A free adaptation of the classic William Faulkner novel, AS I LAY DYING follows four siblings - three brothers, accompanying their only sister - as they drive to the south of Iran with their newly-deceased father's body. Their father's will demands that his body be buried in a small, faraway village, a place none of his children have ever heard of.
Juno is extremely funny, very well-written, and contains great performances. The film is also about a very important topic, one that is extremely relevant now: women’s reproductive rights. Is this Oscar-winning film spreading a pro-life or pro-choice message to its audience?
Love, Simon (2018) based on the book “Simon vs The Homo Sapiens Agenda” (by Becky Albertalli) is a teen LGBTQ+ rom-com with themes of longing to find others with similar struggles, and ultimately is a story of acceptance of identity from those around you, and most importantly, from yourself.
When diverse representation is featured on-screen, it oftentimes comes with strings attached that undermine the message they were trying to send. This can be attributed to the fact that behind-the-screen, the industry primarily does not reflect the breadth of diverse difference that is present in daily life. That’s why when something as powerful and authentic as Minari comes along, it is both incredibly wonderful and needs a large audience to witness it.
Despite the film’s efforts to reframe its heroine with modern complexity, a certain emotional distance lingers.
This thrilling film about feminine rage and male hostility is an incredible depiction of the fragility of the male ego.
Ultimately, Wicked is a story about the cost of being othered, the pain of being misnamed, and the quiet revolution of standing in your truth.
