Directed by Diane Kuris, Entre Nous (Between Us) serves as a wonderful example of the complexities that arise when choosing to stray from the status quo imposed by your loved ones and your community. (FEA 5/5) Review by FF2 Associate Farah Elattar The film stars Isabelle Huppert as “Lena Weber,” a Jewish refugee who marries… Continue reading Breaking from the status quo in Entre Nous
Author: Farah Elattar
Farah joined the FF2 Media team in January of 2018. She is a Philosophy major at Rutgers University with a minor in Women & Gender Studies, and a concentration on social justice, made possible through the Leadership Scholars Program at the Institute for Women’s Leadership.
As an Egyptian woman, she sees film as a very important medium, through which the voices of the silent can be expressed. She believes that film can, and will, play an important role in changing global perspectives on problematic areas such as the Middle East which is often viewed as nothing but a conflict zone.
The monotony of modern life in Je Tu Il Elle
A modern classic, Chantal Ackerman’s debut Je Tu Il Elle is both an ambiguous and precise film that deals with the cycles of desire, deprivation, and gratification that come with living in the modern world. (FEA: 5/5).
The Importance of the Female Gaze in ‘Radioactive’ and ‘The Dancer’
A much-needed phenomenon occurs in films made by women that feature strong female leads: a faithful portrayal of issues that women often have to face when breaking away from traditional roles. By FF2 Associate Farah Elattar This concept is brilliantly portrayed in Radioactive (Dir. Marjane Satrapi, 2019), and The Dancer (Dir. Stephanie Di Gusto, 2016),… Continue reading The Importance of the Female Gaze in ‘Radioactive’ and ‘The Dancer’
‘Radioactive’ celebrates Marie Curie’s life and discoveries
A film by Marjane Satrapi, Radioactive presents itself as a biopic with a twist. On top of capturing the complicated life of Marie Curie, it successfully examines the hardships that come with being a female scientist in early 1900s France. (FEA 4/5) Review by FF2 associate Farah Elattar Satrapi sets the scene by portraying “Maria… Continue reading ‘Radioactive’ celebrates Marie Curie’s life and discoveries
FREE TRIP TO EGYPT (2019): Review by FF2 Media
From IMDb: A feature length documentary film following one man’s search for random Americans concerned about an Islamic threat and offering them a free trip to Egypt. Free Trip to Egypt opens 5/31. FF2 review coming soon!
CHASING PORTRAITS (2018): Review by FF2 Media
From IMDb: One man’s art. One woman’s unexpected path to healing. An American woman’s emotional quest to find the art of her Polish-Jewish great-grandfather, lost during World War II. Chasing Portraits opens 4/26. FF2 review coming soon!
THE CURSE OF LA LLORONA (2019): Review by FF2 Media
Written by Mikki Daughtry and Tobias Iaconis, and directed by Michael Chaves, Curse de La Llorona is a horror film based on the Mexican legendary ghost of La Llorona — a woman who drowned her children and now cries while looking for them in the river, and goes after others who cross her path. (FEA… Continue reading THE CURSE OF LA LLORONA (2019): Review by FF2 Media
THE CURSE OF LA LLORONA (2019): Review by FF2 Media
From IMDb: Ignoring the eerie warning of a troubled mother suspected of child endangerment, a social worker and her own small kids are soon drawn into a frightening supernatural realm. The Curse of La Llorona opens 4/19. FF2 review coming soon!
WORKING WOMAN (2018): Review by Farah Elattar
A film by feminist filmmaker Michal Aviad, Working Woman chronicles the painful story of a woman who returns to the workplace to support her family and their new business, and is faced with increased sexual harassment from her employer, in a job she comes to depend on. (FEA: 5/5) “Orna” (Liron Ben Shlush) finds her… Continue reading WORKING WOMAN (2018): Review by Farah Elattar
‘Communion’ a fly-on-the-wall documentary about a troubled family in a critical time
Written and directed by Anna Zamecka, Komunia (Communion) is an award-winning Polish documentary revealing a critical time in the life of Ola Kaczanowski, a 14-year-old girl, who feels responsible for her dysfunctional family. (JA: 4/5) Review by FF2 Intern Joanne Abbassi The story of the Kaczanowski family has two plots. The physical and superficial one… Continue reading ‘Communion’ a fly-on-the-wall documentary about a troubled family in a critical time
‘I Think We’re Alone Now’ changes post-apocalyptic norms
Written by Mike Makowsky and directed by Reed Morano, I Think We’re Alone Now is a unique twist on the post-apocalyptic genre, as it explores the beautifully complex journey of a man and a woman who are seemingly the last two people on Earth. (FEA 4.5/5) Review by FF2 Intern Farah Elattar For “Del” (Peter… Continue reading ‘I Think We’re Alone Now’ changes post-apocalyptic norms
I AM NOT A WITCH (2017): Review by Farah Elattar
Written and directed by Rungano Nyoni, I Am Not a Witch follows the devastating story of a young girl who is accused of being a witch, is sent to a “witch camp,” and is tied to a cord she is told will turn her into a goat if cut. An exploration of consumerism and white tourism… Continue reading I AM NOT A WITCH (2017): Review by Farah Elattar
LET THE CORPSES TAN (2018): Review by FF2 Media
Written and directed by Hélène Cattet and Bruno Forzani, Let the Corpses Tan depicts the story of a gang and its leader, who think they have found the perfect hideout for their stolen gold in the middle of the Mediterranean Italian mountains. Their plan is then foiled by the arrival of two cops, turning the beautiful… Continue reading LET THE CORPSES TAN (2018): Review by FF2 Media
‘Hot to Trot’ a beautiful depiction of the alternative world of queer ballroom dancing
Directed by Gail Freedman, Hot to Trot is a beautifully-made documentary that depicts the alternative world of queer ballroom dancing through the lens of three dance couples. (FEA 4.5/5) Review by FF2 Intern Farah Elattar Hot to Trot is a feature length documentary that follows two couples for around four years as they go to… Continue reading ‘Hot to Trot’ a beautiful depiction of the alternative world of queer ballroom dancing
A children’s world in ‘The Darkest Minds’
The Darkest Minds is light-hearted and intended for younger audiences, and it is enjoyable, but it misses potentially deeper tonalities. (FEA: 3.5/5)
A depiction of the delicacy of everyday life in ‘Puzzle’
Directed by Marc Turtletaub and co-written by Oren Moverman and Polly Mann, Puzzle Pis a captivating, delicate film about a housewife and mother who, taken for granted in her home, finds her passion and her calling in solving jigsaw puzzles that take her beyond her house and neighborhood. (FEA 4.5/5)
‘Dark River’ a modern take on the classic Greek tragedy
Directed by Clio Barnard and written by Clio Barnard, Lila Rawlings, and Rose Tremain, Dark River follows a young woman who returns to her home village in North Yorkshire after her estranged father’s death in order to claim the family farm. Low-key and minimalist in its production, Dark River is a beautifully tragic family drama… Continue reading ‘Dark River’ a modern take on the classic Greek tragedy
‘Never Steady, Never Still’ beautifully captures poverty, illness, and loss
The film beautifully captures the dullness and darkness that can exist when this family faces poverty, illness, and loss in different forms. (FEA 4.5/5)
Women directors make up ‘Half the Picture’
Directed by Amy Adrion, Half the Pictureis a documentary that combines research and interviews to expose the dismal number of female directors in Hollywood. From my perspective as a Cinema Studies major and FF2 Media Intern, Half the Picture could not have been timelier, as it exposes the unjust world of Hollywood (FEA: 5/5).
YADVI – THE DIGNIFIED PRINCESS (2017): Review by Farah Elattar
Directed by Jyoti Singh and Vick Krishna (based on the screenplay by Gauri Singh and Poonam Basu), Yadvi – The Dignified Princess is a beautiful, minimalistic independent Indian film that tells the story of a woman whose courageous attitude kept her alive through the catastrophes that struck her on both a personal and political level. (FEA… Continue reading YADVI – THE DIGNIFIED PRINCESS (2017): Review by Farah Elattar
REVENGE (2017): Review by FF2 Media
From IMDb: Never take your mistress on an annual guys’ getaway, especially one devoted to hunting – a violent lesson for three wealthy married men. Revenge opens 5/11/18 in NYC. FF2 review coming soon!
THE RACHEL DIVIDE (2018): Review by Farah Elattar
Written by Laura Brownson and Jeff Seymann Gilbert and directed by Laura Brownson, The Rachel Divide is a comprehensive look at the story of Rachel Dolezal – a woman who claims to be Black, despite her White origins. (FSE: 4.5/5) Review by FF2 Intern Farah Elattar The documentary’s goal is to give viewers enough background… Continue reading THE RACHEL DIVIDE (2018): Review by Farah Elattar
I FEEL PRETTY (2018): Review by Farah Elattar
Written and directed by Abby Kohn and Marc Silverstein, I Feel Pretty stars Amy Schumer in a meaningful comedy that tells the story of a young woman who discovers the true definition of beauty, in a world that makes it so hard to find. (FEA 5/5). Review by FF2 Intern Farah Elattar “Renee Barrett” (Amy… Continue reading I FEEL PRETTY (2018): Review by Farah Elattar
THE JUDGE (2017): Review by Farah Elattar
Directed by Erika Cohn, The Judge is a documentary that gives a unique perspective on the concept of Sharia Law, through the eyes of the first woman judge in the Middle East’s religious court. (FEA: 5/5) Review by FF2 Intern Farah Elattar Kholoud Al-Faqih is part of a modern-day movement that aims to challenge religious… Continue reading THE JUDGE (2017): Review by Farah Elattar
BEAUTY AND THE DOGS (2017): Review by Farah Elattar
Written by Kaouther Ben Hania, and co-directed by Ben Hania and Khaled Barsaoui, Beauty and the Dogs (2017) tells the story of a young Tunisian woman who is raped and harassed by members of the post-revolutionary Tunisian police. (FEA 5/5). Review by FF2 Media Intern Farah A. Elattar “Mariam” (Mariam Al Ferjani) is a college… Continue reading BEAUTY AND THE DOGS (2017): Review by Farah Elattar
NO LIGHT & NO LAND ANYWHERE (2016): Review by Farah Elattar
Written and directed by Amber Sealey, No Light and No Land Anywhere tells the story of a young woman who boards a plane from the UK to Los Angeles in search of the father who abandoned her during her childhood. Once in LA, she encounters many new people during her stay – some she will… Continue reading NO LIGHT & NO LAND ANYWHERE (2016): Review by Farah Elattar
THE HOMELESS CHORUS SPEAKS (2017): Review by Farah Elattar
A film by Susan Polis Shutz, The Homeless Chorus Speaks, currently playing a Cinema Village, is a soul-touching documentary that tells the stories of The People’s Choir – a choir made of people whose lives have led them to the streets of California. (FEA 5/5).
WESTERN (2017): Review by Farah Elattar
Written and directed by Valeska Grisebach, Western tells the story of a group of German construction workers who take on a job in a rural part of Bulgaria near an isolated village near their construction site setting the stage for a clash of tradition and modernity between Eastern and Western Europe. (FEA 4/5)
BEFORE WE VANISH (2017): Review by Farah Elattar
Co-written by Tomohiro Maekawa, Kiyoshi Kurosawa and Sachiko Tanaka, Before We Vanish Before We Vanish chronicles the story of three aliens who visit present-day Earth in order to prepare for their planned invasion to reveal the beautiful complexity that is modern human life. (FEA 3/5)
THE INSULT (2017): Review by Farah Elattar
Directed by Ziad Doueiri and co-written by Doueiri and Joelle Touma, The Insult deals with the Palestinian refugee crisis in modern-day Beirut. The film gradually evolves, and is successfully able to tackle the complex issues of religion and politics in the Middle East. (FEA: 5/5)