The 61st Chicago International Film Festival has left Chicago, leaving cinephiles with hours of great memories and fantastic moments. Festival attendees had over 100 movies to choose from, as well as programming for aspiring filmmakers. We attempted to cover as much as possible this year and seek out more obscure and smaller films that might get overlooked. We had the opportunity to interview some of the guests who were in town for the festival and share those interviews on our YouTube channel.
Here are the movies we watched, and our first reactions to them.
The Girl in the Snow
This story of a young teacher working in a remote village seems simple enough, but there is something more to her story. Ms. Lazare works hard to teach the children of the village every day. As the winter season engulfs the village, her needs seem to be causing certain weather events to hit the village. As people start to go missing, fingers start to point at Ms. Lazare, and questions start arising about who she really is.
The Condor Daughter
The Condor Daughter is a beautiful film about breaking traditions and the effects on those around you. Clara wants to do something more with her life and does not want to be a midwife. After she leaves the village, things start happening that are deemed a curse for her leaving. Clara’s mother sets out on a journey to find her daughter and convince her to return to the village. Stunning images and cinematography fill this movie. The movie is slow-paced but worth it!
A Brief History of Chasing Storms
A Brief History of Chasing Storms is a fascinating documentary about not only storm chasers but also those who survive the tornadoes. From bunker builders to memorabilia stores, there is a lot to digest here. The fact that a tornado hit the same town, on the same day, in three separate years, makes you want to learn more about these wild storms and the people who chase them.
The Kidnapping of Arabella
The Kidnapping of Arabella is an interesting look at wanting to relive and correct your life. Benedetta Porcaroli’s performance is tragic and heartfelt. Lucrezia Guglielmino shines as Arabella. Chris Pine is a great comedic surprise in this. This one will have you rethinking your life and the words of encouragement you may have received from those you admired.
This Island
This Island will stay with you after it is over. A story of wanting a better life and how your environment can either help or hurt you. Amazing performances from leads Zion Ortiz and Fabiola Brown. You can not walk away from this film and be filled with a sense of hope.
Useful Ghost
A Useful Ghost is bizarre, quirky, and a unique love story involving ghosts and revenge. Seeing how a ghost can be used to get rid of ghosts that are haunting people is interesting. Also, seeing how corporations use the ghost to do their bidding mimics today’s abuse of the working class. Director Ratchapoom Boonbunchachoke gives us an unforgettable film!
Anything that Moves
Anything that Moves is a throwback to late 70s/80s horror movies. The movie runs at a quick pace and pulls you into the mystery that follows Liam. They do not make them like this anymore.
We Are Pat
The documentary We are Pat asks the question “Would Pat work in today’s world?” The character gets an update with comedians from the LGBTQ+ community and help from Julia Sweeny. Through various conversations, we are shown how Pat helped people see themselves and know that they were not alone in this world.
Sun Ra: Do the Impossible
Sun Ra: Do the Impossible is a fascinating look at the enigma known as Sun Ra. From his early beginnings to the creation of the being known as Sun Ra, a lot is learned from this documentary. Sun Ra was ahead of his time, and this documentary highlights the footprint he left in the world of music.
Shorts Program: 1,2,3,4,9
The Shorts Program is always a great way to see a lot of content in short collections. We watched shorts from the After Dark, Animation, Black Perspectives, City & State, and Family Friendly Animation. The shorts that stood out to me were: Earwig from the After Dark program. Debaters & Your Tomorrow Will Be My Song from the City & State Program. Dog Alone from the Animation Program. Snow Bear from the Family Friendly Animation Program. Victoria from the Black Perspectives Program.
The Audience Award for U.S. Feature goes to RENTAL FAMILY, following an American actor (Brendan Fraser) who finds work in modern-day Tokyo working for a Japanese “rental family” agency, playing stand-in roles for strangers in HIKARI’s heartfelt and poignant comedy.
The Audience Award for International Feature goes to Italy’s PRIMAVERA, celebrated opera and stage director Damiano Michieletto’s story of Antonio Vivaldi, underappreciated in his own time and told through the lens of a young muse, who herself is transformed by music as she finds the inspiration to rewrite her own destiny.
This year’s Audience Award for Documentary is shared by two very different films. Years after cheating allegations stripped Chicago’s Jackie Robinson West Little League Baseball team of their championship title, director Kevin Shaw revisits the story with conversations with the charismatic young athletes, now adults, in ONE GOLDEN SUMMER, a sensitive, universal film about personal resilience, the strength of family, and what it means to be a true champion; the film also won the Chicago Award in the Festival’s City & State competition. Audiences responded equally powerfully to CHILD OF DUST, director Weronika Miczewska’s heartfelt, intimate film following the emotionally complex journey of a Vietnamese man who ventures to meet his American father for the first time.
The Shorts program had audiences raving over WEDNESDAYS WITH GRAMPS, presented in the Shorts 6: Family Friendly Animation program. Written and directed by Chicagoans Chris Copeland & Justin Copeland, this funny and stylish film follows the relationship between grandfather and grandson as they bond over an unexpected shared interest.
On Friday October 24, the Festival announced the winners of this year’s jury competitions, with the Gold Hugo in the International Feature Competition going to Oliver Laxe’s SIRÂT, and THE VOICE OF HIND RAJAB, directed by Festival alum Kaouther Ben Hania, recognized with the Silver Hugo Jury Prize. Mascha Schilinski earned the Silver Hugo for Best Director for SOUND OF FALLING, with the film also receiving a Silver Hugo for Sound. Silver Hugos for Best Performances went to Wagner Moura (THE SECRET AGENT) and Ezster Tompa (KONTINENTAL ‘25); Paolo Sorrentino won Best Screenplay for LA GRAZIA; and Gergley Pálos took Best Cinematography for SILENT FRIEND. Nastia Korkia’s SHORT SUMMER took the Gold Hugo in the New Directors Competition, Sepideh Farsi’s PUT YOUR SOUL ON YOUR HAND AND WALK earned the Gold Hugo in the International Documentary Competition, and Orian Barki and Meriem Bennani’s BOUCHRA won the Gold QHugo in the OutLook Competition.
I feel that I did not watch some of the movies that I wanted to see this year, but maybe next year things will be different. Did you attend the Chicago International Film Festival? Share with us in the comments what movies you saw or are excited to see.