Almost four years ago now, Mark Jenkin surprised us all with his astonishing debut feature Bait. He returns this month with Enys Men, a much more experimental title in which a woman’s observations of a rare flower have her question the lines between reality and fiction in 1970s Cornwall. Shot in stunning 16mm, Jenkin uses elements of the horror genre to create this unnerving, non-linear, psychological drama.
Spanish director Carla Simón returns with Alcarràs, a drama that follows a family of peach farmers in a small Catalan village whose livelihood is threatened when their land owner decides to sell away their orchard. Featuring a cast of non-professional actors, Alcarràs is a heartfelt exploration of family dynamics, tradition, and a beautiful tribute to farmers’ way of life that almost feels like a non-fiction story.
In the Iranian holy city of Mashhad, Rahimi is a journalist determined to uncover the identity of the “Spider Killer”, a man responsible for the killings of sex workers in the city. Border director, Ali Abbasi’s latest film, Holy Spider, is a hard-hitting thriller, based on the true story of Saeed Hanaei, who killed 16 women between 2000 and 2001, and that is particularly timely as women continue to fight for their rights in Iran following the murder of Mahsa Amini.
In Emily Atef’s More than Ever, Vicky Krieps plays a woman struck with an incurable illness and who embarks on a journey of self-discovery and acceptance with the help of a Norwegian blogger she befriended online. A delicate portrait of a woman attempting to regain her sense of self in the face of adversity, and a heartbreaking account of a couple pulled apart by impending loss. The film also features the late Gaspard Ulliel in his final role.
Last but not least, Laura Poitras’s latest documentary, All the Beauty and the Bloodshed, follows the life and career of acclaimed artist Nan Goldin, as well as her work as an activist and her role in the downfall of the Sackler family and in holding them accountable for their role in the opioid epidemic. A beautifully moving film told through Nan Goldin’s own words and that connects the dots between her work and her activism.
Hope to see you there,
Meli
