Amanda Collin, Historical drama, Danish movies, Danish filmmakers
Orah: Nigerian Canadian Revenge Thriller Tantalizes but Doesn’t Satisfy
By Chris Knight
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How to Have Sex: Perfunctory Title Belies Wallop of Message in New Drama
ReviewJim SlotekUn Certain Regard, Cannes, How to Have Sex, Molly Manning Walker, Lara Peake, Enva Lewis, Mia McKenna-Bruce, British, Issues of consent, TIFF 23, First feature, Coming-of-age stories
Perfect Days: Wim Wenders Deals Full Flush with Simple Toilet Cleaner Tale
By Chris Knight
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Ru: Immigration Drama a Love Letter to Canada
ReviewJim SlotekRu, adaptation, TIFF 23, Charles-Olivier Michaud, Jacques Davidts, Chloe Djandji, Chantal Thuy, Immigrant experience, Drama, Canadian
Memory: Memorable Performances Distinguish Michel Franco's Poignant Drama
The Zone of Interest: Jonathan Glazer’s Devastating Holocaust Tale Too Vital to Miss
By Karen Gordon
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American Fiction: Jeffrey Wright Shines In Publishing World Satire
ReviewJim SlotekAmerican Fiction, TIFF 23, Cord Jefferson, Adaptation, Jeffrey Wright, Sterling K Brown, Leslie Uggams, Erika Alexander, Tracee Ellis Ross, John Ortiz
Next Goal Wins: Fact-Based Taika Waititi Sports Comedy Fails to Score
By Chris Knight
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