Kurt’s trajectory goes from “entartete Kunst” to socialist realism to capitalist realism. The glossy surface notwithstanding I love this film covering three Germanies, all of which fail colossally to understand art. Werk ohne Autor ( Never Look Away Florian Henckel von Donnersmarck, 2018). She invites us to a walk through her life and oeuvre, her eyes always directed towards the future. What a way to go! The mother of all new waves, not only in France but everywhere, never lost her youthful zest. Varda par Agnès ( Varda by Agnès Agnès Varda, 2019).
Such epic themes are efficiently dramatized in the screenplay by Anthony McCarten, and Meirelles brings Southern hemisphere passion to the portrait of Pope Francis. The Church is in crisis and the world is going under. The Two Popes (Fernando Meirelles, 2019). I have never before seen a film in which the theme has been treated so comprehensively.
The most epochal movie of the year deals with harassment and violence towards women. Tottumiskysymys ( Force of Habit Kirsikka Saari, Elli Toivoniemi, Reetta Aalto, Alli Haapasalo, Anna Paavilainen, Miia Tervo, Jenni Toivoniemi, 2019). A devastating portrait of a little girl who does not fit in. Helena Zengel gives the performance of the year together with Joaquin Phoenix as Joker, both as system crashers. Systemsprenger ( System Crasher Nora Fingscheidt, 2019). An original voice is becoming heard, sensitive to intimate conversations, based on vérité, conveyed via ellipsis. A visual poem, an evocation of mad love inspired by the director’s art school days. Loach’s talent of observation and crisp storytelling is undiminished. Also a love story about family solidarity. A film about the gig economy: what happened to society after the 2008 crash. Hollywood 50 years ago is recreated in loving detail. Something new from Tarantino: a portrait of a has-been, with universal appeal as a picture of the world we knew vanishing abruptly. Once Upon a Time… in Hollywood (Quentin Tarantino, 2019). Nothing is sadder than a marriage inferno. A Nordic viewer familiar with marriage tragedies by Ibsen, Strindberg and Canth can give Baumbach an approving nod. The reboot of Bob Kane’s character also evokes masterpieces of Weimar cinema. Robin Wood used the term “an incoherent text” to discuss films like Taxi Driver. The parallel montage in three time dimensions is brilliant. There is a French touch in the account of the ageing mobsters. Scorsese’s best crime film is an epic shadow history of America. An extraordinary first person documentary of a journalist and mother documenting the destruction of Aleppo. Schrader at his best.įor Sama (Waad al-Kateab, 2019).
Arenas are full when Prosperity Gospel is being taught, but nobody listens to a lonely country priest who warns about the destruction of the planet. Almodóvar at his most serene and naked.įirst Reformed (Paul Schrader, 2017). A message from childhood inspires a film director to reassess his life and art.
A global odyssey about humans changing the face of the Earth and destroying the sublime of the nature.ĭolor y gloria ( Pain and Glory Pedro Almodóvar, 2019). The Gospel according to Aretha Franklin, documenting spiritual ecstasy and a moment of crisis in the civil rights movement.Īnthropocene: The Human Epoch (Edward Burtynsky, Nicholas De Pencier, Jennifer Baichwal, 2018). The Wedding Guest (Michael Winterbottom, 2018)Īhlat Ağacı ( The Wild Pear Tree, Nuri Bilge Ceylan, 2018) Antti Alanen Helsinki, film programmer, author, critic, historian.Īmazing Grace (Alan Elliott, Sydney Pollack, 2018, shot in 1972). High Flying Bird (Steven Soderbergh, 2019)ĭoubles vies ( Non-Fiction, Olivier Assayas, 2018) Asif Ahmed Critic & Cinephile based in Lockport, NY