Film-Forward

Animated

Kahlil Gibran’s The Prophet

Directed by Roger Allers, Gaetan Brizzi & Paul Brizzi, Joan Gratz, Mohammed Saeed Harib, Tomm Moore, Nina Paley, Bill Plympton, Joann Sfar, and Michal Socha Produced by Salma Hayek-Pinault Written by Allers, based on The Prophet by Kahlil Gibran Released by Gkids USA/France/Lebanon/Qatar. 84 min. Rated PG With the voices of Hayek, Liam Neeson, Quvenzhane […]

The Congress

Written and Directed by Ari Folman, based on The Futurological Congress by Stanislaw Lem Produced by Folman, Reinhard Brundig and Robin Wright. Released by Drafthouse Films Israel/Germany/Poland/Luxembourg /Belgium/France. 123 min. Not rated With Robin Wright, Harvey Keitel, Danny Huston, Paul Giamatti, Kodi Smit-McPhee and Jon Hamm Robin Wright is having a career revival. She became […]

Rocks in My Pockets

Animated, Written, Produced and Directed by Signe Baumane Released by Zeitgeist Films USA. 88 min. Not rated “Rocks In My Pockets: A funny film about depression,” Signe Baumane asserts at the end of the film’s trailer in her heavy Latvian accent. There couldn’t be a more concise statement that captures the core of her autobiographical […]

Genre Films | Cannes 2014

The Directors’ Fortnights at the Cannes Film Festival was established in 1969 as an alternative to the official selection, as a way of opening the door to “free and adventurous cinema” (per its program guide) and promoting new directors. It has since become a showcase for the up-and-coming, spotlighting Martin Scorsese, Michael Haneke, Werner Herzog, […]

Ernest & Celestine

Directed by Stéphane Aubier, Vincent Patar and Benjamin Renner Produced by Didier Brunner, Philippe Kauffmann, Vincent Tavier, Stéphan Roelants & Henri Magalon; English version by Eric Beckman, David Jesteadt and Michael Sinterniklaas Written by Daniel Pennac, based on the books by Gabrielle Vincent; English adaptation by Stephanie Sheh Released by GKids. In French or English. […]

The Wind Rises

Written & Directed by Hayao Miyazaki, based on a graphic novel published in Monthly Model Graphix Produced by Toshio Suzuki Released by Studio Ghibli/Touchstone Pictures Japanese with English subtitles Japan. 126 min. Rated PG-13 Japanese animation master Hayao Miyazaki has announced his intention to retire more than once. So when, upon the premiere of this […]

Approved for Adoption

Directed by Jung Henin & Laurent Boileau Written by Henin Released by GKids Belgium/France. 75 min. Not rated Currently there is a great deal of debate about the exportation of children from war-torn and other traumatized countries. A large number of adult international adoptees agree that the best option is always for a child to […]

From Up on Poppy Hill

Directed by Goro Miyazaki, English-language production directed by Gary Rydstrom Produced by Toshio Suzuki Written by Hayao Miyazaki, based on the serialized manga by Chizuru Takahashi & Tetsuro Sayama Released by GKIDS Japan. 91 min. Rated PG With the voices of Gillian Anderson, Sarah Bolger, Beau Bridges, Jamie Lee Curtis, Bruce Dern, Isabelle Fuhrman, Christina Hendricks, […]

Moon Man

Written, Produced & Directed by Stephan Schesch, based on the picture book by Tomi Ungerer Released by Tribeca Film France/German/Ireland. 96 min. Not rated More than four decades after the 1966 publication of Moon Man, a children’s tale by author/illustrator Tomi Ungerer, Stephan Schesch brings this simple story to life through animation. Maintaining the simplicity […]