TIFF ’24: Rachel House Directs “The Mountain”

By Abe Friedtanzer

Rachel House is a terrific actress from New Zealand whose most memorable performances are, for most, likely those delivered in Taika Waititi’s films, including Eagle vs. Shark and Hunt for the Wilderpeople. She’s also capable of strong dramatic work, including her first film role, the Oscar-nominated Whale Rider, and as a cruel immigration facility guard in the Netflix limited series Stateless. She’s done voice work in popular animated films like Moana and Soul. After years of coaching young actors like Julian Dennison and directing theater, she’s made her own first film as director, The Mountain, a delight making its North American premiere at TIFF…

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TIFF ’24: Māori History in “Ka Whawhai Tonu - Struggle Without End”

By Abe Friedtanzer 

Many modern countries are founded on colonization, and what’s taught in schools may not fully cover the true nature of what happened. In New Zealand, the relationship between the native Māori people and the English-speaking settlers who arrived there later is a complicated one, and the country’s cinema continues to pay homage to that history. After Muru in 2022 and The Convert in 2023, TIFF once again features an important film about the clash of cultures with Ka Whawhai Tonu - Struggle Without End… 

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Remember when we loved Taika Waititi?

by Cláudio Alves

Oh, how the mighty have fallen. Once upon a time, the prospect of a new Taika Waititi movie was cause for celebration, with excitement erupting across cinephiles everywhere. Now, however, when his oft-delayed Next Goal Wins finally makes it to theaters, the occasion is met with general disinterest. Sure, some critics have praised the thing, but the excitement doesn't seem there. Not even the inspirational true story or the return of Michael Fassbender to big studio fare is enough to provoke more than a shrug. As far as awards go, Oscar hopes are nowhere to be found unless the season suffers some severe transformations. 

When did the consensus about the Kiwi director curdle into indifference on the verge of dislike? Well…

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TIFF: Julian Dennison in ‘Uproar’

By Abe Friedtanzer

Courtesy of TIFF

By Abe Friedtanzer

The intersection of inherently comedic characters and unexpectedly dramatic situations can be a difficult thing to get right, but when it is, it’s quite satisfying. Uproar introduces a misfit protagonist who uses humor as a defense mechanism to mask his own discomfort with and uncertainty about his identity, and it warmly and effectively traces his journey towards self-discovery and an untapped passion for activism... 

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Halfway Mark Pt 1: Gay Films of the Moment and Near-Future

by Nathaniel R

JOYLAND

This pronouncement is two weeks late for Pride Month but 2023 is shaping up to be a good year for queer films. Not that people have noticed, exactly. The first new challenge for audiences in the brave new world of cinematic distribution is actually knowing that any particular movie exists. The second is knowing where to find it once you do (distribution is so messy in the 21st century!). Between the streaming wars, teensy theatrical runs, and the still rarely discussed / under reported wilderness of "VOD" many titles slip by unnoticed. The artists who made them and the lucky audiences who discover them can only hope they pick up steam through word of mouth or with the passage of time. The best LGBTQ title of the year is Pakistan's 2022 Oscar submission Joyland (reviewed by Cláudio) which is currently in the gap between a theatrical run and various ways to screen it at home and you already heard me rave about last November. When you get a chance to see it you absolutely must. Another unmissable is the Taylor Mac documentary on HBO (reviewed by Glenn).

After the jump some gems you can currently rent or stream that were released theatrically already and some to look forward to...

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