'The Umesh Chronicles' Review: Using Cinema as Poetic Language
Filmmaker Pooja Kaul uses cinema as poetic language in her soulful coming-of-age feature debut, The Umesh Chronicles. The film explores how a young Indian woman is shaped and formed by the encounters she experiences. Languid and patient in its storytelling structure, this romantic drama was selected to screen at the 2024 Stockholm International Film Festival.
Gone but Not Forgotten
The endless quest to feel grounded is something many of us experience throughout our lives, and Radha, a young girl living in 1980s middle-class India, is no exception. Her family is constantly moving due to her father's position in the military, and stability is hard to come by. School friends come and go but Radha has grown to understand that she can always turn inward to find comfort and solace. However, she is not immune to loneliness and will resort to books and music as escapism. One day, Radha is sent to live with her well-off grandparents to continue her education, while her father and the rest of her family deal with his relocation details. It is the first time she can put down roots in a familiar setting.
Then Radha meets Sundar, a young boy who helps out around the familial estate. She initially has little contact with Sundar who, like Radha, also mainly keeps to himself. They come from different backgrounds but there is no denying a shared kinship. Things are soon upended when Sundar runs away without warning, vanishing from Radha's life without a trace. But life goes on, Radha focuses on her future and attends college. Leaving the past behind is her way of moving on. But as fate would have it, Radha and Sundar cross paths years later, and the memories of childhood start flooding back with tangible sensations.
An Impressive Crew Who Count Joachim Trier and Joanna Hogg as Collaborators
As the writer and director of the film, Pooja Kaul's fingerprints are all over this delicate story of two different hierarchies navigating a changing society. An impressive crew brings this intimate and atmospheric portrait to life. Swedish Cinematographer Jakob Ihre leans into the atmospheric and dreamlike quality of the film's surroundings. His work on previous films with similar aesthetics includes Thelma, Louder than Bombs, and Oslo, 31st August by critically acclaimed director Joachim Trier. Helle le Fevre serves as editor, and her background is equally impressive. She frequently collaborates with director Joanna Hogg, having worked on The Souvenir, The Souvenir: II, and The Eternal Daughter.
Takeaway
The Umesh Chronicles is a slow-burn art film that requires its audience to embrace patience and poise. Sitting through the slower scenes comes with great payoffs, including many musical moments. Says Kaul of the film's greater themes, "The Umesh Chronicles is both timeless and of its time, a poem of life, both ancient and modern, a film for fathers, mothers, daughters, everywhere."
'B is for Bachata' Review: Full of Heart, Hips, and Passion
Writer/director Ricky Rosario brings the spirit of Latin music to life in his short indie film, B is for Bachata. Running just 13 minutes long, B is for Bachata is a colorful homage to the significance of the Bachata style of dance. In addition to acknowledging its rich cultural importance, the film portrays how this genre is being reinterpreted in modern times.
Regaining a Sense of Tradition
Yonathan (Andresito Germosen De La Cruz) is celebrating his college graduation with a backyard family BBQ. He is a proud Dominican-American but fails to take an interest in Bachata, which many of his party guests engage in. His cousins, Manny (Cesar Pichardo) and Beatris (Franceli Chapman) do their part to explain the rich history between Bachata and the Dominican Republic. They point to the people dancing all around them, gliding gracefully in four-step unison. This leads Yonathan down a road of discovery. He not only starts to learn more about dance but also about his own ancestry.
B is for Bachata has a commercial glossy quality to the film that radiates with energy. Its vibrancy reflects the heart and soul of the music, which is a pleasure to listen to throughout the runtime. Filmmaker Ricky Rosario does an excellent job incorporating Spanglish into the script, giving the film a strong authentic edge. Visually, close-ups of mouthwatering plates of food, coupled with feet moving to the rhythm, succeed in setting the perfect party mood. There's no doubt this film will leave audiences with an extra pep in their step as the credits roll.
Takeaway
Merengue and salsa may be more popular in America, but B is for Bachata makes a compelling case for championing this lively dance style. Both fun and sentimental, B is for Bachata premiered at the 2024 New York Latino Film Festival.
'Anwar' Review: Understanding the Beauty of Life and Death
Does mother always know best? The answer isn't so simple in director Fawaz Al-Matrouk's sci-fi drama, Anwar. The 20-minute short film tells the story of a mother and son who have differing perspectives on life and death and how, despite conflicting opinions, they finally come to understand the beauty in each other's choices. Anwar made its World Premiere at Les Utopiales, an annual international science fiction festival held in Nantes, France. The film makes its US Premiere at the Sedona International Film Festival at the end of this month.
When is Eternal Life Worth Living?
"What happens when you die?" asks 8-year-old Anwar to his mother, Mona (Kerry Bishé), shortly after they experience the loss of a pet bird. This expansive question kicks off the beginning of a highly-anticipated conversation with Mona, who has been waiting until he was old enough to comprehend the idea of eternity. Mona confesses that years ago, she decided to trade her human experience for eternal life. Just how that happened, and why she chose to turn immortal when everyone she loves remained mortal, remains unclear. But logistics don't seem to be a high priority to effectively get the message of the story across.
Mona has joined a growing number of people who trade mortality for invincibility. They are known as "ever people" and she hopes her son will join her destiny decision. But contrary to his mother's wishes, Anwar longs for heaven. He doesn't believe humans are meant to live forever. As the film evolves through the decades, we see Anwar age from 8 to 18 to 80. Mona, meanwhile, remains eternal throughout. It is only when Anwar reaches old age that Mona can see the beauty in death. Ironically, it is on his deathbed when Anwar has a final moment of doubt.
Takeaway
Fawaz Al-Matrouk gives audiences much to meditate on in his indie sci-fi drama. The film feels very organic in both its tone and aesthetic, which adds a sense of calmness to an otherwise distressing topic. Set in a lush natural landscape and backed by a strong leading performance from Kerry Bishé (Argo, Halt & Catch Fire), Anwar is a film that aims to awaken the spirit.
'Sly Lives! (aka The Burden of Black Genius)' Review: Heavy is the Head that Wears the Crown
Ahmir "Questlove" Thompson's follow-up to his 2022 Oscar-winning documentary Summer of Soul (...Or, When the Revolution Could Not Be Televised) is another timely watch. Sly Lives! (aka The Burden of Black Genius) energetically pays tribute to the life and legacy of the memorable American funk band, Sly & the Family Stone. Using an abundance of archival footage and interviews with key players in the scene, including André 3000, Clive Davis, and Chaka Khan, Sly Lives! is a captivating look at the good times–and bad–of one of pop music's most influential artists. The documentary held its World Premiere at the 2025 Sundance Film Festival and is now available to stream on Hulu.
Heavy is the Head that Wears the Crown
Bigger than just an homage-filled tribute to the band Sly & the Family Stone, Questlove's thesis is more nuanced and pointed than the average music documentary. Using Sly Stone as his subject, Questlove investigates and interrogates the idea of Black genius and the expectations that come with it. "What is 'Black Genius'" he asks the interviewees at the beginning of the film. The responses range from lighthearted chuckles to introspective contemplation. It's a tricky question to answer. Even at the end of the film, the question remains fluid and ever-changing.
Watch the Sly Lives! (aka The Burden of Black Genius) trailer here.
The Rise, Reign, and Fall of Sly & the Family Stone
Those interested in learning how this group from San Francisco came to dominate the music scene will find much to sink their teeth into in this joyous and academic retrospective. Dubbed a "music genius" by those who knew him, Sly Stone–born Sylvester Stewart–was destined to be a game-changer. Equally charismatic and enigmatic, Sly's first foray into the music industry came as a DJ in the Bay Area of California. The documentary expertly tracks how the band became one of the most groundbreaking bands of the 60s. Notably, they were the first major group to have both a multi-racial and mixed-gender roster.
The film covers all of their highlights, including performances of hits "Everyday People" and "Hot Fun in the Summertime". It also covers the not-so-glamorous moments, including the dissolution of the group, friction between band members, and Sly's out-of-control drug use. It's during these moments that Questlove reinserts his original thesis statement: There is an unseen burden that comes with success for Black artists in America.
Takeaway
Sly Lives! doesn't quite live up to the same "must-see" energy as Questlove's former film Summer of Soul. However, what it does provide in its nearly 2-hour runtime is a vivid memory of the legendary contributions from a West Coast rock band that changed the trajectory of rock and funk music forever.
'I Love You Forever' Review: Heartbreak at the Hands of a Narcissist
Prince Charming quickly turns into Prince Creepy in the indie romantic drama I Love You Forever. Co-written and co-directed by Cazzie David and Elisa Kalani, I Love You Forever shows how one millennial meet-cute went from giddy heart-eye emoji to toxic heartbreak. This film is not the first to shed light on the modern dating experience, however, its portrayal of an increasingly frightening dynamic between a young woman and her overly obsessive boyfriend offers a fresh and authentic perspective on cultivating love in 2025.
Happily Ever After... Or Is It?
Mackenzie (Sofia Black-D'Elia) is in a dating rut. Her hook-up buddy continues to be ambivalent about their relationship, and her patience is running low. A stressed-out law student, Mackenzie doesn't have time to waste on boys who won't commit. But her pessimistic outlook on love changes the night of her best friend's (Cazzie David) birthday party. This is where she meets Finn (Ray Nicholson), a devastatingly handsome man who seems immediately smitten with her. Their chemistry is undeniable from the beginning. For their first date, Finn rents out an entire restaurant for just the two of them. They end the night with a kiss, and it can easily be described as the best date ever.
Finn's thoughtfulness and attentive communication style seem like considerate personality traits. At last, Mackenzie believes she has found the one. Early on, Finn shares his early childhood trauma and fear of abandonment, and Mackenzie sees this confession as being vulnerable, open, and honest. Little does she know that his relationship anxiety and insecurity will be the very things that ruin her life.
Crafting the Tone of the Tragic Rom-Com
I Love You Forever is a painfully authentic embodiment of heartbreak at the hands of a narcissist. Those who have experienced a relationship like this may feel as if your diary entries are being read aloud. The film depicts outrageous, yet very real manipulation tactics, like being pressured into changing your phone number, and the stress of having to de-escalate a situation after threats of suicide.
Crafting the tone of a tragic rom-com is no easy task, but Cazzie David and Elisa Kalani make it seem effortless. The script's zingy one-liners add much-needed lightheartedness, as does Cazzie David's dry comedic relief. Ray Nicholson puts on a stunning performance as the endearing-turned-creepy Finn. His ability to switch between sweet and psychotic is impressive. For her role as the tortured girlfriend, Sofia Black-D'Elia gives a heartfelt performance that many women may, unfortunately, relate to.
Takeaway
Emotionally abusive relationships are no laughing matter. I Love You Forever handles this delicate subject matter with the right amount of empathy and dark humor. Produced in part by Diablo Cody, the film made its World Premiere at the 2024 SXSW Film Festival.
'Outrage' Review: The Scary Simplicity of How Disinformation Spreads With Ease
Writer/director Brady Nelson uses his independent film Outrage to make a point: you can't always trust what you read online. This high-stakes drama, made on a modest $20,000 budget, tells a scandalous and timely story of corruption in mainstream media. Over the last decade, the internet has been heavily used to weaponize democracy. This results in hit pieces, callous invasion of privacy, and spreading fake news with the deliberate intent to cause chaos. Outrage approaches this unethical PR tactic from a new perspective, and exposes the ugly truth of media manipulation.
Witnessing a Political Scandal
Kevin (Alex Campbell) is a young investigative journalist who has been working undercover at a troll farm, during an election year, to expose a giant media manipulator. The son of a highly respected journalist, Kevin strives to make a name for himself outside his father's shadow. The assignment he finds himself involved in, is by all intents and purposes, a career-defining opportunity. Kevin's task is to swing the election for the far-right candidate. This involves planting salacious news stories at various news organizations, creating memes, and other low-level online attacks.
By playing along as a troll farmer and witnessing this company's ability to manipulate public opinion during a critical voting period, Kevin's goal is to expose the corrupt organization and its leader (Paul Stuart). However, once Kevin sees how far the company's boss is willing to go to win, he realizes he may be in too deep. It's a risky move, but that doesn't stop Kevin from attempting to dismantle the PR machine before it's too late.
How Fake News Can Have Real and Devastating Effects
Outrage shows the scary simplicity of how disinformation spreads with ease. The film feels particularly timely given our recent election and the discourse surrounding "fake news" and rumored voter fraud. It's not improbable to imagine troll farms around the world aiding specific political parties and how that has a direct influence on the state of our country. Phrases like "ABC: Always Be Clicking" and "People don't want to think", indicating that the power lies in the hands of click-farm bots, are enough to leave a bitter taste in anyone's mouth.
Set in a single location, an office building within an industrial complex, filmmaker Brady Nelson is able to build a pressure-cooker environment. Outrage moves very swiftly, much like a fast-paced newsroom. Close-ups of computer screens and text messages draw audiences into this digital world. At times, the depiction of the World Wide Web feels more like a jail cell.
Takeaway
Inspired by true events, these manipulation tactics are commonly used in our current landscape, from TMZ gossip sites to more political-leaning outlets. Outrage puts a face to these otherwise hidden ethical dilemmas of modern journalism and digital deception for all to see.
'Celebration' Review: The Tragic Trajectory of Innocent to Ideological
Filmmaker Bruno Anković looks at the past to better understand the present in the historical drama Celebration (Proslava). Inspired by the book of the same name, Celebration by Damir Karakaš, Anković revisits a specific and divisive moment in time that has forever left an imprint on world history and politics. Celebration made its World Premiere at the 2024 Karlovy Vary International Film Festival.
The Tragic Trajectory of Innocence to Ideological
Bernard Tomić plays Mijo, a young, defeated soldier who finds refuge in the woods outside his impoverished Croatian village. It is Autumn 1945, at the end of World War II, and Mijo has gone into hiding in fear of retaliation. He cannot fathom surrendering and facing the consequences of his actions, which are the result of right-wing brainwashing. Mijo, who grew up an innocent, good-natured kid, is interestingly both the protagonist and antagonist of this story. So how did Mijo, a good kid with a pure heart, end up complying with the "enemy"? Through eye-opening flashbacks, Celebration explores the monumental events and difficult circumstances that led to Croatia's expansion of extremism and right-wing ideology.
Brutal Circumstances are Amplified by Aesthetic and Sound
Celebration is Bruno Anković's feature film debut and a successful one at that. Capturing the bleak and conflicting circumstance that Mijo finds himself in is amplified by gritty aesthetics. The score has an interesting cadence to it, almost sounding like high-pitched wind rather than a traditional composition. Visually, the film has a Terrence Malick quality, specifically in the scenes of lush rural landscapes. At times, the color grade can be too dark and hard to distinguish what is happening on screen, which is the film's only flaw. Creating something so beautiful out of subject matter that is so difficult to digest is a true feat.
As a Croatian filmmaker, this story is deeply personal to Anković. However, he is convinced that history is repeating itself, and therefore Celebration is a global foreshadowing of what condoning evil entities would look like today. Anković explains it best: "I wanted to use this film to try to explain to myself why our grandfathers became so cruel, why they could ever be part of the Nazi and fascist movements. I simply had a need to talk about the type of environment in which evil could take root. Particularly in light of the world today – in Europe and all over the world we can now see the resurgence of right-wing movements, groups, politicians – so we ask ourselves: where did we all go wrong?"
Takeaway
Celebration acts as a mirror for the younger generations to recognize the warning signs of impending political turmoil and a catalyst to act accordingly. We cannot remove the stains of the past but it is in our power to ensure our future is equitable, prosperous, and something we want to look forward to.
'Going Viral' Review: Would You Sell Your Soul For Fame?
The desire for virality might seem like a modern-day ambition, but Going Viral proves that the search for stardom is timeless. Directed by Vincent Vittorio (American Made Movie) and written & produced by Todd Pringle and Kevin Greene (You’re Killing Me), this independent feature blends the best of 80's nostalgia with current technological advances to create a truly original genre film. This 80s sci-fi adventure is full of great music, fun special effects, and a stellar cast. And wow! It is fun to see Corey Feldman back on the big screen again!
Welcome to Viral University
Going Viral tells the story of a teenage boy's desperate attempt to achieve fame and the consequences he faces as a result. Beckett O’Connell (Shea Pritchard) is an awkward 15-year-old obsessed with skateboarding and becoming an influencer on V-TV, a new video-sharing platform. Similar to our generation's TikTok, V-TV rewards its users with likes and online fame. For months, Beckett tries and fails to get attention from the V-TV community. However, things change when he discovers Viral University, a surreal online portal. This is also where he meets Mr. Viral (Louis Kyper), a mysterious AI who promises success by encouraging fame-hungry teens to engage in practical jokes.
Following Mr. Viral's advice, Beckett starts by partaking in innocent yet annoying pranks. Just as expected, his popularity begins to rise. The girls at school start to pay him attention, and he begins to be recognized by people around town. Beckett's harmless practical jokes eventually turn dangerous when he goes too far by rigging an opponent's skateboard, causing serious injuries. It's no longer fun and games as Beckett realizes that Mr. Viral is more threatening than he was led to believe. With so much at stake, Beckett must team up with a reclusive gamer named Samurai (Corey Feldman) to take on the AI once and for all.
A Neon Nod to 80s Culture
Filmmaker Vincent Vittorio excels in creating an aesthetically abundant 80s haven within the world of Going Viral. From the costumes to the props and the crowd-pleasing synched songs, Going Viral is a fun and family-friendly watch. In his role as the aging yet infamous gamer, Corey Feldman steals the show with his comedic timing and undeniable charisma. Leading the film, Shea Pritchard does an equally impressive job channeling his inner Marty McFly while remaining a unique central character.
Takeaway
Imagine Ferris Bueller had a Gen Z desire for influencer fame, and you'll have a good idea of what to expect in Going Viral. Full of heart and sideways ponytails, this vibrant indie film tackles the timeless challenges of self-discovery in the digital age.