STRAW 2025: A Mother’s Silence Was Louder Than a Siren
A haunting look at grief, survival, and a mother’s quiet collapse in a world that never gave her room to fall.

The poor and pregnant maid Karen slaves her days away, taking care of the imprisoned noblewoman Rigmor. Their fragile friendship suddenly presents an opportunity for a better life, when Rigmor mentions a valuable treasure buried in the forest. In hope of freedom, the two women spite their differences and attempt an escape. But can they create an alliance across class, and flee from fate?
A haunting look at grief, survival, and a mother’s quiet collapse in a world that never gave her room to fall.
Turning Red' has received hate for being 'unrelatable' while dealing with one of the most human experiences. Despite the Turning Red controversy that it's unrelatable, it is yet another Pixar classic that will inevitably stand the test of time.
A refreshing twist is that all the kids’ powers are…kind of useless. There’s a kid who can only move in slow motion, a kid who has every power in the world but can only use them randomly, and our main character Missy who has no powers at all. The thesis of the film seems to be that it doesn’t matter what kind of powers you have, its the way you use them, which is good for the warm and fuzzies.
I imagine that it would be a dream job for an actor to play the parts of twin brothers Dominick and Thomas Birdsey in I Know This Much Is True.
CODA' is about a child of deaf adults torn between staying with her parents and her dreams of pursuing music. This film is a step forward for deaf representation and disability in movies despite negative messages about the burden of actors deaf deafness.
A family drama is woven with quiet yet powerful forces of words and nature.