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South by Southwest · 2020

South by Southwest 2020

Narrative Spotlight

Programme

8 films · 1 review

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The 24th

In the Great War, the Twenty-Fourth Infantry is sent to Houston, Texas to oversee the construction of Camp Logan. William Boston is forced to choose between his love for a young woman and leading an attack by 156 African American soldiers on a brutal and racist police force.

(Country: US; Year: 2020; Director: Kevin Willmott; Writer: Kevin Willmott, Trai Byers; Stars: Trai Byers, Bashir Salahuddin, Aja Naomi King, Mo McRae, Tosin Morohunfola, Mykelti Williamson, Thomas Haden Church)

Archive

A scientist stationed halfway up a snowcapped mountain has been working on a model that is a true human-equivalent android. His prototype is almost complete. But he has an ulterior motive for his work that must be hidden at all costs: being reunited with his dead wife, Jules.

(Country: UK; Year: 2020; Director: Gavin Rothery; Writer: Gavin Rothery; Stars: Theo James, Stacy Martin, Rhona Mitra, Peter Ferdinando, Richard Glover, Lia Williams, Toby Jones)

Best Summer Ever

When two teenagers who fell in love during the summer unexpectedly find themselves at the same hig school, romance and ambition clash in musical form.

(Country: US; Year: 2020; Director: Michael Parks Randa, Lauren Smitelli; Writer: Michael Parks Randa, Will Halby, Terra Mackintosh, Andrew Pilkington, Lauren Smitelli; Stars: Shannon DeVido, Rickey Wilson Jr., MuMu, Jacob Waltuck, Emily Kranking, Bradford Hayes, Eileen Grubba, Holly Palmer, Ajani AJ Murray, Lawrence Carter-Long)

Castle In The Ground

Review preview for Castle In The Ground

The film struggles to create the emotional resonance needed to connect with vulnerable and troubled characters.

John-Anthony Disotto · 2.5 out of 5
A former carer devastated by the loss of his mother finds relief in her painkillers and bonds with a local junkie as his former friends move away to attend college.

(Country: Canada; Year: 2019; Director: Joey Klein; Writer: Joey Klein; Stars: Alex Wolff, Imogen Poots, Neve Campbell, Tom Cullen, Keir Gilchrist, Kiowa Gordon, Star Slade)

Full review

Critical Thinking

Impoverished kids from Miami, guided by their inspirational teacher, battle for a place at the National Chess Championship.

(Country: US; Year: 2019; Director: John Leguizamo; Writer: Dito Montiel; Stars: John Leguizamo, Michael Kenneth Williams, Rachel Bay Jones, Jorge Lendeborg Jr, Angel Bismark Curiel, Will Hochman, Corwin Tuggles, Jeffry Batista, Zora Casebere, Ramses Jimenez)

Cut Throat City

The story of four boyhood friends in New Orleans' Lower Ninth Ward who return after Hurricane Katrina to find their homes decimated, with no jobs, and no help from FEMA, so decide to take on a heist, only to find themselves hunted when it goes awry.

(Country: US; Year: 2020; Director: RZA; Writer: Paul Cuschieri; Stars: Shameik Moore, Tip 'TI' Harris, Demetrius Shipp Jr, Kat Graham, Rob Morgan, Keean Johnson, Denzel Whitaker, Sam Daly, Isaiah Washington, Wesley Snipes, Terrence Howard, Eiza Gonzalez, Ethan Hawke)

Freak Power

The story of how Hunter S Thompson ran for Sheriff of Aspen, Colorado. His attempt to create a third party based around a new, gentler style of law enforcement entranced the national press and made him an overnight celebrity.

(Country: US; Year: 2020; Director: Robert F Kennedy III; Writer: Robert F Kennedy III; Stars: Jay Bulger, Cheryl Hines, Amaryllis Fox, Laird Mackintosh, Maxwell Loeb)

I Used To Go Here

Following the launch of her new novel, a writer Kate Conklin is invited to speak at her alma mater by her mentor and former professor. After accepting the invitation, Kate finds herself deeply enmeshed in the lives of an eccentric group of college students.

(Country: US; Year: 2020; Director: Kris Rey; Writer: Kris Rey; Stars: Gillian Jacobs, Jemaine Clement, Josh Wiggins, Hannah Marks, Zoe Chao, Jorma Taccone, Forrest Goodluck)