Film-Forward

It’s always a thrill when a film surprises, and Spanish filmmaker Lois Patiño’s Samsara, set in Laos and Zanzibar, is a lovely and adventurous work.

Most of the 21 films on this year’s lineup rely on stories that center around the various ways we connect with others.

Praising director Mstyslav Chernov’s bravery is so obvious it feels impertinent, as does describing his documentary with the trite phrase “necessary viewing.”

If you really want to punish David Zaslav for shelving Coyote vs. Acme, you’ll seek out Hundreds of Beavers wherever it’s playing.

A sapphic Bonnie and Clyde doesn’t come around every day.

An informative and moving documentary that delves into the many difficulties of spending a long time in outer space.

The fashion designer’s insidious, anti-Semitic comments overrides the runway footage and the fawning heaps of praise from luminaries.

Director Matteo Garrone is scrupulous in his attention to the harrowing logistics of a Senegalese immigrant’s journey to Italy.

One could argue that the festival couldn’t occur at a better time, when French films are enjoying success in the U.S. this year.