BFI Flare: See the world

Past the halfway point now, the 38th BFI Flare is running at full speed on the Southbank in London, with a continuing series of screenings and events, plus parallel screenings on the BFIPlayer online, including the annual #FiveFilmsForFreedom shorts, which are available globally during the festival. I'm still running around to screenings, meeting with filmmakers and actors, and generally enjoying the festive atmosphere (which seems to be missing from most festivals, as talent is now separated from everyone else). Here are some more movie highlights...

Aligned
dir-scr Apollo Bakopoulos; with Panos Malakos, Dimitris Fritzelas 23/Gr ****
A lyrical drama about two dancers, this Greek film is infused with body movement that's photographed with a lovely sense of sunlight, bodies and musicality. While the plot is fairly simple, the way the story is told is sensitive and sensual, focusing on thoughts and feelings as deeper yearnings come into conflict with practicalities. With an attention to detail, filmmaker Apollo Bakopoulos takes an approach that feels knowingly autobiographical... FULL REVIEW >

Toll [Pedágio]
dir-scr Carolina Markowicz; with Maeve Jinkings, Kauan Alvarenga 23/Br ****
Snappy characters and colourful visual touches add spark to this gritty Brazilian drama about a mother and son who find themselves at odds with each other. Writer-director Carolina Markowicz balances earthy authenticity with a deadpan sense of humour and remarkably complex characters who are just getting on with the challenges of life. Infused with irony, the plot unfolds with twists and turns that are funny and darkly harrowing... FULL REVIEW >

What a Feeling
dir-scr Kat Rohrer; with Caroline Peters, Proschat Madani 24/Aut ***.
Bright and snappy, this Austrian romantic comedy centres on two workaholic women who make an unexpected connection. Even though it feels a bit frantic and out of control, writer-director Kat Rohrer creates an engaging mix of earthy interaction and nutty slapstick. While there are bigger themes gurgling within the story, it remains light and easygoing, so a happy ending is never in doubt. Bring on a stand-and-cheer musical finale... FULL REVIEW >

The Queen of My Dreams
dir-scr Fawzia Mirza; with Amrit Kaur, Nimra Bucha 23/Can ***.
Recounting a young woman's story alongside the experiences of her mother, writer-director Fawzia Mirza deploys a range of flashbacks and Bollywood-style musical sequences that are bursting with colour and culture. So while the constant cross-cutting is disorienting, the film overflows with textures of life in multiple generations of this Pakistani-Canadian family. And what emerges is a richly detailed look at the threads that hold loved ones together... FULL REVIEW >

Desire Lines
dir Jules Rosskam; with Aden Hakimi, Theo Germaine 24/US ****
With an almost restlessly inventive approach, filmmaker Jules Rosskam mixes documentary and drama to explore the rarely recounted experiences of gay trans men, asking whether testosterone treatment can shift sexuality. The film knowingly grapples with larger ideas of identity and attraction, offering vital firsthand observations alongside intriguing dramatic scenes. And it is an important rebuke to anyone who insists that there are hard and fast rules about these things... FULL REVIEW >

B E S T    O F    Y E A R
Rustin
dir George C Wolfe; with Colman Domingo, Aml Ameen 23/US ****
Smooth and sparky, this biopic about the often overlooked Civil Rights pioneer is directed by George C Wolfe to vividly capture a pivotal point in American history. And Bradford Marsalis' jazzy score ripples with emotion, as the terrific actors create intriguing, complex layers in the characters. But what brings this film outrageously to life is the combination of a smart script and a blazing performance by Colman Domingo... FULL REVIEW >

Full reviews will be linked on Shadows' BFI FLARE PAGE >
For festival information, BFI FLARE >