Director, producer, and co-writer Céline Cousteau’s new documentary, Tribes on the Edge, is a plea for Brazil’s indigenous people, who are afraid of becoming extinct. The film is a stark eye-opener that draws our attention to a beautiful rainforest that harbors severe problems for the Javari tribespeople. (SYJ:4.5/5)
Author: Sophia Jin
Sophia is currently a student of classical music. She joined FF2 Media in 2018, and loves working with everyone on the team because not only does it promote women's roles in films, it also opens her up to more works done by women. Sophia is so glad that there is a space that is full of women alike in their passion to bring more attention to females who are just as capable or even more capable than men in the industry.
Liliana Cavani’s 1974 Film ‘The Night Porter’ is Strangely Obsessed with the Past
Liliana Cavani’s 1974 film ‘The Night Porter’ is set in Vienna in 1957, twelve years after World War II. Set in Hotel Zur Oper, it is busy and bustling with guests, some of whom hold dark secrets. (SYJ: 4.5/5)
A Film Pioneer’s Guide to ‘The Birth, the Life and the Death of Christ’
In Alice Guy-Blaché’s 1906 film The Birth, the Life and the Death of Christ, the infamous stories of Jesus Christ are told in 25 scenes. We see the early developments of film and cinema through these pictures and how stories unfold through gestures and body language rather than dialogue. (SYJ: 4/5)
Marie-Louise Iribe Takes Us into a Frightful Escape from ‘The Erl King’
In director and actress Marie-Louise Iribe’s 1931 film Le Roi des Aulnes (The Erl King), a young boy (Raymond Lapon) is dying in his father’s (Otto Gebühr) arms while riding through the woods. Desperately, the father clings to his son, keeping him warm and reassuring him everything will be okay. (SYJ: 4/5)
Director Nicole Holofcener Looks beyond the ‘Lovely and Amazing’ Aspects of Life
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! Director and writer Nicole Holofcener’s movie Lovely and Amazing (2001) explores essential topics circulating in the media today––the never-ending fight for equality. From racial stereotypes to gender expectations, this film poignantly expresses… Continue reading Director Nicole Holofcener Looks beyond the ‘Lovely and Amazing’ Aspects of Life
Mothers and Daughters of ‘The Joy Luck Club’ Share Their Immigrant Stories
Based on a novel written by Amy Tan, the 1993 film The Joy Luck Club follows women of four Chinese immigrant families who share their stories about life and hardship. Things don’t come easily to them. (SYJ: 4/5)
‘Extra Ordinary’ Parodies Ghost Hunters in Irish Horror Fashion
Extra Ordinary, written by a team of writers including Maeve Higgins, is a story of exorcism and satanism with a comedic twist. The film is a parody of the typical ghostbuster movie. (SYJ: ⅘) Review by FF2 Media intern Sophia Jin Extra Ordinary opens with a piece of old documentary footage from around the… Continue reading ‘Extra Ordinary’ Parodies Ghost Hunters in Irish Horror Fashion
‘The Photograph’ brings back memories
In writer and director Stella Meghie’s new film, The Photograph, she tells two intertwining love stories from the past and present. When New York-based photographer “Christina Eames” (Chante Adams) passes, her daughter is led to the discovery of her mother’s past life in the small town of Pointe a la Hache, Louisiana. (SYJ: 3/5) Review… Continue reading ‘The Photograph’ brings back memories
‘The Assistant’ Treats Women Seriously in a #MeToo World
In director and writer Kitty Green’s new film The Assistant, Julia Garner plays an overworked, under-appreciated assistant. Many people have recently come forward in the #metoo movement about their experiences in the film industry. The chance of a lifetime can often come with too high a price to pay. (SYJ: 4 / 5) Review written… Continue reading ‘The Assistant’ Treats Women Seriously in a #MeToo World
Freedom and friendship in ‘Portrait of a Lady on Fire’
In Celine Sciamma’s new film Portrait of a Lady on Fire, an 18th century French painter finds herself with a difficult task. Secrets and deceit change the relationship dynamic between two girls. (SYJ: rating 4 / 5) Review by FF2 Media Intern Sophia Y. Jin Set in 18th century Brittany, «Marianne» (Noemie Merlant)… Continue reading Freedom and friendship in ‘Portrait of a Lady on Fire’
Family and Tradition Unravel in ‘Hala’
In writer and director Minhal Baig’s new film Hala, a seventeen-year-old Muslim American teenager “Hala” (Geraldine Viswanathan) struggles to find a balance between her family and cultural values. (SYJ: 4/5)
Elizabeth Banks’ New Movie Makes Us Want to Be a ‘Charlie’s Angels’
Director and writer Elizabeth Banks’ new film Charlie’s Angels is the next installment of female dominated secret network of spies who save the world. This film empowers all women of any age to be independent and unashamed if their power. (SYJ: 4.5/5) Review by FF2 Intern Sophia Y Jin Charlie’s Angels begins with an intimate,… Continue reading Elizabeth Banks’ New Movie Makes Us Want to Be a ‘Charlie’s Angels’
Old-Time Music is Uncovered in Julie Simone’s Documentary ‘Fiddlin’
In Julie Simone’s new documentary Fiddlin’, the history of a hidden genre of music, Old Time music, is discovered. From fiddles to banjos, to flat-foot dancing, the community of Old Time music comes alive when enjoying the tunes of the past. (SYJ: ⅗) Review written by FF2 Media Intern Sophia Y. Jin The… Continue reading Old-Time Music is Uncovered in Julie Simone’s Documentary ‘Fiddlin’
Not All Unknown Creatures are “Abominable”
In director and writer Jill Culton’s and co-director Todd Wilderman’s new film Abominable, the legendary Yeti becomes the audience’s favorite creature. Using music and imagination, Abominable is a beautiful adventure. (SYJ: ⅘) Review written by FF2Media Intern Sophia Y. Jin Waking in confusion, a beast, « Everest » (Joseph Izzo), frantically runs around some… Continue reading Not All Unknown Creatures are “Abominable”
The Musical Silence of ‘Moonlight Sonata: Deafness in Three Movements’
In award-winning director Irene Taylor Brodsky’s new documentary Moonlight Sonata: Deafness in Three Movements, she explores her own family’s ability to cope with deafness. This story is intertwined with Beethoven’s Moonlight Sonata, which was composed during the year he started to lose his hearing. (SYJ 4.5/5) Review written by FF2Media Intern Sophia Y. Jin… Continue reading The Musical Silence of ‘Moonlight Sonata: Deafness in Three Movements’
‘Birds Without Feathers’ Doesn’t Fly
In director-writer Wendy McColm’s new film Birds Without Feathers she tells the story of how six strangers seek attention in the most toxic and ineffective ways. A supposed dark comedy, Birds Without Feathers, showcases six rejects over the course of one weekend. (SYJ: 1/5) Review by FF2Media Intern Sophia Y Jin Identity thief “Jo”… Continue reading ‘Birds Without Feathers’ Doesn’t Fly
PAVAROTTI (2019): Review by FF2 Media
From IMDb: A look at the life and work of opera legend Luciano Pavarotti. Pavarotti opens 6/7. Review coming soon!
PAVAROTTI: The Eternal Tenor
In director Ron Howard’s new documentary Pavarotti, co-written by Cassidy Hartmann, the story of the world famous tenor, Luciano Pavarotti, is told. He becomes a house-hold name across the world. The film leaves the audience inspired and amazed by the star’s story. (SYJ: 5/5) Review written by FF2Media Intern Sophia Y. Jin From… Continue reading PAVAROTTI: The Eternal Tenor
‘Booksmart’ Girls Know How to Party
In director Olivia Wilde’s new film Booksmart, all hell breaks loose for the two high school geeks on the night before their graduation. The two academic superstars realize perfect grades are not the be all and end all. (SYJ: 3.5/5) Review written by FF2 Media Intern Sophia Y. Jin A meditation tape… Continue reading ‘Booksmart’ Girls Know How to Party
‘Aniara’ Floats through Time and Space
In Pella Kagerman’s new co-directed and co-written Swedish movie Aniara, Earth is in dystopia. People are evacuated from their homes and are preparing to join other family on their new planet, Mars. (SYJ:4/5) Review written by FF2 Media Intern Sophia Y. Jin A mass of people ascend on a futuristic elevator up to… Continue reading ‘Aniara’ Floats through Time and Space
When in need, ‘Ask for Jane’
Ask for Jane, directed by Rachel Carey, is a powerful piece about the simple procedure that is abortion. Written by Rachel Carey, with Cait Cortelyou’s original idea, Ask for Jane focuses on a group of young ladies who are passionate about the rights of women and their bodies. Starring Cait Cortelyou and Cody Horn, this… Continue reading When in need, ‘Ask for Jane’
How to perfect ‘The Hustle’
In Chris Addison’s new movie, co-written by Jac Schaeffer, The Hustle depicts two very contrasting characters involved in a comedic endeavour in which they try and scam billionaires. Using dumb humor, the audience sees the differences in upper and lower class organized crimes. (SYJ: 2/5) Review written by FF2 Media Intern Sophia… Continue reading How to perfect ‘The Hustle’
‘Fast Color’ teaches us not to run away from who we are
In director and writer Julia Hart’s new film Fast Color, Gugu Mbatha-Raw stars as a lost young woman in search of safety and identity. But what if the place she always runs away from is her last chance at safety? (SYJ: 4.5/5) Review written by FF2 Media Intern Sophia Y. Jin The film… Continue reading ‘Fast Color’ teaches us not to run away from who we are
‘The Aftermath’ of WWII Leaves People Lost and Heartbroken
Anna Waterhouse co-writes The Aftermath, directed by James Kent, where Keira Knightley plays the new guest to Hamburg from England, a destroyed German city. The beautiful film shows many dark and ominous images and disgusting truths mixed in a conflicted whirlwind romance. (SYJ: 4/5) Review written by FF2 Media Intern Sophia Y. Jin Set… Continue reading ‘The Aftermath’ of WWII Leaves People Lost and Heartbroken
‘Captain Marvel’ saves the day
Brie Larson stars in the new award-winning Marvel movie, Captain Marvel, co-directed by Anna Boden. Available in 4Dx, the immersive experience gives the action movie an extra punch. Based on the infamous Stan Lee comics, “Carol Danvers” (Brie Larson) saves the world from terror using the only power needed: girl power. (SYJ: 5/5) Review written… Continue reading ‘Captain Marvel’ saves the day
Living in a fantasy—WELCOME TO MARWEN
In Caroline Thompson’s new screenplay Welcome to Marwen, Steve Carell stars in a story based on true events—a biographical film about how a man finds solace in making beautiful stories out of his dolls and photographs after a brutal attack. (SYJ: 4/5) Review written by FF2 Media Intern Sophia Y. Jin A brutal gang attack… Continue reading Living in a fantasy—WELCOME TO MARWEN
Alex O Eaton’s ‘Mountain Rest’ tells story of family reconciliation
In Alex O Eaton’s directorial and writing debut, award winning Mountain Rest brings an aging actress and estranged daughter and granddaughter together to reconcile. (SYJ: 2.5/5)
‘Widows’ Embrace the Job
In writer Gillian Flynn’s latest film Widows, she tells a story of four widows from very different backgrounds in contemporary Chicago. Widows allows women, and women of ethnic minorities, to take power and control in an almost all male action story. (SYJ: 3/5) Review by FF2 Media Intern Sophia Jin Based in a modern… Continue reading ‘Widows’ Embrace the Job
‘Liz and the Blue Bird’ Teaches Us to Let Go
Naoko Yamada, the critically acclaimed director of A Silent Voice, debuts her second feature animated film Liz and the Blue Bird. Originally a coming-of-age novel series, Sound! Euphonium, Yamada creates a film with subtle brilliance. (SYJ: 3.5/5) Review written by FF2Media Intern Sophia Y. Jin Liz and the Blue Bird is a tale of a… Continue reading ‘Liz and the Blue Bird’ Teaches Us to Let Go
‘Weed the People’ uncovers myths about cannabis
In director Abby Epstein’s documentary Weed the People, she brings an already contentious topic to light—should medicinal cannabis be legalized? It’s fascinating how this age-old plant can still create such controversy in the modern day. (SYJ: 4.5/5) Review by FF2 Media Intern Sophia Y. Jin One of the most upsetting images known to man is the… Continue reading ‘Weed the People’ uncovers myths about cannabis