Mati Diop on 'Atlantics' and the most haunting scene of the year

by Murtada Elfadl

In the press notes that come with Atlantics, director Mati Diop mentions something that touched me in a deep way. She is talking with a young man named Serigne in Dakar, Senegal whose sea crossing story she featured in her short film, Atlantiques (2009). He tells her about migrating and leaving one’s country of birth

 when you decide to leave, it’s because you’re already dead

That reminded me of a quote from Tracy Chapman’s "Fast Car" that struck me at a young age and was part of my decision to leave Sudan in the late 1990s. I remember saying it to my friends at the time as a reason to leave.

leave tonight or live and die this way

People migrate for many different reasons. For economic hardship, for political persecution, or when their values no longer match the values of the places they live in. I left because I wanted to live openly as a queer person and not continue being closeted or live on the margins of society, the two choices affored me at the time. Perhaps this personal connection with a story about migration is why I have not able able to stop thinking about this film...

Click to read more ...

Notes on films we haven't talked much about to catch-up...

by Nathaniel R

The year sure got away from us. People are diving into "Best of Decade" lists right and left and we're still waist deep in 2019's offerings. Here are some thoughts on films we didn't properly review for some reason. "Some reason" nearly always means not enough hours in the day and the less flattering but no less true (sigh) lack of self-discipline.

A BEAUTIFUL DAY IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD (Marielle Heller)
Non movie-based spoiler alert: This film will be on my top ten list. That's the excuse I kept making when delaying writing a real review. "You'll have to talk about that later anyway, Nathaniel" Still, the silence does this movie a disservice. Everyone should go see it at the first possible opportunity. Heller is one of our greatest working directors...

Click to read more ...

Confessions of a Former Tom Hanks-Skeptic

by Cláudio Alves

Tom Hanks has been nominated five times before. Can he get his sixth nod for playing Fred Rogers?

There was a time when I considered Tom Hanks one of Hollywood's most overrated actors. For years, his consecutive Oscar wins were the nadir of the actor's undeserved success, a symbol of the Academy' unfairness. In Philadelphia, he was overshadowed by a more awards-worthy Denzel Washington and, in Forrest Gump, he managed the impossible feat of being even more annoying than the rest of that insufferable Best Picture-winner. Worst of all, Tom Hanks had become something of a personal synonym for boredom.

I'm not proud of my youth's distaste for the actor, even though I still hold a negative opinion regarding his Oscar victories. The rest of my dislike, however, has vanished into thin air. I can pinpoint the exact moment when such growth occurred. When the clouds of skepticism parted, they illuminated the path by which I'd become a passionate fan of Tom Hanks, one of contemporary Hollywood's best actors…

Click to read more ...

Murtada Gives Thanks

by Murtada Elfadl

This year I'm thankful for these 10 movies that made 2019 a great time at the movies.

Atlantics

For Mati Diop’s audacious jumping without a net storytelling.

Beanpole 

Because it has it all all. Murder, revenge, blackmail and most importantly twisted psychological warfare.

Click to read more ...

Nathaniel Gives Thanks

While it's not quite time for end of the year list-making shenanigans, it is EXACTLY the time to give thanks. As you all prepare to stuff your faces with family and friends (or friends who are family which are the very best kind of people) we know as Film Experiences readers that you'll also be thinking about the movies. In fact, you're probably catching up on movies this long holiday weekend. I'm hoping to revisit A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood myself and I'll probably squeeze in a screener or two. But this morning I thought I'd share a very random list of ten things I'm grateful for and I hope you'll spread more love in the comments.

This thanksgiving I am particularly grateful for... 

- movie theaters which can (and should) be visited weekly. The year would have been so much duller without the bonkers earnestness of Serenity in January, the visual spectacle of Alita Battle Angel in February, the creepy twinning of Us in March, Rocketman's jubilant musical bravado in May, Emma being so boss in Late Night in June, and so on. Will these movies make anyone's top ten lists? Who cares! There's more to the movies than awards season... 

Click to read more ...