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Sundance Film Festival · 2021

Sundance Film Festival 2021

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Programme

9 films · 8 reviews

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The Blazing World

Review preview for The Blazing World

Despite its share of mismatched moments, Young’s feature has a lot of creative flair.

Stephanie Brown · 2.5 out of 5
Decades after the accidental drowning of her twin sister, a self-destructive young woman returns to her family home, finding herself drawn to an alternate dimension where her sister may still be alive.

(Country: US; Year: 2021; Director: Carlson Young; Writer: Pierce Brown, Carlson Young; Stars: Dermot Mulroney, Vinessa Shaw, Carlson Young, Udo Kier, John Karna, Soko, Liz Mikel, Sophia Bernard, Ace Anderson, Lillie Fink, Josie Fink, Breckyn Hager, Robert H. Lambert, Laurel Day, Bailey Lewis)

Full review

World premiere

Cryptozoo

Review preview for Cryptozoo

Its Jurassic Park style themes concerning failed Utopias passed through the prism of Sixties politics and activism have a certain childlike simplicity to them and, as such, are likely to prove more endearing to some audiences than others.

Amber Wilkinson · 3 out of 5
As cryptozookeepers struggle to capture a Baku (a legendary dream-eating hybrid creature) they begin to wonder if they should display these rare beasts in the confines of a cryptozoo, or if these mythical creatures should remain hidden and unknown.

(Country: US; Year: 2021; Director: Dash Shaw; Writer: Dash Shaw; Stars: Lake Bell, Michael Cera, Angeliki Papoulia, Zoe Kazan, Peter Stormare, Grace Zabriskie)

Full review

World premiere

First Date

Review preview for First Date

One of the most tightly written films of the year, this is also one of the funniest.

Jennie Kermode · 4 out of 5
Conned into buying a shady '65 Chrysler, Mike's first date with the girl-next door, Kelsey, implodes as he finds himself targeted by criminals, cops, and a crazy cat lady. A night fuelled by desire, bullets and burning rubber makes any other first date seem like a walk in the park.

(Country: US; Year: 2021; Director: Manuel Crosby, Darren Knapp; Writer: Manuel Crosby, Darren Knapp; Stars: Tyson Brown, Shelby Duclos, Jesse Janzen, Nicole Berry, Samuel Ademola, Ryan Quinn Adams, Angela Barber, Josh Fesler, Dave Reimer, Leah Finity, Jake Howard, Todd Goble, Samantha Laurenti, Shari Schweigler, Graham Green)

Full review

Ma Belle, My Beauty

Review preview for Ma Belle, My Beauty

This complex story is driven by its characters and blessed with a trio of impressive but unshowy performances.

Jennie Kermode · 3.5 out of 5
A surprise reunion in southern France reignites passions and jealousies between two women who were formerly polyamorous lovers.

(Country: US, France; Year: 2021; Director: Marion Hill; Writer: Marion Hill; Stars: Idella Johnson, Hannah Pepper-Cunningham, Lucien Guignard, Sivan Noam Shimon, Idella Johnson, Hannah Pepper-Cunningham, Lucien Guignard, Sivan Noam Shimon)

Full review See: Interview with Marion Hill about Ma Belle, My Beauty

World premiere

R#J

Review preview for R#J

It’s hard to say which is worse: the plot additions that amount to self-parody or the stilted pacing.

Jeremy Mathews · 1.5 out of 5
A re-imagining of Romeo and Juliet, taking place through their cell phones, in a mash-up of Shakespearean dialogue with current social media communication.

(Country: US; Year: 2021; Director: Carey Williams; Writer: Carey Williams, Rickie Castaneda, Alex Sobolev; Stars: Camaron Engels, Francesca Noel, David Zayas, Diego Tinoco, Siddiq Saunderson, Russell Hornsby)

Full review

World premiere

Searchers

In encounters alternately humorous and touching, a diverse set of New Yorkers navigate their preferred dating apps in search of their special someone.

(Country: US; Year: 2021; Director: Pacho Velez)

World premiere

Son Of Monarchs

Review preview for Son Of Monarchs

A film that, while laudably ambitious, struggles to stop its ideas from becoming so unruly that they squabble with each other for attention.

Amber Wilkinson · 3.5 out of 5
After his grandmother’s death, a Mexican biologist living in New York returns to his hometown, nestled in the majestic monarch butterfly forests of Michoacán. The journey forces him to confront past traumas and reflect on his hybrid identity, sparking a personal and spiritual metamorphosis.

(Country: Mexico, US; Year: 2020; Director: Alexis Gambis; Writer: Alexis Gambis; Stars: Paulina Gaitan, William Mapother, Tenoch Huerta, Electra Avellan, Alexia Rasmussen, Noé Hernández, Jay Potter, Jarod Lindsey, Juan Ugarte, Angelina Peláez, Emily Keefe, Gabino Rodríguez, Rich Miglio, Gadi Rubin, Gisell Rodriguez)

Full review

World premiere. Winner of Alfred P Sloan Feature Film Prize

Strawberry Mansion

Review preview for Strawberry Mansion

Simple tricks like painting sets pink and amassing large piles of low cost everyday objects enable the filmmakers to create a distinctive fantasy landscape on a very low budget.

Jennie Kermode · 4 out of 5
In a world where the government records and taxes dreams, an unassuming dream auditor gets swept up in a cosmic journey through the life and dreams of an ageing eccentric named Bella. Together, they must find a way back home.

(Country: US; Year: 2021; Director: Kentucker Audley, Albert Birney; Writer: Kentucker Audley, Albert Birney; Stars: Penny Fuller, Kentucker Audley, Grace Glowicki, Reed Birney, Linas Phillips, Constance Shulman)

Full review

World premiere

We're All Going to The World's Fair

Review preview for We're All Going to The World's Fair

This film is long overdue.

Jennie Kermode · 4.5 out of 5
A teenage girl becomes immersed in an online role-playing game.

(Country: US; Year: 2021; Director: Jane Schoenbrun; Writer: Jane Schoenbrun; Stars: Anna Cobb)

Full review See: Interview with Jane Schoenbrun about We’re All Going To The World’s Fair, part 2 , Interview with Jane Schoenbrun about We’re All Going To The World’s Fair

World premiere