By Roger Costa
JIMPA
Based on her personal experiences, Australian filmmaker Sophie Hyde’s sensitive generational clash, Queer coming of age tale is an admirably touching and riveting study on human connections.
Its characters are so natural and humane, creating an immediate affection where the viewer feels comfortable and relatable in the company of such a loveable family that becomes just another member of it or a witness of an intimate reflection on how families should behave and relate to one another.
Olivia Colman leads a fascinating cast as a mid-aged filmmaker in the process of creating her most personal and important work yet: the story of her parents and how they reacted to her father coming out as gay. As she packs to Amsterdam, along with her husband and non-binary 16-year-old daughter Frances (a wonderful Aud Mason-Hyde), she intends to visit her father for a vacation, but it turns out to be something of an extraordinary discovery both for herself and for her teen daughter who is anxiously seeking to fit in just as they are. Frances plans to stay in Amsterdam and explore the Queer community as seen through grandpa, the uniquely wise, open-minded and self-centered Jimpa (a fabulously bold and funny John Lithgow) who lives there.
Director Hyde deeply observes these characters, their aspirations and goals, desires and anxieties, flaws and fragilities, but mostly on how they relate, depend, disagree and love one another with tender and empathic lenses. The sharp, sarcastic and utterly straightforward dialogue manages to explore the divergencies and generational gaps with accurate results- it shows that even in the LGTBQ+ community there are different points of view especially when it comes to preserving what has been accomplished along the years by veterans who fought for respect, space and freedom. While the daughter is trying to figure out what the meaning of life is, the mother is on path to reconciliation with the past and with herself. Jimpa is in the middle of that, serving as a guide for both, but also in need of guidance and of setting things in order.
Hyde composes meditative images about these moral dilemmas making great use of her technical resources. The cinematography reflects the melancholy of the characters with close-ups and gestures, shadows and the teen’s vintage disposable camera; the editing blends past and present, creating a subtle nostalgia and delivering warmth to the narrative, and the music is efficient and in synch with the emotional material, becoming a key element representing their moods.
It’s only February, but Hyde scores the first great film of 2026. A very tender and humanist study on family bond, gay values, female self-discovery and human dignity.
(A Kino Lorber Release. Now Playing exclusively at Quad Cinema. Go to https://quadcinema.com/ for details).
ALL THAT’S LEFT OF YOU
Shortlisted for this year’s Oscars, Jordania’s official entry is a resonant work of resistance and historical facts. A heartbreaking and violent account on the Palestinian dispossession and oppressive experiences, Emmy nominated writer-director-star Cherien Dabis takes the audience on a multigenerational journey, spanning several decades of a family’s determination for survival.
A very moving, meticulously detailed and honest take on the horrors of the political conflict and how it severely affects and traumatizes an entire generation after another, the narrative is divided into two parts: first it centers on how the family is impacted by the Israeli occupation, the humiliation and risks they must endure and the results of trauma leading the young ones into revolt; then, midway into the film, and having already punctuated the dramatic tone with precise historical facts, it jumps from the 40’s into the late 70’s to focus on the tragic events that led to the storytelling- Dabis serves as the mother who guides the viewer through her memories culminating on a street shooting and the very late return to her roots. The only flaw is that it takes a drastic change of pace when focusing on the drama involving a comatose son. Had the narrative kept on the same pace as the first part it would have been a much better experience. However, that is understandable and acceptable, which still makes it impactful and heart-rending. Plus, the performances are extraordinarily convincing and heartfelt- get ready for some rolling tears, and the camerawork is fascinating and transcendental.
(A Watermelon Pictures Release. Now Playing Exclusively at Cinema Village, 22 East 12th Street).
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