By Roger Costa
THE ASSISTANT
A wondrously inventive and intense character study, this adaptation of Robert Walser’s 1908 novel centers on the conflicts and intimacy of a clerk, his boss (a tempestuous inventor) and the wife as they navigate jealousy, suspicion, aspirations and desires. Directors Wilhelm and Anka Sasnal create a lush, suspenseful atmosphere exploring servitude and ambition while presenting some of the most exciting interludes in recent history: some crucial scenes are unexpectedly switched into hallucinating musical numbers, blending magical realism and psychedelic vibes to an accurate statement on capitalism, manipulation and the decline of societal values.
(Screens April 5 and 6)
CYCLEMAHESH
Brilliantly crafted and uplifting, this hybrid of meta-documentary and dramatization follows the fame experienced by a construction worker after peddling 1,700 kilometers in seven days escaping from the lockdowns of COVID. Indian Director Suhel Banerjee tells this incredible journey, full of obstacles and unexpected encounters, through a contemplative set of images, capturing both the natural landscape and the human interactions with sensibility and high spirits. Winner of IDFA’s Best First Feature Prize, the result is a committed homage to filmmaking and resilience.
(Screens April 9 and 10)
GRAND ME
A unique and very personal examination on the human condition, family bond, broken feelings and stolen childhood, Iranian documentarian Atiye Zare Arandi captures the pain and expectations of Melina, a 9-year-old girl who has been abandoned by her parents due to their separation. While they embrace their new lives and spouses, unable to maintain the little one’s guardianship, Melina is left under the care of her aunt and that isn’t an easy task. Melina is growing up and starts to face reality and loneliness at a premature stage of her life. The trauma, emptiness and desperation for love, attention and the much-needed “sense of family” are poignantly captured by Arandi’s sensitive and extremely honest lenses.
(Screens April 12 and 13)
THE HEIGHT OF THE COCONUT TREES
Echoing a ghost love story, Chinese cinematographer-turned-director Du Jie’s Japan-set ambiguous relationship drama is filled with lyricism, melancholy, poetry and subtle sensuality. It follows the encounters between Rin and Sugomoto, both dealing with mourning and loss, as they investigate their feelings and process of overcoming. Mysterious and enigmatic, Jie extracts captivating turns by its central actors while crafting sumptuous imagery and an intricated narrative about existentialism and new beginnings.
(Screens April 8 and 10)
KYUKA BEFORE SUMMER’S END
Gorgeously shot, enriched by the Greek sunny isles, Kostis Charamountanis’ lovely summer-set comedy brings Babis, a middle-aged father and his twin children Konstantinos and Elsa to a sailing vacation that will forever be remembered. As they engage in fun, naturally affecting activities, Babis tries to prepare the terrain to introduce their mother who had abandoned them and now tries to reconnect. Supported by the convincing, effective performances and the inviting setting, it is a crowd-pleasing family comedy about forgiveness and virtues.
(Screens April 6 and 7)
TWO TIMES JOAO LIBERADA
A delightful and inspiring homage to the process of filmmaking, acting and the unexplored queer universe, Portuguese director Paula Tomás Marques crafts an authentic portrait of a film-within-a-film aimed to be a biopic about Liberada (a gender-nonconforming nun who faced persecution during the Portuguese Inquisition). With a complex, powerhouse performance by leading star June Joao, Marques composes an Avant-Garde tribute to revolutionary artists and the creative process of storytelling.
(Screens April 7 and 8).
(The 54th New Directors/New Films Festival is presented by Film at Lincoln Center and MoMA-The Museum of Modern Arts. Screenings take place at both institutions from April 2 thru 13. Directors in attendance at select screenings. Go to https://www.newdirectors.org/ for details, tickets and full schedule)
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