San Francisco International Film Festival 2019

[Chris Knipp]

THE LOAD/TERET (Ognjen Glavonić 2018)

A man is driving a truck from Kosovo to Belgrade during the 1999 bombing of Yugoslavia. A grim Wages of Fear whose load is never clearly defined but gradually assumes relationship with some unnamed atrocity. A grim but stylish first film. I originally reviewed this as part of New Directors/New Films.

SFFILM showtimes:
Thu, Apr 18 at 6:00 pm - Roxie Theater
Sun, Apr 21 at 6:00 pm - BAMPFA
Mon, Apr 22 at 3:30 pm - Victoria Theatre

[Chris Knipp]

MONOS (Alejandro Landes 2018)

I originally reviewed this at New Directors/New Films. It's now showing at the San Francisco Film Festival.

This visually and aurally exhilarating feat of cinematic pyrotechnics is not to be missed.

"Wild and unhinged, full of surrealistic visuals and a pulsing score, Monos brings a tense, disturbing twist to the war-film genre, with flavors of Apocalypse Now (1979) and Lord of the Flies (1990). A group of young soldiers, part of a rebel group called The Organization, is tasked to keep their hostage, 'Doctora' (a bad-ass Julianne Nicholson), alive." -- SFFILM blurb.

Landes was born in Brazil, grew up in Ecuador and Colombia, and studied politics at Brown University.

SFFILM showtimes:
Sat, Apr 20 at 9:00 pm - Victoria Theatre
Tue, Apr 23 at 3:30 pm - Roxie Theatre

[Chris Knipp]

SUBURBAN BIRDS 郊区 的 鸟 (Qiu Sheng 2018)

A haunting and subtle first film where the past invades the present as we watch young surveyors investigating sinking land while children play around the same area. In Mandarin. Would reward multiple viewings.

SFFILM showtime:s
Thu, Apr 11 at 6:00 pm - Roxie Theater (EVENT HAS PASSED)
Fri, Apr 19 at 9:00 pm - Roxie Theater

It will also be showing at Roxie Theater starting May 10.

[Chris Knipp]

TONI MORRISON: THE PIECES I AM (Timothy Greenfield-Sanders 2019)

An American Masters film about the renowned and beloved (no pun intended) novelist and Nobel Prize winner. I screened this film earlier while in New York but cannot comment on Morrison's writing because I haven't read any of it.

SFFILM showtimes:
Sun, Apr 14 at 1:00 pm - Victoria Theatre - (EVENT HAS PASSED)
Sat, Apr 20 at 7:30 pm - Berkeley Art Museum/Pacific Film Archive

[Chris Knipp]

LORO (Paolo Sorrentino 2018)

Premier Italian filmmaker and erstwhile successor to Federico Fellini Paolo Sorrentino (IL DIVO, LA GRANDE BELLEZZA) produces his take on longtime PM, media mogul and richest man in Italy, and criminal and manipulator of the courts, Silvio Berlusconi. Again the star is the director's collaborator great Toni Servillo. Fabulous filmmaking, awesome acting. But the point of view - is it too symathetic? The scenes of the nearly naked young women unsuitable post-#MeToo? Plus this was originally two parts, LORO I and LORO II, and this is a condescension that may bring out the worst of both halves. Still, if contemporary Italy interests you, this is a must-see.

Only one San Francisco Film Festival screening:


SFFILM Showtime:
Sat, Apr 20 at 3:00 pm Castro Theatre

[Chris Knipp]

MOTHER'S INSTINCT/DUELLES (Olivier Masset-Dupasse 2018)

Stylish Sirk/Hitchcock mix from Belgian is cast as a psychological thriller, or is it a dark comedy? It has has taut action & lovely images but can't quite find its tone. Great production, appropriate (if over-insistent) Mernard Hermann-esque score.

SFFILM showtimes:
Sun, Apr 21 at 7:30 pm - Victoria Theatre
Tue, Apr 23 at 8:45 pm - Victoria Theatre

[Chris Knipp]

RED JOAN TRevor Nunn 2018)

This film about the "nanny spy," the woman who gave the atom bomb secrets to Russia and was only found out when she was an old lady, stars Judi Dench, but consists largely of flashbacks. A good story that goes somewhat limp in this version. Now in Landmark theaters.

SFFILM showtime Sat, Apr 13 at 4:00 pm at the Castro Theatre

[Chris Knipp]

MIDNIGHT TRAVELER (Hassan Fazili 2019)

This Sundance documentary award-winning tour-do-force iPhone film of a family's long flight from Afghanistan to safety in the West opened Sept. 18, 2019 at Film Forum in New York and will be rolling out to other locations across the country at Landmark Theaters.