Author: Giorgi Plys-Garzotto

Giorgi Plys-Garzotto is a journalist and copywriter living in Brooklyn. She especially loves writing about queer issues, period pieces, and the technical aspects of films.
Some of her favorite FF2 pieces she's written are her review of The Game Changers, her feature on Black Christmas, and her interview with the founders of the Athena Film Festival! You can also find more of her work on her website!

‘El Camino’ Tells the Story of Village Life under Franco

TCM will feature films from 12 decades—and representing 44 countries—totaling 100 classic and current titles all created by women. Read more about this here!  Ana Mariscal’s El Camino is a historical document for anyone who wishes to study Franco era Spain, though the production values are admittedly not amazing. The film’s significance both to history and… Continue reading ‘El Camino’ Tells the Story of Village Life under Franco

‘Banana Split’ is Slickly Aesthetic and Surprisingly Heartfelt

The slickly aesthetic and surprisingly heartfelt Banana Split is a stellar follow-up to the writer, director, and actress Hannah Marks’ first feature After Everything. It has a lot to say about love, friendship, and coming of age, and comes in a snarky but bubblegum-pop package. (GPG: 5/5). Review by Contributing Editor Giorgi Plys-Garzotto The summer… Continue reading ‘Banana Split’ is Slickly Aesthetic and Surprisingly Heartfelt

‘The Roads Not Taken’ is a Marriage of Intellect and Emotion

In The Roads Not Taken, a daughter tries to find her father amid his dementia, while her father tries to find his own reality amid the many possible paths his life could have taken. The film is an Odyssey narrative playing out over multiple timelines, and from the perspective of the women in this Odysseus’s… Continue reading ‘The Roads Not Taken’ is a Marriage of Intellect and Emotion

‘Be Natural: The Untold Story of Alice Guy-Blache’ Showcases Female Filmmaker Pioneer

Move over, Hugo! Pamela B. Greene’s new documentary on Alice Guy-Blache will give another parent of cinema the spotlight after cinematic history has been dominated by the Lumiere brothers and Georges Melies for too long. Watch this film to see not only Guy-Blache but also the many Hollywood luminaries Green interviews about her. (GPG: 5/5)… Continue reading ‘Be Natural: The Untold Story of Alice Guy-Blache’ Showcases Female Filmmaker Pioneer

Niceole Levy’s ‘The Banker’ Highlights True Story of Jim Crow Era Robin Hoods

Co-writer Niceole R. Levy brings an intersectional feminist perspective to an already progressive story. The Banker brings up uncomfortable realities of race, gender, and class, by telling the story of two men who acted as Robin Hoods for many black Americans during the Jim Crow era. (GPG: 4/5). Review by Contributing Editor Giorgi Plys-Garzotto If… Continue reading Niceole Levy’s ‘The Banker’ Highlights True Story of Jim Crow Era Robin Hoods

Anime Explores Grief in ‘Ride Your Wave’ (2019)

A sad tale of delusion with a perky animated style, Ride Your Wave is a romantic tragedy about surfing. Only anime, and screenwriter Reiko Yoshida, could have created such a thing. The film is a well-structured cautionary tale about grief, with a surprising amount of depth for its short length. (GPG: 4/5) Review by Contributing… Continue reading Anime Explores Grief in ‘Ride Your Wave’ (2019)

Olympic Dreams (2020): Review by Contributing Editor Giorgi Plys-Garzotto

While the age difference is a bit of an eyebrow-raiser, this Nick Kroll fronted rom-com set at the 2018 Olympics gives us a meditative spin on the genre. Writer and actress Alexi Pappas gives us a painfully believable performance of a stressed-out millennial still figuring herself out. (GPG: 3/5). Review by Contributing Editor Giorgi Plys-Garzotto… Continue reading Olympic Dreams (2020): Review by Contributing Editor Giorgi Plys-Garzotto

‘Color Out of Space’ Showcases Creativity of Scarlett Amaris

The lovechild of Midsommar and 2018’s cult horror hit Mandy, writer Scarlett Amaris’ Color Out of Space brings HP Lovecraft back from the dead, without the eugenics this time. I didn’t know a movie could be this mind-blowing; I needed my mind blown first to be able to comprehend how blown my mind would be (GPG:… Continue reading ‘Color Out of Space’ Showcases Creativity of Scarlett Amaris

‘Intrigo: Death of an Author’ (2018), Review by FF2 Media

Intrigo: Death of an Author confuses the viewer both with its plot and with the mere fact of its having been made in the first place. Writer Birgitta Bongenhielm really has some explaining to do on this one, or maybe that should fall to Hakan Nesser, the author of the original novel. (GPG: 1/5) Review… Continue reading ‘Intrigo: Death of an Author’ (2018), Review by FF2 Media

Ofra Bloch’s 2018 ‘Afterward’ Investigates Dynamic Issues

Bringing up issues of inter-generational trauma, nationalism, and the psychology of empire Afterward is director Ofra Bloch’s journey toward an understanding of herself and others. Anyone who has ever looked at the world (both past and present) and asked why and how people are capable of such acts of horror will be entranced by this… Continue reading Ofra Bloch’s 2018 ‘Afterward’ Investigates Dynamic Issues

‘Black Christmas’ is an interesting take on college horror

While some may critique its lack of subtlety, Sophia Takal’s Black Christmas is exactly the kind of energy we need going into the 2020 election cycle. Why subtweet Nazis with antifascist undertones when you can just have your characters roll up their sleeves and get the purge done themselves? (GPG: 4/5). Review by Contributing Editor… Continue reading ‘Black Christmas’ is an interesting take on college horror

Janice Engel documents gumption of late Molly Ivins with ‘Raise Hell’

Whether you were an avid viewer of hers during the Bush era or (like me) spent most of the Bush era learning your multiplication tables, Janice Engel delivers an overview of Molly Ivins that will charm, tickle, and at times chill any blue-team resident of the year 2019. However, it seems like Ivins became a… Continue reading Janice Engel documents gumption of late Molly Ivins with ‘Raise Hell’

HARRIET (2019): What Twitter and History Have To Say About The Long Awaited Biopic

In the midst of controversy over historical accuracy and the lead actress’s politics, director Kasi Lemmons gives the conductor of the Underground Railroad a long-awaited biopic in Harriet. Her slave master is weirdly humanized while a black bounty hunter is thrown into the story for seemingly no reason; at the same time, acting from luminaries… Continue reading HARRIET (2019): What Twitter and History Have To Say About The Long Awaited Biopic

UNLIKELY (2019): Review by FF2 Media

In Unlikely, co-director Jaye Fenderson and her partner Adam Fenderson deftly analyze how the systems of student debt and rising unemployment are propping up an unsustainable system that limits access to the highest tier colleges to the elite. The solutions it proposes have been working in their limited environments, though a viewer can’t help but… Continue reading UNLIKELY (2019): Review by FF2 Media

Shonali Bose’s ‘The Sky is Pink’ (2019): Review by FF2 Media

Director Shonali Bose delves into a subject personal to her as well as to the real-life subjects of her film with The Sky Is Pink. However, the issues of class and of reproductive rights rear their heads in the background of this brightly colored and upbeat film, making the experience a bit less enjoyable for… Continue reading Shonali Bose’s ‘The Sky is Pink’ (2019): Review by FF2 Media

‘The Game Changers’ Might Just Persuade You to Go Vegan

Any vegans in the audience are going to love co-writer Shannon Kornelson’s documentary on the benefits of a plant-based diet. Kornelson, director Louie Psihoyos, and a cast of interviewees from the Miami Dolphins to Arnold Schwarznegger show us that veganism doesn’t just benefit the average person, but even the highest level athletes as well. (GPG:… Continue reading ‘The Game Changers’ Might Just Persuade You to Go Vegan

MONOS (2019): Review by FF2 Media

Borrowing from Lord of the Flies, Skins, and Apocalypse Now alike, Monos is an excellently plotted, virtuosically acted, and fascinatingly directed ensemble drama following a squadron of child soldiers. Producer Cristina Landes assists director Alejandro Landes to bring lurid visions of love, war, hatred, and desperation to the screen. (GPG: 5/5) Review by FF2 Contributing… Continue reading MONOS (2019): Review by FF2 Media

‘Raise Hell – The Life & Times of Molly Ivins’ a Wealth of Political Conversation

Whether you were an avid viewer of hers during the Bush era or (like me) spent most of the Bush era learning your multiplication tables, Janice Engel delivers an overview of Molly Ivins that will charm, tickle, and at times chill any blue-team resident of the year 2019. However, it seems like Ivins became a… Continue reading ‘Raise Hell – The Life & Times of Molly Ivins’ a Wealth of Political Conversation

THE WIND (2018): Review by FF2 Media

The Wind is a stylish feast from director Emma Tammi and writer Teresa Sutherland. It’s prairie-Gothic style makes for a refreshingly new kind of horror aesthetic, though the ultimate twist at the end of the movie was a bit of a let-down. Overall an excellent experience, though! (GPG: 3.5/5) Review by FF2 Contributor Giorgi Plys-Garzotto… Continue reading THE WIND (2018): Review by FF2 Media

Astra Taylor documentary gives picture of what democracy could be

Filmmaker Astra Taylor reacts to the 2016 election and the debt crisis in Europe by taking us on a cross-continental and 3000-year journey investigating her titular question: What Is Democracy? This film brings in academics as well as ordinary citizens who are at the forefront of activism and social unrest, all weighing in to give… Continue reading Astra Taylor documentary gives picture of what democracy could be

‘A Dog’s Way Home’ is more bizarre than cute

  Writer Cathryn Michon’s A Dog’s Way Home is probably enjoyable for children, but it’s definitely not one of those kid’s movies (like those in Pixar canon) that people of all ages will like. The animals are cute, but the plot and characters are wooden in the extreme, and the film makes a bizarre attempt… Continue reading ‘A Dog’s Way Home’ is more bizarre than cute

‘That Way Madness Lies’ showcases America’s broken mental health system

Filmmaker Sandra Luckow must navigate America’s mental health system in order to help her brother, who has been hospitalized for schizophrenia. Duanne’s initial hospitalization leads to Sandra acting as his primary conservator for years afterward, while his symptoms become more aggressive and antisocial and her patience wears increasingly thin (GPG: 3/5).

DIVIDE AND CONQUER – THE STORY OF ROGER AILES (2018): Review by FF2 Media

Director Alexis Bloom chooses a Roman battle tactic as the title for Divide and Conquer, her documentary on Fox News’s Caligula. They say sunlight is the best disinfectant, though this film made me wonder if anything can cleanse America’s political palate after Roger Ailes’s career. (GPG: 5/5) Review by FF2 Contributor Giorgi Plys-Garzotto Like his… Continue reading DIVIDE AND CONQUER – THE STORY OF ROGER AILES (2018): Review by FF2 Media

THE PARTY’S JUST BEGINNING (2018) Review by Giorgi Plys-Garzotto

Karen Gillan makes her directorial debut with The Party’s Just Beginning, a movie that—while it has its problems—has punchy dialogue, vivid characters, and a lot to say about life as a millennial. Gillan’s direction gives the film a frenetic electronic score and some vital, real performances that make up for any failings in the script.… Continue reading THE PARTY’S JUST BEGINNING (2018) Review by Giorgi Plys-Garzotto

THE FAVOURITE (2018): Review by Giorgi Plys-Garzotto

Co-writer Deborah Davis and (ahem) three-way stars Emma Stone, Rachel Weisz, and Olivia Coleman serve up a stylish tale of intrigue in the court of Queen Anne, played by Coleman. Both the humor and the power-grabs are brutal in this exceptional period drama. (GPG: 5/5) Review by FF2 Contributor Giorgi Plys-Garzotto Two cousins fight for… Continue reading THE FAVOURITE (2018): Review by Giorgi Plys-Garzotto

HAPPY AS LAZZARO (2018): Review by FF2 Media

Happy As Lazzaro is a metaphorical journey about a group of Italian peasants who are being exploited as sharecroppers by a tobacco producer. One young man, Lazzaro, is extremely kind, and lives a life of miracles and misfortune because of it. Director Alice Rohrwacher delivers a slightly absurd but meditative and aesthetically pleasing story about… Continue reading HAPPY AS LAZZARO (2018): Review by FF2 Media

INVISIBLE HANDS (2018): Review by Giorgi Plys-Garzotto

Documentarian Shraysi Tandon illuminates the horrific condition of child laborers in developing countries. It will be hard for the audience to go back to their lifestyles of cheaply-manufactured clothing and plastic goods after Invisible Hands shows them about how those products got to the marketplace in the Western world. The ending of this film takes… Continue reading INVISIBLE HANDS (2018): Review by Giorgi Plys-Garzotto