DANDELIONS (2024) SBIFF 2024

Several years in the making, this is the story of filmmaker Basil Mironer, who was born in Russia but migrated to the US when he was young with his parents. Several years ago he received a Facebook message that he had a brother and sister in Russia and that his father wasn't his biological father.  After sitting on it for a while, he talked to his American brother and the pair went to Russia, without telling their parents, to check out the story.

STOP RIGHT THERE. DON'T EVEN THINK THAT, THIS ISN'T THAT STORY.

No, seriously, don't think ahead, just watch this film on it's own terms and let it unfold in its own time.  I say that because whatever you are thinking isn't this story and the sooner you let that go the sooner you will fall in love with a film that will give you feelies and make you want to reach for the tissues.

This is one of the best films I've seen this year. It is a complete and utter surprise that I received simply because I know good people who know good films and they sent it to me and said I needed to see it. They were absolutely right I needed to see it because it just made me feel wonderful.

This is a film about family, the one you have, the one you find and the one you never knew existed. It's a film about fathers and sons. Its a film about love and life and finding out there are oceans of both that we never suspected that were out there.

I have so much I want to say about the film, but I don't want to spoil it. I say that because I sat down with a friend to watch the film a second time. They asked me what it was about and I mumbled something adding, "just watch it". When it was done, and the tears were flowing all she could say was "thank you for not spoiling it."

I'm not going to spoil it for you- I'm just going to say put this on your must see list for the year and when the film hits your neck of the woods see it.

One of the best films of 2024.

Brief thoughts on THE LONG GAME (2024) SBIFF 2024

Modern film noir is a delightful must see.....

I'm going to keep the plot description brief lest I give anything away. The story concerns an out of work actress (Sekai Abení) who helps her boyfriend (Jackie Earle Haley) run a scam on a fading star (Kathleen Turner). Things become complicated when the women begin find they have a lot in common.

Based on the story "The Method" by Janet Fitch, this film is wonderful. A delightful throw back to the old film noirs, but with an updated twist or three, THE LONG GAME surprises as it refuses to do anything other than follow its own way. I love that the film takes our expectations and tosses them aside and just goes for it with a tale that grabs us and pulls us in and makes us go along on it's journey.

What makes this film work is the cast. The three principles are operating at the top of their game and we are so much better for it.  Sekai Abení in her feature debut announces herself as an actress to reckon with. The woman at the center of the story holds the film together with a firm hand. You would never believe that this is her first time out of the chute. I can't wait to see what she does next. Jackie Earle Haley is staggeringly good. Why in the hell isn't he in more things? He has to be one of the best actors working today and yet he isn't in all the big films. He's Oscar good. And then there is Kathleen Turner who chews the scenery, spits it out and then does it again. Wow. She is is having so much fun that it infects everyone in the audience. She is just so much fun to watch. Best of all, her chemistry with Abeni makes this film something glorious.

I had so much fun that as soon as I finished the film I sat down and wrote this review because I had to tell you about it.

The film just premiered so it maybe a little bit before you see it. That's okay, just put it on your list of films to see when it plays near you..

VESELKA: The Rainbow on the Corner (2024) just premiered at the Santa Barbara Film Festival and hits theaters February 23

 

The life and times of a the Lower Eastside New York institution that started  as news stand and morphed into a late night hang out and became the center of the Ukrainian community in New York City. While it’s a film that is firmly focused on the family and people who run the restaurant, the film is still going to leave you hungry for some good Ukrainian food.

Veselka is a legendary New York eatery. It’s a place you go to where you want good comfort food. It doesn’t matter if it’s Ukranian or not (they have other things on the menu), it’s just good. I’ve eaten there many times, the last being Tribeca last year when a friend was bring a bunch of Ukrainian filmmakers to get some food that was like home.

There is magic in this film.

It’s a wonderful story of community that makes you lean in and feel part of what’s going on on screen. It doesn’t matter if you’ve ever been to Veselka or not, it simply matters if you are human or not.  This is the story of how one island can make a difference in people’s lives for the better.

I was moved. I was also surprised. There was a point about a half an hour in when I thought, where is this going to go, they’ve covered the history of the restaurant and the family there is no where to go. I was wrong there is plenty of places to go. The war in Ukraine happened and at that moment the film shifts, partly to tell a war related story, but to the story of a community. Yes, we knew the story of the eatery, but once the war begins affecting everyone’s lives we see how Veselka is more than just a place to get good food.

As I said the film is magic, it’s the story of connections, the ones we can see and the ones we can’t. It’s a story of hope and perseverance. It’s a film that you feel more and more connected to as it goes on as it moves from being an acquaintance, to being a friend until finally you feel as though you are family to everyone on screen.  You want to give them a hug.

What a great film.

Go see this film (and have dinner plans for afterward because you will leave hungry)

AND YES -It will be playing the Village East Cinema in NYC so you can see the movie and go have dinner.