It’s film festival time! Sure many of the fall film festivals have bowed already but I always know when fall is really here with AFI Fest happening. This year’s AFI Fest is not just different because it’s virtual, but because its in the month of October. Normally this fest seems destined to be on the hottest days of November but instead it’ll be during some hot October days.
One of the things I noticed right away with AFI Fest is that this year’s selection isn’t quite as glitzy as the past, not a knock. I actually am excited that this festival seems to be much more discoverable than big movie driven. I got to go through the entire list of films and select movies that sounded interesting or moving. I am quite looking forward to exploring some of the films that friends recommended that I know nothing about but the title, even while I’m at home. You can view the whole schedule here but there are 5 movies I’m most looking forward to:
Eyimofe dir. Chuko and Arie Esiri
Stories of dreamers seeking a better life are a cinematic staple. Yet this Nigerian immigration drama tells the engaging tale of two families in Lagos in a particularly inventive and strikingly compassionate fashion. Hard-working electrical engineer Mofe yearns to go to Spain while 20-something hairstylist Rosa strives to move to Italy. Charming and multi-layered, this richly humanistic saga evokes a vivid sense of place and presents a moving exploration of personal tragedies and triumphs. Fate consistently intervenes, as do bureaucratic entanglements and dodgy financial deals. Told with empathy by first-time filmmakers Chuko and Arie Esiri, this subdued narrative reflects the rhythms of daily life as it weaves a vital portrait of ordinary people struggling to rise above the daily grind in a vibrant African city.
I Carry You with Me dir. Heidi Ewing
Realism and romanticism come together artfully in this poignant, decades-long story. Ivan (Armando Espitia) and Gerardo (Christian Vazquez) fall in love and must face homophobia, racism and injustice, while weathering the perils of undocumented immigration. Documentarian Heidi Ewing’s first narrative feature cleverly incorporates her non-fiction background, weaving in the real-life couple with the actors who play them in a lyrical, non-linear fashion. Clear-eyed and tender in equal measure, the film moves with fluidity and grace from the slower rhythms of Puebla, Mexico, to bustling New York City. Gerardo and Ivan face a series of hurdles in the course of their relationship. Comparisons can be made to TREE OF LIFE and MOONLIGHT in the way this sweeping saga glides forward and back in time, through memories and over hardships to the ultimate transcendence of love.
Jumbo dir. Zoe Wittock
Forbidden love is not a new theme to cinema. But Jeanne’s love is like no other. When the new amusement park “attraction,” The Move It, arrives at the local carnival where she works, Jeanne’s life is forever changed. With Jumbo, her pet-name for the twirling machine, what’s not to love? He’s pretty, fun and single. But how can they be happy when the world around them doesn’t understand. Actor Noémie Merlant (PORTRAIT OF A LADY ON FIRE) plays Jeanne with sincerity and never lets you feel like she is a punchline in a cosmic joke. This implausible premise is actually inspired by a true story, and director Zoé Wittock delivers a retelling that is compassionate and heartfelt. JUMBO is a delightful confirmation that love is love. Buckle up and get ready for an enchanting ride.
Nine Days dir. Edson Oda
What if you had just a little over a week to persuade an enigmatic gatekeeper to allow you to be born? How would you proceed? Winston Duke plays the cryptic and somber Will, the figure in charge of selecting the right soul for life on Earth. Will interviews several prospective candidates, aided by his more light-hearted colleague Kyo, played by Benedict Wong. As one soul dies, another takes its place. But the choice of who makes the cut is fraught. The unborn — personifications of human souls — must demonstrate why they deserve life. One applicant, played by Zazie Beetz, challenges Will in unexpected ways. A beautifully crafted, heartfelt sci-fi film that explores the existential, NINE DAYS marks the directorial debut of Edson Oda. An innovative concept thoughtfully plotted, this metaphysical tale is at once artistic, thought-provoking and life-affirming.
There is No Evil dir. Mohammad Rasoulof
Banned from making films since 2017, Iranian auteur Mohammad Rasoulof’s Golden Bear-winning four-part anthology is an epic examination of morality under an oppressive regime. Family man Heshmat goes to work every day performing unimaginable tasks. Pouya, serving his mandatory military service, must decide whether he will risk it all. For Javad, embarking upon a relaxing trip to visit his fiancée doesn’t go as planned. And in the final segment, Bahram reckons with an impossible choice made long ago. In this direct and searing condemnation, Rasoulof demonstrates that, under oppression, the average citizen is often an implicit collaborator. For the filmmaker, who in 2019 received his second prison sentence, political implications are often just a step away from the personal ones. Masterfully told, THERE IS NO EVIL is both timely and universal.