Friends, it is time once again for The Chicago International Film Festival. This year marks the 69th anniversary of the festival and there are over 170 movies playing this year. As much as we would love to see all of these movies, we have broken our list down to 32 movies but here are 10 movies that are a must-see on our list.
Keep an eye on our socials as we post short reviews of each film that we see and full reviews will be released near the film’s actual release date.
Transplant – Whiplash meets Grey’s Anatomy in this intense psychological drama about an ambitious Korean-American resident training under a notorious heart surgeon.
La Cocina – An impassioned line cook stirs up chaos that threatens to collapse a frenzied Times Square kitchen in this kaleidoscopic portrait of the American Dream.
The Brutalist – Escaping postwar Europe, a visionary architect (Adrien Brody) arrives in America to rebuild his life, his work, and his marriage.
Emelia Perez – Through liberating song and dance and bold visuals, this Mexican odyssey follows the journey of four remarkable women, each pursuing happiness.
Unstoppable – This inspiring drama follows Anthony Robles, who was born with one leg but whose unbreakable resolve empowered him to defy the odds and pursue his dreams.
Memoir of a Snail – In this unique stop-motion animation, a melancholy misfit recounts the tragic but beautiful tale of her life to her pet snails.
Flow – When his home is devastated by a great flood, a courageous cat teams up with an unlikely band of animal friends in this thrilling animated spectacle.
The Piano Lesson – A family clash over an heirloom piano explodes. The battle between brother and sister — one hopes to sell it, the other refuses to give it up — unleashes haunting truths about how the past is perceived and who defines a family legacy.
Here – The director, writer and stars of Forrest Gump reunite for an emotional journey through generations of human experience.
Color Book – In this intimate and affecting neorealist drama, a father takes his son to his first baseball game. But a series of obstacles will test him along the way.