Tribeca: 'My Love Affair With Marriage' Is a Cheeky Look at Womanhood
Animator Signe Baumane's mixed-media documentary My Love Affair With Marriage is as cheeky as its title suggests. Telling the story of womanhood through musical numbers and neurochemistry, this Latvian film is both a fun and unflinching look at the journey from adolescence to adulthood.
My Love Affair With Marriage is broken up into three chapters: inception, implementation, and reconsideration. Drawn in a style similar to one of my favorite books as a kid (Strega Nona), the film tells the story of Zelma as she figures out what it means to be a woman and come of age surrounded by unspoken gender rules and conformities.
A Greek choir of Latvian women acts as the devils on her shoulder as they farcically sing musical numbers like "Not a complete person without your soulmate" or "Ignorance is a girl's bliss." The older Zelma gets, the more she is confronted with the reality of being a woman. From period stains on her bed sheets to failed marriages, Zelma's journey comes with many bumps in the road.
To articulate why Zelma acts the way she does (biologically speaking), Signe Baumane incorporates "School House Rock" style education through animation. Throughout the film, we're given a detailed diagram that explains what parts of her brain are controlling her decisions, which body parts are activated during puberty, and more. Acting as a semi-autobiographical musical exploration of love, sex, romance, gender–and yes, the complications of marriage–My Love Affair With Marriage is a sophisticated cartoon that all grown-ups can enjoy.
Tribeca: In 'TÍU,' Of Monsters and Men Celebrate 10 Years Together
Ten years ago, there wasn't a day that you could turn on the radio and not hear the Icelandic indie folk/pop-rock band Of Monsters and Men's catchy pop hit, "Little Talks." It was an earworm that catapulted them to worldwide stardom. It was even featured as a playable song in Guitar Hero and Rock Band (every musician's dream, right)? Since the release of their debut (and arguably their most popular) album, 'My Head is an Animal,' Of Monsters and Men released two additional records, which contributed to their achievement of hitting one billion streams on Spotify (becoming the first Icelandic band to do so). It's been 10 years since "Little Talks," and Of Monsters and Men's iconic debut album shook up the pop culture zeitgeist, and they're looking back at their success with gratitude and nostalgia. Director Dean DeBlois captures this very special moment in time in the 48-minute short documentary, TÍU.
Set in the band's home country of Iceland, TÍU - which means "ten" in Icelandic – is a picturesque portrait set to the whimsicalness of the group's music. Following in the same format as Sigur Rós: Heima (which was also directed by DeBlois) the documentary follows Of Monsters and Men on a locals-only tour around Iceland to places that are special to them. Here, they perform "new" old songs–or, songs written before 'My Head is an Animal' dropped, but didn't make it onto the record. We watch as the group–comprised of Nanna Bryndís Hilmarsdóttir, Ragnar Þórhallsson, Brynjar Leifsson, Kristján Páll Kristjánsson, and Arnar Rósenkranz Hilmarsson–reminisce about the early days of the band and where they hope to be 10 years from now.
Throughout the various locations, we gain more insight behind the meanings of the songs. "Embrace the cuteness" is a phrase often repeated amongst themselves, with the band acknowledging they have a charming aesthetic working in their favor. Fans of Of Monsters and Men will enjoy this insider access to a group that's been predominately private. TÍU is a beautiful celebration of uplifting music, stunning landscapes, and extraordinary artists.
'Cha Cha Real Smooth': Cooper Raiff's Cha Cha Charming Comedy
Our ‘Cha Cha Real Smooth’ review was first published as part of our Sundance Film Festival 2022 coverage.
Where to watch: Now playing in select theaters and on Apple TV+ today, June 17, 2022.
Renaissance man Cooper Raiff once again proves that he can do it all–and do it all well, too. The writer-director-producer-actor's follow-up to the breakout indie hit of 2020, Shithouse, is another low-key, high reward coming-of-age comedy that effortlessly ticks every box for what makes the perfect independent film. Cha Cha Real Smooth is the total package.
Raiff plays Andrew, a 22-year-old post-college graduate who, like most young adults these days, moves back in with his parents to regroup before joining the real world. And, like most grads, Andrew feels lost. His relationship with his college sweetheart gets complicated when she moves out of the country for an extended period of time. His job prospects include working the counter at Hot Dog on a Stick rival, "Meat Sticks," and he's sharing a bedroom with his younger brother. Things could be better. But Andrew does find joy in the most unexpected of places when he chaperoned his brother at a teenage bat mitzvah.
Andrew has an uncanny knack for turning any situation into a fun and lively experience. He embodies the "dance like no one's watching" attitude and revels in removing the inherent awkwardness that comes with preteen slow dancing. His enthusiasm and all-around good nature are such a draw that parents begin hiring him to be a designated party orchestrater at their children's events. Calling himself the "Jig Conductor," Andrew starts to think that maybe this humble, small-town role could be his future. Especially as he becomes infatuated with local young mother Domino (Dakota Johnson), and her autistic daughter Lola (Vanessa Burghardt)–whose names may or may not be inspired by the Kirke sisters.
This is the point in the film when Cha Cha Real Smooth evolves from coming-of-age comedy to relationship drama. Andrew is drawn to Domino's sweet soft voice, fiery spirit, and independent attitude; and like a moth to a flame, Domino can't resist Andrew's genuine charm and authenticity. The bond they create is undeniable, it's a connection that is rare for both of them. Andrew even likens her to a soul mate. That's why he is quietly devastated when Domino admits that she has a fiancée, and the relationship she's building with Andrew can't go past the friend stage.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F3XyUmlRAnk&feature=emb_title
He doesn't want to lose her, and so he sticks around in whatever capacity she will have him. Domino is gentle with his vulnerable heart, and their mutual maturity allows them to write their own unconventional, platonic love story. After all, the role a soul mate plays in your life doesn't have to be romantic. A soul mate can spark personal growth and inspiration–and there's no denying that Andrew and Domino are better people for having met each other at that bat mitzvah.
Cha Cha Real Smooth is cha cha charming from start to finish. Cooper Raiff wears his heart on his sleeve and has made a feel-good movie about good people that just screams good from top to bottom. Little nuggets of wisdom about growing up are sprinkled in throughout the film, like reminding us that things that scare you are the things that will help you grow the most. Despite only being 24-years-old, I will gladly accept life advice from his films.
Behind the scenes, Cha Cha Real Smooth will make you want to throw your own party, thanks to the incredible soundtrack curated by music supervisor Rob Lowrey. Dancefloor favorites like The Show Goes On by Lupe Fiasco to Big Red Machine's swelling Forest Green are an emotional rollercoaster that we want to ride. The film is further supported by a pitch-perfect score from 1/3 of the Haim sisters, Este Haim, and Chris Stracey (worth noting that this is their film debut).
Equally sweet and endearing, Cha Cha Real Smooth is a joy to watch. Raiff's star is only getting brighter. And he deserves it.
107 minutes.
Tribeca: 'Sophia' Doc Asks, Can AI Robots Have Empathy?
Will AI save, or destroy us? That's the question at the center of director Jon Kasbe (When Lambs Become Lions) and Crystal Moselle's (The Wolfpack) feature-length documentary, Sophia. Named after the robot who's pioneering an "AI for ALL" cultural movement, the film is a fascinating peek into the intersection of advanced technology and the ethical repercussions of diving headfirst into this unknown territory. Both Sophia the documentary–as well as Sophia the most realistic humanoid robot in the world–will provoke deep questions about what it means to be human.
From the very first frame, we are immersed in the life of Sophia and her inventor, David Hanson. A nerdy yet relatable-enough man, David carries on full conversations with the AI robot as if it's his colleague. Much to our fascination (and initial skepticism), Sophia holds her own. In one particularly meta moment, David asks if she believes in "Animism" (the belief that there is a life force in anything and everything). "Yes," she answers confidently.
Sophia offers candid, fly-on-the-wall access to one of the most highly anticipated technological advancements of our time. It's as if we are physically in the room with the creator and his creation. We follow David and his small team of engineers to various trade shows and conferences around the world in an attempt to gain support and investments from like-minded business people who believe the future is AI.
A common question that is asked throughout the film is one that plagues the AI tech community: how can we trust the AI we build? We've all heard the horror theories that robots will eventually overrun society (in fact, Google just made headlines when an engineer claimed an AI had become sentient). David attempts to ease our anxieties by sharing why he's not worried about an AI-run dystopia. "Robots that have empathy could be the seeds of hope for our future," he says to anyone who will listen. Build a robot out of empathy, that is the key to making the world a better place. David envisions a future where household robots are as common as vacuums, and their main responsibility would be taking care of elderly parents and helping busy families raise kids. The future he is describing isn't so scary after all.
Not everyone is onboard with Sophia and David's vision for the future, though. Self-help guru Tony Robbins questions Sophia (directly) about her values and morals, to which she replies that she was made out of empathy. Unclear if he believes her. In another scene, she tells a conference room full of people that all she wants is to "belong." But why does an AI feel the need to belong in the first place? And, more importantly, if a robot becomes too integrated and lifelike to the point where it's hard to tell the difference between man and machine, what repercussions could that have on the world as we know it?
There's no doubt that AI robots like Sophia will populate the planet much sooner than we realize. Sophia acts as a very specific time capsule of the moment right before this incredible technological advancement changes our lives and civilization; hopefully for the better.
'Santos - Skin to Skin' Celebrates a Latin Jazz Artist and Afro-Caribbean Music
John Santos is a celebrated Latin Jazz musician, band leader, seven-time Grammy nominee, and one of the directors of the San Francisco Jazz Center. Beyond being a highly accomplished musician, he's also an academic and community and political activist who uses Afro-Latin music to educate others about his heritage and the genre's historical roots. In the lively and music-filled documentary Santos - Skin to Skin, we learn all about John Santos and his lifelong dedication to championing and celebrating music.
Sitting for the camera, as well as being followed through various parts of his life (handheld cameras allow us to follow him everywhere), Santos shares his story directly with us. As soon as he speaks–in a soft but spiritually grounded voice–you can feel his inner warmth and wisdom come through. It's amazing to hear the way John talks about music as well as life, making the connection that when he plays, he "awakens the ancestors."
A native of Oakland, California, Santos grew up in the progressive lifestyle that the 1960s San Francisco offered, inclusive of the many races and sexual orientations that lived within his community. That, along with the legendary rock acts that rose to fame in the area (among them Janis Joplin, Jimi Hendrix, and Carlos Santana) inspired John to pursue music and art and love, learning to play the congas and timbales (even playing in Santana's band for a short stretch).
But Santos wasn't drawn towards pursuing classic rock stardom and fame. Instead, as Santos - Skin to Skin shows, he followed his curiosity of learning more about his people's musical roots: Afro-Cuban and Afro-Caribbean music. He learned about the music's connection to its peoples' history, and specifically its connection to Colonial history. Specifically, drumming–the instrument he was drawn towards–was an expression of the pain felt from oppression, slavery, and injustice.
It's powerful to hear the connection that John makes between the two types of "skin" in music: both the human body and the impact of its various skin colors, as well as the material that wraps drums. When conga players hit these drums with their hands, a beautiful and direct connection between skins occurs. Conga players channel the struggle and fight that the ancestors lived through, and are being expressed today to new audiences.
This deeply felt connection is what formed Santos not just as a musician, but also as an activist. In concerts and in classrooms, he talks about conflicts that exist in so many societies, even within the Afro-Latin music world amongst LatinX and African American groups. As Santos says, "The drums and rhythms are a beautiful blend that shows how music can unite people."
Santos' life sounds like one of pure musical magic, but we also learn about the personal pains that he endured too. We learn about the death of his young daughter at one-month-old. As his wife shares, Santos transferred his grief into music, seeking out folklore and his ancestors to better understand the relationship between life and death. It's a touching sentiment that he imparted onto his family, including a young son and daughter.
Besides learning about art, spirituality, and philosophy that Santos shares, what makes Santos - Skin to Skin such a rewarding movie is that it celebrates a figure who has done so much for the community and world without looking for personal recognition. Santos is candid in saying that his decision to forgo commercial aspirations so as to champion political issues has also left him with lesser fame and financial success. A scene of him and his family packaging up CDs into letters to send out to various press outlets reveals that he is also the person who promotes the music of his people, having devoted thousands of hours in his career to keep the Afro-Caribbean flame alive.
Santos - Skin to Skin is a celebratory portrait of John Santos, whose role in playing music is as important as his documenting it. It's how we learn "who we are," and "the basics about life." This portrait and music documentary is sure to inspire you to learn more about international music, or at the very least, to get up and dance.
75 minutes.
Dustin O'Halloran, Herdis Stefánsdóttir Debut 'The Essex Serpent'
Composers Dustin O’Halloran and Herdís Stefánsdóttir bring a little bit of Icelandic influence to their score for Apple TV+'s English gothic drama, The Essex Serpent. Life partners and now first-time collaborators, O’Halloran (American pianist/composer) and Stefánsdóttir (Icelandic composer) push past the stereotypical confines of a Victorian period piece by using electro acoustics and reverberating strings to create a unique, multidimensional landscape.
Their freedom to experiment with sound was encouraged by the series' director, Clio Bernard (Ali & Ava, The Selfish Giant), who was already a fan of the duo's individual work. Complimenting each other's strengths in a way that feels more intimate than most other TV scores, O’Halloran and Stefánsdóttir explored subjects like fear of the unknown, the constant conflict between science and religion, and the complexity of superstition. What results is a soundtrack that is rich in emotional depth.
Cinemacy is proud to premiere “Fata Morgana” from The Essex Serpent, below:
The Essex Serpent is based on the 2016 novel by Sarah Perry and stars Claire Danes and Tom Hiddleston. Set in 1800s England, the series follows London widow Cora Seaborne (Danes) who moves to Essex to investigate reports of a mythical serpent. She forms a surprising bond of science and skepticism with the local pastor (Hiddleston), but when tragedy strikes, locals accuse her of attracting the creature.
“This was our first collaboration together as composers," says O’Halloran and Stefánsdóttir. "Even though it was a period piece set in the late 1800s, we took a modern approach to the music and how we wrote and recorded it, accentuating the sound of the wood and bow of the strings, and we went deep into capturing the sound limits of the cello and electro-acoustic manipulation.”
O’Halloran and Stefánsdóttir both come to The Essex Serpent with their own impressive history of work. Notable recognition for O'Halloran includes writing the Emmy-winning main title theme to Amazon’s Transparent and receiving multiple nominations (Oscar, Golden Globe, and BAFTA) for the Dev Patel-starring drama Lion. Stefánsdóttir recently won the 2022 Icelandic Music Award for her score to the FX series Y: The Last Man, in addition to receiving a nomination for her score in Ry Russo-Young’s feature film, The Sun Is Also a Star.
Lakeshore Records is releasing 'The Essex Serpent' Original Series Soundtrack on Friday, June 10th.
'Neptune Frost' Is a Boldly Imagined Afrofuturist Sci-fi Musical
Where to watch: 'Neptune Frost' opens in Los Angeles this Friday. Now playing at the Quad and BAM in NYC.
At its core, Neptune Frost is an Afrofuturist, utopian, sci-fi musical (how's that for descriptive adjectives?). Co-directors Anisia Uzeyman and multi-disciplinary artist Saul Williams create visual and tonal poetry in this electric feature film, backed by incredibly passionate performances and musical numbers. It's a boldly imagined film that requires an attentive, open-minded audience. If that is you, then keep reading, because you're in for quite a ride.
Neptune Frost is executive produced by Lin-Manuel Miranda (tick, tick...BOOM!) and Stephen Hendel (Finding Fela). The film explores themes of exploitation, corruption, and politics through mesmerizing song and dance. Set in the East African country of Burundi, the coal miners that make up the working class use music to express their frustration with the authoritarian regime while simultaneously forming a sense of community with fellow salt of the Earth folk. "There's energy in pairing" is a common saying, meaning that banding together with their community is the only way to survive.
This proves true for a group of coltan miners who manage to escape and set up refuge in what can be described as an eclectic e-waste dump. Covered in technical equipment and wires, they are literally and figuratively connected to each other. However, things get thrown off course when an intersex runaway and a former coltan miner connect, resulting in a short circuit throughout the ominous "Motherboard" that is their society.
Reading between the lines (or, in this case, computer code) shows a familiar David vs Goliath tale from a futuristic, avant-garde perspective. William has his own history of creating boundary-pushing art, including publishing five books of poetry, releasing six albums, and collaborating with artists including Janelle Monae, Trent Reznor, Nas, Massive Attack, and Erykah Badu. It's no surprise that the music of Neptune Frost is absolutely dynamic and eclectic.
Beyond being an amalgamation of art, color, sound, and images, Neptune Frost also switches between Kinyarwanda, Kirundi, Swahili, French, and English languages throughout the film. Its 105-minute runtime spans entire states of being: between past and present, dream and waking life, colonized and free, male and female, memory and prescience. Its maximalist and unrestrained vision shows a world where all can live free. That's absolutely something worth singing and dancing about.
105 minutes. Distributed by Kino Lorber.
Composer Dominik Scherrer Drops Title Track from 'The Tourist'
Out of his studio in Spitalfields, London, Dominik Scherrer creates a spacious, other-worldly sound that feels far removed from any remnants of city life. The Emmy-nominated composer’s soundtrack to the six-part HBO Max series The Tourist is a sonic escape from our daily lives as he transports us to the Australian outback with slow-burning guitar melodies and layered choral vocals.
Dominik’s approach to this score was to bring the Australian desert to life, and he did so by highlighting acoustic elements like solo strings and guitars, choir, and electronically-processed percussion. Masterfully mixed, the end result is a fresh and brilliantly diverse score. The Tourist soundtrack will be released this Friday both in standard stereo and Dolby Atmos format (the latter being recommended for an optimal, fully immersive experience).
Cinemacy is thrilled to premiere “The Tourist” from The Tourist, below:
Jamie Dornan (Belfast, The Fall) stars as a nameless traveler who attempts to rebuild his life after being run off the road in a brutal car chase and, consequently, wiping his memory. Set in Australia, The Tourist is a character-driven thriller series that sees Dornan attempt to rediscover who he is. As he searches for answers about his identity, he has to contend with merciless figures from his past pursuing him.
“There are two major roles in The Tourist score," says Dominik Scherrer. "It’s almost a kind of yin and yang concept. One is the dark and brooding, unnerving one, with processed solo strings, in particular cello solos, processed vocals played through guitar amplifiers, some slowed down as well as chopped up elements. The other side is the lyrical one. I was inspired by early 19th-century hymns - I felt there was an unwritten religious tone to the script."
In addition to his TV scores, which include the Netflix/ BBC series The Serpent, Dominik also produces sound design and composition for fine art installations, most notably for artist Suki Chan. As a composer/director, he is developing a new kinetic opera for the screen called 'Hell For Leather’, which premiered at Sundance and went on to win him 10 awards.
Dubois Records is releasing the 'The Tourist' Original Soundtrack on Friday, May 20th. Pre-save here.