Guest post: Christian Del Moral picks New Directors/New Films women to watch
During Spanish Cinema Now, he excelled at picking Mujeres on the Verge.
Cine Latino en Nueva York‘s Christian Del Moral is back! This time, it’s to shine a light on the women directors of New Directors/New Films. It’s a tall order, since there are nine female directors in this year’s program, from all over the world. Christian’s picks make an excellent way to approach our Series Pass. For $45 ($35 members and students) take in five films during the series.
So without further ado, here are Christian’s thoughts on this year’s slate.
Cherian Dabis, director of Amreeka
Amreeka
Tired of humiliations in the West Bank by Israeli forces, voluptuous Muna doesn’t think twice about coming to Middle America with her only son, Fady. Gifted with a green card, this charming Palestinian embarks on a cultural trip that she was not prepared for (we’ve all been there!). Cherien Dabis’ crowd-pleaser will resonate with many moviegoers for its honest message, regardless of nationality, ethnicity or language of origin.
Tatia Rosenthal, director of $9.99
$9.99
What’s the meaning of life? This tricky question haunts a young man living in Sydney, Australia who is surrounded by an array of eccentric characters–the fellow inhabitants of his apartment building–all looking for the same answer. It took NYU graduate Tatia Rosenthal 10 years to make this funny, smart, and impressive stop-motion animation flick, and the wait was well worth it.
Sun Mar 29: 7 (MoMA)
Wed Apr 1: 9 (FSLC)
Cladia Llosa, director of Milk of Sorrow
The Milk of Sorrow/La Teta Asustada
To satisfy her critics, Barcelona transplant Claudia Llosa goes back home to Peru and again enlists (as she did in her first feature) the striking beauty Magali Solier, who as Fausta suffers from–literally–the frightened breast, a traumatic curse passed on to her by her mother, a rape victim. Llosa’s second film was shot in the outskirts of Lima and includes many wedding rituals that will definitely spark a debate among fellow Latin American movie buffs.
Wed Apr 1: 6:15 (MoMA)
Fri Apr 3: 9 (FSLC)
Laurel Nakadate, director of Stay the Same Never Change
Stay the Same Never Change
Looking for something bizarre and non-traditional? Try Laurel Nakadate’s directorial debut, set in Kansas City, where the long days of several teenage girls are filled with loneliness, boredom and fleeting affection. This isn’t Dorothy’s Kansas, but within its high-concept non-driven plot there’s an eerie beauty, strong feelings and compelling imagery.
Thu Mar 26: 6:15 (MoMA)
Sat Mar 28: 3:30 (FSLC)
So Young Kim, director of Treeless Mountain
Treeless Mountain
Little Bin and Jin, two sisters from Seoul left with an alcoholic aunt by their irresponsible mother, face their abandonment by trying to make the best of it: selling grilled grasshoppers and putting money in their piggy bank in hopes that doing so will bring mommy back to them. Based on her early memories, So Yong Kim’s powerful journey of maturity and survival offers a unique vision. The girls will steal your heart; they gave such fine perfomances, my favorites from this year’s program.
Fri Mar 27: 9 (FSLC)
Sun Mar 29: 2 (MoMA)
Want more female power? Also on the program: Home (Ursula Meier), Cold Souls (Sophie Barthes), Can Go Through Skin (Esther Rots), and closing night’s We Live in Public by Ondi Timoner. In addition, you can find the great Academy Award nominee Melissa Leo in Frozen River, directed by Courtney Hunt, or attend the event Teaming Up: A Conversation featuring the directing team of Ryan Fleck and the lovely Anna Boden (Half Nelson).
–Christian Del Moral
Explore posts in the same categories: cheatsheet, festival dispatches, just for fun, New Directors/New Films, on @ the walter readeTags: $9.99, amreeka, Cherian Dabis, Christian Del Moral, Claudia Llosa, Laurel Nakadate, Milk of Sorrow, So Young Kim, Stay the Same Never Change, Tatia Rosenthal, Treeless Mountain, women to watch
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