By Roger Costa
I DON’T WANNA DANCE
This poignant, heartbreaking and very efficient dysfunctional family drama from the Netherlands, brings a revelatory performance by newcomer rising star and dancer Yfendo van Praag and announces Flynn Von Kleist (making here his feature length debut) as an exciting new voice in world cinema. Based on Yfendo’s tragic and traumatizing real-life experiences, it tells the story of 15-year-old Joey, an aspiring dancer who’s been living with his aunt for the past two years and serves as a protector for his younger brother. As they move back to their mom’s home, everything seems under control but her abusive behavior put their harmony and destiny at a serious threat. Playing a semi-fictionalized version of himself, Yfendo develops his character with tenderness, charisma and boldness, instantly capturing the viewer’s empathy and trust. As for the director, he manages to keep the film entertaining, mysterious and highly emotional at equal levels, proving his storytelling ability. Superbly acted and executed, addressing generational conflicts, toxic motherhood and the strength of overcoming the odds, it is a gripping, deeply moving and edgy reflection of the disturbing side of the human condition. (Screens 11/26 and 12/4).
LUDI
Following the experiences of an exhausted hardworking Haitian-American young nurse in pursue of stability
(both for her and for her family in Haiti), this timely drama dynamically mirrors the effects of the American Dream over immigrants, marginalized and other excluded minorities. Director and co-writer Edson Jean deservedly won the Rising Director Award at Atlanta Film Festival shared with its leading star Shein Mompremier named Best new Actress. As she crosses paths with co-workers, clients, and a neurotic bus driver, the film immerses the audience in an affecting dramatic adventure about the sacrifices of daily living, and things one must endure in order to survive in the competitive American field. Jean knows how to seduce and entertain the audience with a relevant socially-efficient survivalist tale, while Mompremier, masterly anchoring every scene of the film, delivers one of the most haunting and memorable performances of cinema history. (Screens 11/25 and 12/4).
EXECUTIVE ORDER
Brazilian super star Lazaro Ramos makes his directorial debut with this controversial, dystopian vision of Brazil’s near future, where the racial tensions and divisions increasingly becomes violent and intolerable. The government decides to dispatch all Blacks to Africa in response to an activist lawyer’s request of reparation for slaves’ descendants. Chaos, protests and an underground resistant movement ensue creating the parameters in this thrilling, darkly comic and scary portrait of racial conflicts. Ramos demonstrates incredible control of the material, making it an impressive, relatable, social-awareness and political-engaged debut, as well as extracting fine performances from Tais Araujo, Seu Jorge, Adriana Esteves and Alfred Enoch, as the lawyer protagonist. (Screens 12/7).
PIXINGUINHA, AN AFFECTIONATE MAN
Seu Jorge continues his brilliant on-screen career, embodying another fine historical iconic figure in this musical biopic on Pixinguinha, one of the greatest Brazilian composers, samba players, good-hearted, humble and bohemian artists who ever lived. Tracing his entire life, from his initial musical devotion in childhood to pubescence, and from his marriage to a dancer to becoming one of the most respected and influential musicians of all times, until his final days, when he was finally recognized while battling his impulsive behavior, and addictions, director Denise Saraceni paints an accurate, sensitive and immersive canvas of the “Carinhoso” and “Rosa” creator. (Screens 12/1 and 12/6).
YOU’RE MY FAVOURITE PLACE
Honest, funny and ultra modern, writer-director Jahmil X.T. Kubeka’s timely Gen Z coming-of-age tale centers on the adventurous experiences of four teenage girls, as they try to find themselves after graduating in High School and facing serious obstacles, both emotional and physical. One of them is avoiding an unwanted pregnancy, one has just been dumped by the love of her life, and two queers try to keep up their bond strong and in-shape. As they go on an unexplored South African road trip, trying to reach the mystical Xhosa place “Hole in the Wall”, the film presents important topics on what it means to be young and vulnerable. Beautifully shot and convincingly performed, it’s a colorful, exotic and truthful look at this generation’s precocious conflicts to find acceptance and identity. (Screens 12/5 and 12/8).
(The 2022 NY African Diaspora International Film Festival runs November 25-December 11. Go to https://nyadiff2022.eventive.org/films for details.)
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