Felipe, an 85-year-old Italian revolutionary, watches a changing Cuba from his Havana balcony, while his son Pepe dreams of escaping to Canada, clinging to material comforts and idle ambition. As Felipe’s health declines, he forms a deep bond with his doctor Jimmi, a kindred revolutionary spirit whose secret nightlife alter ego—Estrellita, a drag performer—shocks Pepe. When Felipe dies, Pepe learns his father has left Jimmi co-ownership of the family estate in Baracoa, where his ashes are to rest. Forced to travel together across Cuba, Pepe and Jimmi begin an uneasy journey that slowly becomes one of reckoning, understanding, and redemption.
This surprisingly clever romantic comedy perfectly balances genuine heart with wild reality television chaos. It is an uplifting and funny reminder that second chances and real community can show up exactly when you stop looking for them.
Hoppers is a fun ride with a deep message underneath. In true Pixar fashion, Hoppers explores the complexity of emotions and learning to be still in a world that demands fast progress. Through the main character Mabel, we are reminded what it is like to let ourselves feel big emotions. But also how not to be controlled by them.
'The Menu' has a strong story. The 5 acts, which are defined by the courses, are an excellent subversion of the classic 5-act film structure.
Some people’s first introduction to Mira Nair might be as New York mayor Zohran Mamdani’s mom. But with her insightful direction of 1991’s Mississippi Masala, Nair shows how much she deserves to be known as an artist. Delivering a nuanced portrait of a romance between a Black man and an Indian woman living in the South, Nair explores the complications each character faces, giving both equal weight.
Alongside A Drowning Man, I Signed The Petition, 3 Logical Exits, and A World Not Ours, A Man Returned continues to paint a realistic portrait of the Refugee Crisis that eschews the Western gaze and stereotype. These are real portraits painted by a director with lived experience, cultural connection and an amazing eye for visuals.
