Category: Festivals

For some reason, I thought this movie would be a tragic story about two star-crossed lovers from different cultures torn apart by circumstances. This movie is not that. Instead, it’s an often humorous story about a guy from Brooklyn, African-American Khalid, who is a screw-up. Through Facebook, he met a much older woman who lives… Continue reading SXSW 2024: THE BLACK SEA

In a small town in Switzerland, Barbara tries to run the small sewing shop her late mother had owned. The shop is full of reminders of their years together. Little pieces of handiwork abound, complete with audio of their conversations. This work is the main output of the shop, so the fact that it is… Continue reading SXSW 2024: SEW TORN

We begin this documentary with a strange kidnapping; two roommates are abducted in the middle of the night. The male victim, Michael, is a local legal weed store manager. The female roommate, Mary, has only lived there two days; she is barely acquainted with the third, absent roommate who invited her to stay while she… Continue reading SXSW 2024: DICKWEED

Set in the mountainous, dry northern region of Pakistan’s Hunza Valley, Yasmeen is a 12-year-old student at the local girls’ school. She admires her teacher, a gentle older man who clearly loves science and learning. She excels at math and, at home, figures out sums for her father. Her home life seems good. She has… Continue reading SXSW 2024: YASMINE’S ELEMENT

Claire is on her way home after a career in California as a photographer. She’s still relatively young, but she feels she never really accomplished her goals. Claire thinks she didn’t reach the excellence she strove for and must give up on her dreams and settle for something less. Driving across the desert, Claire stops… Continue reading SXSW 2024: DESERT ROAD

In 2015, young Japanese journalist Shiori Ito met an older, highly respected writer to discuss the possibility of her getting a job in Washington. He asks her to meet him for dinner; she is surprised that no one else joins them. He has a close relationship with Prime Minister Abe, the country’s leader, and a… Continue reading SXSW 2024: BLACK BOX DIARIES