Hala is the story of a young woman caught between two world—her parents’ and the culture she has grown up in. It is a stereotypical coming-of-age story with the additional conflict of having to live by additional rules that grow out of her parents’ values. But it also turns into not just about her yearning… [Read More]
A Hidden Life: Resisting Evil
Terrance Malick creates films that are spiritual experiences. Sometimes, it is more about the experience than story. (Personally, I love going through those experiences, but understand why some find it difficult.) In A Hidden Life, Malick creates an experience that relies on the real-life inspirational story of Franz Jägerstätter, an Austrian conscientious objector during World… [Read More]
AFI Fest 2019 – Awards and Personal Faves
AFI Fest 2019 Presented by Audi has announced the winners of the Audience Awards, as well as the Grand Jury Prizes for short films. Following the awards listing, I’ll chime in with my own favorites from the festival. Audience Award – Feature I AM NOT ALONE (DIR Garin Hovannisian) Capturing the fury, emotion, and spontaneous… [Read More]
Thursday at AFIFest 2019
As AFI Fest 2019 Presented by Audi draws to a close, it is time to thank the festival and it’s press office for allowing me to attend and report on the festival. I also want to thank the countless volunteers who helped to make the festival run smoothly and make sure I got in the… [Read More]
Wednesday at AFIFest 2019
There has been a major change at AFI Fest 2019 Presented by Audi. For the last few years, tickets for most screenings and events at the festival were free. This year, the public needs to buy tickets, although there are some films that had free screenings. While the attendance is still good, most screenings are… [Read More]
Tuesday at AFIFest 2019
It’s nice to be able to compare notes with others at AFI Fest 2019 Presented by Audi. You get to hear what other people have seen and were impressed by, or just compare notes and confirm that what you saw was pretty bad. Sometimes such discussions can make you rethink your schedule. I opened the… [Read More]
Monday at AFIFest 2019
Fifty-one percent of the films at AFI Fest 2019 Presented by Audi are directed by women. In the lobby of the TCL Chinese 6 Theatres where most of the screenings take place stands a large installation entitled “Changing the Chairs”, noting that who sits in the director’s chair makes a difference, and celebrating that more… [Read More]
Sunday at AFI Fest 2019
Sunday is the day I’ve most been looking forward to at AFI Fest 2019 Presented by Audi, because I know that Terrance Malick is capable of creating amazingly spiritual films. Would he justify my anticipation? But first I saw Ivana the Terrible, an autobiographical film by Serbian director Ivana Mladinović. Mladinović gathered family members, friends,… [Read More]
Saturday at AFI Fest 2019
The second day of AFI Fest Presented by Audi, was another day filled with interesting and powerful films. The odd thing about being at Hollywood and Highland this year is that since the Egyptian Theater down the street isn’t being used this year, I have no reason (or desire) to descend to street level and… [Read More]
Friday at AFIFest 2019
Welcome to Hollywood and AFI Fest Presented by Audi. I love coming to this festival and discovering some of the best films in the world, some of the great history of the industry, and the work of filmmakers who are just now making a name for themselves. Part of the New Auteurs section featuring emerging… [Read More]
