Sunday 26 June 2022

Critical Week: Leader of the pack

It's been a very busy week, but there have been few screenings. The one big one was a festive press screening for the second Despicable Me spin-off prequel Minions: The Rise of Gru. It's as delightfully silly as expected, and rather a lot more manic than the last movie. The splintered plot is somewhat frustrating, but the gags are quick and consistent.

BEST OUT THIS WEEK:
George Michael: Freedom Uncut
Elvis • Olga • Apples • Wildhood
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I also caught up with the Swiss drama Olga (which I'd missed on its UK release last month), about a Ukrainian gymnast facing identity issues. It's powerfully involving, inventive and eerily timely. There was also the Brazilian documentary Uyra: The Rising Forest, a gorgeous odyssey about artistic indigenous activists raising awareness of an environment under threat. And I'm also on the short film jury for London Indian Film Festival, so watched 10 seriously engaging shorts. Tomorrow I'll meet with the other jurors to decide a winner of the Satyajit Ray prize.

It'll be another rather offbeat week ahead, and films to watch include the Ukrainian drama Sniper: The White Raven, the anime adventure Pompo: The Cinephile and the short film collection Boys on Film 22: Love to Love You.


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