New films highlight diverse themes and styles

This week’s cinema offerings feature a wide range of films, including dramatic adaptations, animated features, and horror thrillers. Each film brings unique storytelling and perspectives to the screen.

Andreï Zviaguintsev's Minotaure explores Russian allegory

Andreï Zviaguintsev’s Minotaure is highlighted as the film of the week. It draws from an adulterous story and presents a fierce allegory of Russia under autocracy, featuring actors Dmitri Mazourov, Iris Lebedeva, and Boris Koudrine.

Louis Clichy's Le Corset blends animation and coming-of-age themes

Louis Clichy’s Le Corset is described as a marvel of animation, focusing on the daily life of a boy in the Beauce region in the 1980s. It addresses the crisis of the peasant world and features a coming-of-age narrative with a unique use of the protagonist's scoliosis as a principle of staging.

Fred Cavayé's Les Misérables adapts a classic novel

Fred Cavayé’s Les Misérables is a classic adaptation of Victor Hugo’s work, partly focused on the youth years of Valjean. The film features Vincent Lindon, Tahar Rahim, Camille Cottin, and Benjamin Lavernhe.

Eivind Landsvik's Low Expectations explores mental health

Eivind Landsvik’s Low Expectations follows Maja, a trendy musician who returns to Oslo after a world tour and experiences burnout. The film is described as a clever exploration of depression and life's big questions.

Cheyenne Carron's Il était une fois le printemps addresses migration

Cheyenne Carron’s Il était une fois le printemps deals with the arrival of a young migrant in a believing single-parent family, generating tensions and exploring the limits of charity.

Documentary Je veux bien critiques employment law

The documentary Je veux bien, directed by Boris Claret, Isabelle Dario, and Vincent Glenn, critiques the antisocial dimension of the 2023 "Full Employment" law. It is described as an accusatory but well-argued film that might be more suited for television.

Nicolas Wadimoff's Qui vit encore gives voice to Palestinian refugees

Nicolas Wadimoff’s Qui vit encore features testimonials from nine Palestinians from Gaza who fled to Egypt. The documentary gives voices, faces, and names to a reality often reduced to violent images and numbers.

Hong Sang-soo's Le Jour de son retour showcases simplicity

Hong Sang-soo’s Le Jour de son retour centers on an actress giving interviews in a café, showcasing the director’s art of simplicity. The film features Song Seon-mi, Cho Yun-hee, and Park Mi-so.

Antoine Colomb's Petite Casbah offers a child's view of history

Antoine Colomb’s Petite Casbah is an animated film from a child's perspective, set in Algiers in 1955, focusing on friendship and mutual aid. It is suitable for children aged 6 and older.

Brigitte Poupart's Où vont les âmes features emotional drama

Brigitte Poupart’s Où vont les âmes is described as too full, with painful agony, a pretty seaside house, and meaningful dialogues between reconciled sisters. The film features Monia Chokri, Sara Montpetit, and Julianne Côté.

Jérémie Degruson and Yanis Belaid's Mochy is a family-friendly film

Jérémie Degruson and Yanis Belaid’s Mochy follows a dog named Mochy who dreams of winning a competition. The film is described as not so ugly, like the dog itself, and is suitable for children aged 6 and older.

Rob Savage's Malfaisante fails to deliver effective horror

Rob Savage’s Malfaisante is a horror film about a girl haunted by a malevolent entity resembling her mother. The film features Jessica Chastain, Jay Duplass, and Arabella Olivia Clark, and is described as poorly made, with horror scenes that miss the parent-child relationship.