New York Film Festival Archives

13 Oct

What Do We See When We Look at the Sky? Review | NYFF 2021

Hector Gonzalez0 CommentsNYFF 2021, ReviewsFilm Review, New York Film Festival, NYFF

What Do We See When We Look at the Sky? is an ode to love at first sight; the moment you close your eyes and open them back again, the film takes over you. It’s a sensory experience with magical realism that’s both, in a sense, familiar and unique. This is a story about two strangers: footballer Giorgi and pharmacist Lisa. They had three random encounters within minutes of each other because they forgot their paths. Viewing it as a lucky concurrence, they decide to meet the next day at the local cafe. However, their meeting might not occur as…

09 Oct

Parallel Mothers Review | NYFF 2021

Hector Gonzalez0 CommentsNYFF 2021, ReviewsFilm Review, New York Film Festival, NYFF, NYFF21, Parallel Mothers, Pedro Almodóvar

Almodóvar’s switched-at-birth story, Parallel Mothers, is one of his most subtle and less-extravagant outings yet; however, it has his usual dramatic punch and a duet of excellent performances by Milena Smit and Penelope Cruz. The stylish Spaniard, Pedro Almodóvar, is one of the top-tier international directors working today, delivering a consistent oeuvre throughout his years as an auteur. From Women Under the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown (1988), my favorite, to his first English-language Cocteau excursion, The Human Voice (2019), his works always have a colorful debonair and passion. However, his latest is slightly different, switching his gears and choosing…

08 Oct

Hit the Road Review | NYFF 2021

Hector Gonzalez0 CommentsNYFF 2021, ReviewsHit the Road, New York Film Festival, NYFF

Like father, like son; Panah Panahi’s Hit the Road creates a self-reflexive study on life in his country by means of a family road trip that has different twists and turns emotionally. On the first watch, it is gripping; on the second, it completely breaks your heart. The film follows a tender disordered family of four -- two middle-aged parents and their two sons: a hyperactive 6-year-old and an untalkative adult -- who drive across the Iranian landscape. We are never told what their exact destination is; they just keep on driving. Dad has a broken leg for an unknown…

05 Oct

Drive My Car Review | NYFF 2021

Hector Gonzalez0 CommentsNYFF 2021, ReviewsDrive my car, New York Film Festival, NYFF, Ryuske Hamaguchi

Ryuske Hamaguchi’s Drive My Car makes 3-hours fly as he adapts Haruki Murakami with a sharply written, intimate, and fervid piece on grief, self-acceptance, and sin. Yusuke Kafuku (Hidetoshi Nishijima) is a prosperous stage actor, and director married to a playwright, Oto (Reika Kirishima). When Oto dies suddenly, he is left with many unanswered questions about their relationship and regrets about her. Two years later, still unable to cope with the loss of his wife, Yusuke accepts to direct a play at a theatre festival in Hiroshima. First, however, he must comply with the festival rules and let Misaki Watari…

04 Oct

France Review | NYFF 2021

Hector Gonzalez0 CommentsNYFF 2021, ReviewsFilm Festivals, Film Review, FRANCE, New York Film Festival

France tackles yellow journalism and sensationalism in a ridiculous and darkly satirical way that makes a mockery of the news outlets; it has Léa Seydoux going along with the bit, but it overstays its welcome with its unnecessarily lengthy runtime. France de Meurs (Léa Seydoux) is a famous TV journalist whose stardom is caused by extreme measures and ridiculing moments. Her career, homelife, and psychological solidity change when she carelessly drives into a delivery man on the streets of Paris. The accident caused France to go on a series of self-destructive moments and get involved in a new romance. Her…

04 Oct

Bad Luck Banging or Loony Porn Review | NYFF 2021

Hector Gonzalez0 CommentsNYFF 2021, ReviewsNew York Film Festival, NYFF

The Golden Bear-winning pandemic satire, Bad Luck Banging or Loony Porn, is a film that shares many thoughts and every single one is put onto the screen all squished together. There are funny moments, and there are hysterical moments, albeit, for most of its runtime, it feels like a raunchy overlong SNL sketch, for better or worse. A teacher (Katia Pascariu) at a prestigious Bucharest school gets her sex tape accidentally leaked on the internet by her husband; her life and career are going to change forever. She must now face an angry mob of parents in a trial that…

01 Oct

NYFF 2020 Highlights | Making Film Fests Look Good Amid A Pandemic

Raul Navedo0 CommentsEnglish ReviewsLovers Rock, Mangrove, MLK/FBI, New York Film Festival, Night of the Kings, Nomadland, NYFF, Review, Small Axe, The Monopoly of Violence

I know we’re all tired of hearing it but what a strange year it has been. We’ve all felt the impact; individuals, businesses, bank accounts and, of course, the world of film festivals. 2020 has been relentless on the festival circuit causing numerous festivals earlier in the year to cancel their event and slate of films, as happened with Cannes and SXSW. As if this wasn’t painful enough for cinephiles, much of the selection of films expected to release this year began vanishing from the calendar and finding a new home next year while some persisted, opting instead to test…

25 Sep

Mangrove Review | NYFF

Raul Navedo0 CommentsEnglish ReviewsAmazon, Film Festivals, Film Review, Mangrove, New York Film Festival, NYFF, Review, Small Axe, Steve McQueen

Mangrove is soulful! A film about oppression, injustice, and the will to fight for your human rights to community & life free of persecution… and guess what? It's based on a true story that doesn’t take place in the US. Though true, don’t celebrate. The film hits too close to home and proves that abuse of power runs in the veins of humans and that acts like this are doomed to continue if we don’t learn from history. Class is in session with Mangrove. Shaun Parkes as Frank Crichlow in Mangrove The first of five Steve McQueen films in the…

17 Sep

“Lovers Rock” Film Review | NYFF 2020

Raul Navedo0 CommentsEnglish Reviews, ReviewsFilm Review, Lovers Rock, New York Film Festival, NYFF, Review, Steve McQueen

Steve McQueen’s Lovers Rock is the opening night film at New York Film Festival. I remember when this was announced, Film Twitter couldn't control themselves! I even found myself wondering what side of McQueen to expect. Undoubtedly a talented and multi-faceted director that has shown his versatility numerous times. I knew exactly what side we were getting less than ten seconds into the film. Before even seeing a character I was transported by the cinematography back to 12 Years a Slave. It’s a testament to his style and shows he is a director who has a signature. What can I…