In Waves, from director Trey Edward Shults, a suburban African-American family faces struggle, then tragedy. Healing is surely needed, but in what power will they find it? Ronald (Sterling K. Brown) is a demanding and domineering father. He describes himself as “the wise and noble father”. It is said lightheartedly, but we know it is… [Read More]
First Man: Man on a Mission
Directed by Oscar-winner Damien Chazelle (La La Land), First Man tells the story of one of the most iconic moments in history as it tracks NASA’s quest to be the first to put a man on the moon. Following the journey of Neil Armstrong (Ryan Gosling), the film explores the human side of the mission, without… [Read More]
Mars S2E3: What Is Your Passion Worth?
Scientists are often so committed to their respective projects that they are willing to sacrifice any and everything to make their goals happen.
Summer 1993 – A Child’s Loss of Innocence
As Summer 1993 opens, children are playing in the street. One of them looks at six-year-old Frida (Laia Artegas), and asks, “Why aren’t you crying?” Is that part of the game or does Frida have reason to cry?
Saturday at AFI Fest 2017
The first full day for the festival took me on a trip around the world. That’s one of the values of film festivals, we get to see other lands and cultures without the expense and time of travel. (Not that I wouldn’t love being able to go to so many places.)
Marjorie Prime – Do You Remember?
Think of an important event in your life. Do you remember it the same as someone else who was there? Do you remember it the same as you did a few years ago? Marjorie Prime is about the relationship between reality and memory.
Aftermath – Two Lives Connected by Tragedy
Two lives are torn apart by a catastrophic event. When two airliners collide in midair killing everyone on both planes, Roman Melnyk (Arnold Schwarzenegger) loses his wife and daughter. For air-traffic controller Jacob Bonanos (Scoot McNairy) who was on duty when the crash occured, the guilt (whether deserved or not) eats away at him and… [Read More]
Manchester By the Sea – Moving through Grief and Pain
In some ways this is a slice-of-life story of a family in grief. It is a disconcerting experience that triggers emotions in strange ways.
Collateral Beauty – Arguing with the Cosmos
Besides working well on the level of plot and character, this is a film that also provides some philosophical depth.
Louder Than Bombs – Finding Ways Through Grief
Grief is one of the universal themes that film can address. As we watch the Reed family deal with the grief in their life, we feel a connection with them because we have been there as well.
