SXSW Review: ‘Roleplay’

By Abe Friedtanzer

The notion of consent is something that should have always defined all relationships, yet it’s only come to prominence as an expected condition of any romantic or sexual interaction in recent years. Revisiting traumatic interactions can be very triggering, but doing so in a safe and supportive space can prove therapeutic. The documentary Roleplay looks at the fascinating process being implemented to open eyes to the reality of sexual assault on campus through an experimental theater program...

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SXSW Review: ‘Plastic People’

By Abe Friedtanzer

How much do we actually want to know about the products we use? It’s easy to write off potentially problematic labor processes or ingredients for the sake of convenience, though that’s probably not the smartest idea long-term. Those who would rather not turn a blind eye to unnerving science and would prefer to be in the know will find plenty to learn - and be endlessly disturbed about - in the documentary Plastic People, which dissects just how far we’ve already gone in terms of our indulgence in a problematic industry…

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SXSW Review: Stuck on "Desert Road"

By Abe Friedtanzer

Driving on a long road trip alone across the country brings with it its share of risks, especially for a woman. Encountering a few sketchy characters and breaking down somewhere far from help are well within the realm of possibility. But getting trapped somewhere and finding it impossible to leave is considerably less likely, even if it does make for a solid movie premise. That’s the situation in which one woman (Kristine Froseth) finds herself as she tries to head to a home that it seems increasingly like she’s never going to see again…

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SXSW Review: "We Were Dangerous"

By Abe Friedtanzer

It’s chilling to contemplate how many people have been classified as 'other' or 'undesirable' throughout history. As a result many have been subjected to horrific and dehumanizing treatment. Conditions perceived as abnormal and deplorable have often been used to justify incarceration or forced rehabilitation. We Were Dangerous looks at a group of girls deemed incorrigible and forced to work towards becoming socially acceptable women, and a few who refused to let their personalities be erased by a repressive and backward-thinking society…

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SXSW Review: "The Queen of My Dreams"

By Abe Friedtanzer

People are never quite as far apart as they seem. While a parent surely changes as a result of having to now put someone else first, a part of their old self still remains, even if it’s hidden. An unexpected death prompts an unusual connection for one young woman and her mother in the insightful, entertaining, and creative The Queen of My Dreams, screening at SXSW…

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