peter0969

Watched at the 2025 Toronto International Film Festival.

Just got out from TIFF screening, I haven't seen an audience this loud and it's probably one of the biggest applause and reaction I have seen in some time. Its definitely an expereince.

While it isn't Annemarie Jacir best work, it still remains powerful, emotional and engaging about the story of the historical conflicts between Palestine and the British, which parallels a lot of the themes with Palestine that is facing today. Throughout, Jacir's direction on the atmosphere, writing, and setting is pretty good and interesting. Using archival footage and interesting editing choices, it offers an unique observation and examination about the past and present of Palestine, which offers the viewers to under the contexts and parallels between of what has happened and the issues people from Palestine has faced. I really love the docdrama approach and it feels appropriate and the best way to approach the subject.

Alongside with great production designs, camerawork and sound designs, the writing, while admittedly, it does have some cheesy and cliched moments when it came to tone approaches and concepts, it still is effective. As the writing offers some good discussions, characters and tense sequences within the setting. Same with the performances, as all of the performances are good.

The characters are pretty interesting as they were explored pretty thought-provokingly and in-depth. Alongside with some good dialogue, although some of the dialogue felt a bit strange.

As a whole, I do admire Jacir and all of the Palestinian filmmakers and crew out there making projects and stories about their struggles, knowing very well how dangerous things are happening in our current times. Overall, despite its flaws, the well intended purpose and atmosphere succeeds and it creates a harrowing and emotional experience.

Watched at the 2025 Toronto International Film Festival.

Ralph Fiennes provides a very strong and energetic performance in an otherwise, cheesy and predictable period piece tale about WWII. The writing and direction pretty follows every single cheesy, predictable and basic structure for period piece movies in recent times. While it does offer some new insight about the time era and the characters purposes and setting, as a whole, the movie doesn't really offer much to add. Because many of the narrative choices and structure was predictable, cliche and uninteresting.

Throughout, the musical moments are pretty good as there are some heartfelt purposeful singing and musical scores. The production designs are good and the performances from Fiennes and the other are pretty good. However, character-wise, they all feel one noted. Their development is pretty lacking and are displayed like many cliched historical movies without substance or creativity.

Alongside with some bland camerawork and pacing issues, the movie does have some strange coloring effects that makes the movie at times, feel unnecessarily dull. Including with some pacing issues.

Overall, it has good intentions but the experience was pretty forgettable.

Watched at the 2025 Toronto International Film Festival.

What the filmmaker Stillz is able to capture is a vibrant, violent, raw, and energetic portrait about the depressing and hopelessness revolving around children forcing to make their lives worthy in the world of poverty and class struggles. Filmed with a documentary approach, Stillz uses some interesting editing techniques on the camerawork, structure and direction choices. Almost as if it is a documentary, with some elements of music video direction, and story making throughout.

Alongside with some great sound designs, performances, and raw dialogue, the usages of the music was wonderful. It blends the magical realism and dark reality so well, that it manages to achieve successfully with it's character developments, writing and atmosphere. You feel for these children as they go through the struggles and harsh realities.

The way it's present almost feels like something Harmony Korine does. Where it's gritty and nasty nature and presentation feels genuine and raw to it's finest. Which is one personal flaw for me as I feel that the movie at times does feel like it takes a bit too much influence from Korine.

Overall, Stillz might have potential to become a great filmmaker in the future and I'm looking forward to see what else they will offer in the future.