Gimme A Beat

06/10/2025

11 Days
135'000 Visitors
115 Films
40 World and European Premiers
21st ZURICH FILM FESTIVAL

I will share my and a few more reviews in the next days and follow up with several Gimme A Beats featuring interviews and movies of my choice in focus 🌟🎥📻

In the meantime, find out the official media statement on the link below 🎥

Das ZFF bringt die aufregendsten Autorenfilme aus der ganzen Welt nach Zürich. Meisterwerke und Premieren, die später Oscars gewinnen.

04/10/2025

Shu-Fen, a single mother with two daughters, returns to the city of Taipei after years of living in the countryside. She can hardly make ends meet, but she is determined to make it work in the city. They settle in a small apartment, and she opens a food stall in a vibrant night market. Her eldest daughter, I-Ann, carries the weight of resentment and responsibility and finds work as a “betel nut beauty.” The youngest, I-Jung, is a curious five-year-old who loves helping her mum at the stall and exploring the market at night while her mum works. After her grandpa tells her a superstition that left-handedness is evil, she becomes convinced that her left hand is possessed by the devil. We watch how she navigates her newfound “curse”, while the rest of the family struggles with life and their own secrets.

Directed by Shih-Ching Tsou in her solo debut (with longtime collaborator Sean Baker co-writing and editing), *Left-Handed Girl* is an intimate story that captures the emotional world of a young girl while reflecting the complexities of familial love and societal expectations. This is a portrait of three generations of women trying to keep their bond alive while battling life’s obstacles, old rules, and traditions. One can see the parallel between the life they are living and the world around them; the family’s struggles mirror the modern Taipei where resilience and tenderness coexist within the chaos of the city. As a central state of the movie, and crucial in telling this story, the night market becomes a character on its own: loud, colorful, alive, and unforgiving.

The casting is absolutely amazing. Nina Ye, as I-Jing, the left-handed youngest daughter, is brilliant in her role and simply adorable. She is greatly complemented by excellent Shih-Yuan Ma, as I-Ann, who plays her sister and oldest daughter, and navigates a lot of heavy emotions. We only see I-Ann’s tender side when she is spending time with I-Jung, as this little girl is the only light in her world. Janel Tsai is great as Shu-Fen, the mother, and Teng-Hui Huang brings warmth to his role as Johnny, her friend. Johnny is also important for the story as he is truly a support they all need.

This movie made me laugh and cry at the same time, and it is another one of my of the

*Left-Handed Girl* | Netflix | Le Pacte premiered on Monday at ZURICH FILM FESTIVAL, with Shih-Ching Tsou in attendance to answer questions. I attended it on Tuesday and really enjoyed the Q&A session. The last opportunity to see the movie at the festival was this afternoon. If you missed it, don’t worry, the movie will be released very soon on Netflix. 🎥📻

Follow the link to find zff information about the movie: https://zff.com/en/movies/left-handed-girl-91955

Das ZFF bringt die aufregendsten Autorenfilme aus der ganzen Welt nach Zürich. Meisterwerke und Premieren, die später Oscars gewinnen.

04/10/2025

Michelle seems to have it all: power, wealth, influence, and control. As the CEO of the pharmaceutical empire, she leads with confidence and precision, not just the company but also her life. Every morning, she wakes up before dawn and goes into her strict routine of workouts and supplements before the meetings and power plays, ensuring that everything runs as she expects it to. But everything changes one day when two young men, convinced she is an alien infiltrated into the human race to destroy Earth, abduct her as part of their two-man conspiracy mission. What begins as a bizarre kidnapping soon turns into a dark comedy with an exploration of paranoia, power, and survival.

With *Bugonia*(ig: ), director Yorgos Lanthimos remakes the South Korean “Save the Green Planet!” movie into a satirical, absurdist sci-fi journey that turns corporate dominance, fear, and human fragility into something simultaneously playful and haunting. Yorgos uses the Greek term Bugonia (or Buogonia), the belief that bees spontaneously generated from the decaying carcass of a dead cow or ox, to put his own Greek stamp on the story, while connecting it to the original, where bees and beekeeping also play an important role.

I am a huge fan of Yorgos Lanthimos. His movies have so many layers that they make me think about them long afterward, regardless of the topic. This is another thought-provoking movie, as it invites us to question whether madness lies in conspiracy or in the world that breeds it. I love how he plays with familiar conspiracy theories and phrases even regular viewers are aware of, such as “I did my research”, or “I get my news from unbiased sources”, and how he visually toys with the idea of a flat Earth throughout the movie.

Emma Stone is outstanding as Michelle Fuller, marking her 5th collaboration with Yorgos, as another success. She is most impressive when her character uses corporate persuasion skills when talking to the captors; this is mesmerizing and chilling at the same time. Those scenes make you understand Michelle's success and the kind of intelligence and manipulation that fuel her power. I love that we can see the powerful female character in the mainstream cinema in all her complexity, even though what she stands for is probably everything that is wrong about our world, even outside of this movie. This is a woman who can stand her ground, has her integrity, even in a situation where anyone would be scared and broken. Her character is very well complemented by excellent Jesse Plemons as Teddy, the main conspiracist and beekeeper, and Aidan Delbis as Don, his partner conspiracist.

In my movie-obsessed world, at least until now, Yorgos can do no wrong. So, this is another of his movies that I am adding to my list. I am highly recommending it for all the fans of Yorgos and others, who are ready to open their mind and dive into this bizarre, unforgettable ride.

*Bugonia* | Focus Features | premiered on Monday at ZURICH FILM FESTIVAL. There is only one more opportunity to see this movie at the festival, happening today. The tickets are still available, so hurry up to get them. If you miss it, the movie is expected to hit cinemas in October 2025 🎥📻

Follow the link for more screenings and tickets: https://zff.com/en/movies/bugonia-98398

Das ZFF bringt die aufregendsten Autorenfilme aus der ganzen Welt nach Zürich. Meisterwerke und Premieren, die später Oscars gewinnen.

03/10/2025

Helen has a bond with her father that is stronger than with anyone else in her family or her life. They love the same things, have the same hobbies, and share the same sense of humor. After her father suddenly passes away, Helen’s whole world shatters into pieces. Struggling with grief and searching for a way forward, she turns to falconry, a hobby she shared with him. There she connects with an unlikely companion: a female goshawk whom she names Mabel. Wild, stubborn, and untamed, Mabel challenges Helen as much as she guides her, forcing her to break down and face her deepest emotions.

With *H is for Hawk*, director Philippa Lowthorpe (ig: ) adapts Helen MacDonald’s memoir into a moving and atmospheric movie that captures this extraordinary journey of loss, resilience, and the unique bond between a woman and a hawk. The cinematography is beautiful, especially the shots in nature and close-ups of Mabel. There is much unsaid in words but expressed through visuals, from the flashback moments of Helen and her dad, to those fast ones when we are following Mabel's hunting trips. The music plays an important role in this movie as well, and I loved seeing Emilie Levienaise-Farrouch (ig: ) behind it.

I have to admit that watching this movie made me uncomfortable at times, as I wasn't sure if keeping these beautiful, wild birds in the house is the best way. But I was so much in awe of Helen's and Mabel's powerful bond and the relationship they built throughout the movie that this somehow balanced out my concerns.

Claire Foy is an excellent choice for Helen. I am not sure how much she had to practice with Mabel, but their chemistry and connection are remarkable and essential for this movie. It's hard not to fall in love with Mabel. Her intelligence, elegance, and powerful presence are simply mesmerizing. Their journey begins in uncertainty, grows into companionship, and ultimately transforms into a deep bond that enables Helen to confront her loss and rediscover herself and her path back to life.

I am excited to add this movie to my , and I recommend seeing it on the big screen. I left the cinema determined to purchase Helen MacDonald’s memoir, which I plan to read after the festival.

*H is for Hawk* | Filmcoopi Zürich | Film4 premiered on Monday at ZURICH FILM FESTIVAL, with Philippa Lowthorpe and Claire Foy in attendance to answer questions. There is only one more opportunity to see this movie, happening on Sunday. Don’t miss it, there are still some tickets left, but in high demand 🎥📻

Follow the link for more screenings and tickets: https://zff.com/en/movies/h-is-for-hawk-98996

Das ZFF bringt die aufregendsten Autorenfilme aus der ganzen Welt nach Zürich. Meisterwerke und Premieren, die später Oscars gewinnen.

03/10/2025

It is Iraq in the 90s, the time under Saddam Hussein’s regime. Nine-year-old Lamia and her grandmother struggle to survive with sanctions, food shortages, and daily uncertainty. Things turn for the worse when Lamia gets the 'honor task' from her school to bake a cake for the President's Birthday. What would be a fun and exciting task under normal circumstances becomes almost an impossible mission in Iraq at that time. Lamia's search for ingredients, accompanied by her rooster, Hindi, becomes a dangerous journey through the absurdities of life under dictatorship.

With *The President’s Cake* (ig: .presidents.cake), director Hasan Hadi transforms this mission impossible into a beautiful story about resilience, childhood forced into politics, and the quiet strength of a girl trying to keep her world from collapsing. He uses his own childhood experiences to paint the picture of Iraq in the 90s, enabling us to see the world at that time, which we know mostly from the news, from the perspective of the people living through it. We see the best and the worst in people, as it is expected when living in a world where most of them are left to fend for themselves, and sometimes at the cost of others.

It is impossible not to get emotional when watching this movie. It is like a rollercoaster ride. As Lamia navigates through obstacles and moments of hope, and we can read all of her reactions from subtle emotions in her eyes and on her face, they also go straight into our hearts and make us feel together with her.

The movie reminds us about the nonsense of wars, politics, and “usual” measures introduced by external forces, like sanctions and bombing. Not only do they not achieve anything regarding the regime they are set to “fix”, but they make life even harder for the normal people, especially children and young people, who will experience, without any doubt, trauma for the rest of their lives. Yes, I say this from my own experience, as someone who also grew up under similar circumstances.

The casting is absolutely perfect. Baneen Ahmad Nayyef as Lamia is brilliant; she makes this determined, intelligent girl so real that at times this felt like a documentary. There is no screaming, no loud reactions, not even much crying from this little girl; her despair and sadness are carried in her eyes and body language. She is beautifully supported by the rest of the cast: Waheed Thabet Khreibat as her grandmother Bibi, Sajad Mohamad Qasem as her best friend Saeed, and Rahim AlHaj as Jasim, a man with a heart. And of course, Hindi, her rooster🐔

This is a movie to cry, laugh, and watch with your heart. And it is an important story to tell, especially in these times. So, without any doubt, this is another one of my .

*The President’s Cake* | Filmcoopi Zürich | Films Boutique | Sony Pictures Classics premiered on Monday at ZURICH FILM FESTIVAL, with Hasan Hadi in attendance to answer questions. If you missed the premiere and another screening on Tuesday, there are still two more opportunities to see this movie during the festival; one already this afternoon. Don’t miss them. Both are on the last tickets, so hurry up to get them 🎥📻

Follow the link for more screenings and tickets: https://zff.com/en/movies/the-presidents-cake-99543

Das ZFF bringt die aufregendsten Autorenfilme aus der ganzen Welt nach Zürich. Meisterwerke und Premieren, die später Oscars gewinnen.

03/10/2025

"Think beyond conflict.
Think to the world we all would love to live in.
Because if we look at the whole picture, we're bound to feel hopeless and helpless.

But once we realize that even small actions cumulatively can make a big difference, we can start taking action to make the world a better place."
RIP Dr. Jane Goodall 💔💔💔

02/10/2025

Hedda Gabler moves into a spacious house together with her husband, George Tesman, after marrying him. George is the safe choice, perfectly aligned with the expectations of the society in which she lives. On the outside, they appear to be a perfect couple, living a perfect life. He is a promising academic, and she is gorgeous, intelligent, and fiercely independent, which makes her even more desirable. Behind the facade of keeping up appearances, she feels trapped, restless, and dissatisfied with the life society expects her to lead, while he is broke and desperate to land a local professor job. When they organize a party to show the world their love, success, and expensive style, her former lover reappears, and everything they are trying to hide comes to the surface in a dramatic storyline.

In *Hedda*, director Nia DaCosta reimagines Henrik Ibsen’s classic play, placing Tessa Thompson in the role of Hedda Gabler. The movie delves into Hedda’s complex emotions as she navigates her relationships and confronts her past, influencing the people around her with charm and subtle manipulation. This successful adaptation brings a modern sensibility to the timeless story, while highlighting the enduring relevance of Ibsen’s work. I loved the close shots, dramatic outbursts, and complex characters, especially female ones, bringing a dramatic puzzle and intensity to the storyline. There was also so much attention to detail beyond the narrative, from the texture of the clothes to dramatic wallpaper, chandeliers, and lamps, to the unforgettable music and sounds that carried us through the emotions of the characters and story. This helped me feel completely immersed in the movie, as it triggered all my senses.

The cast was absolutely incredible. Tessa Thompson (ig: ) is outstanding as Hedda, and perfectly paired with Nina Hoss Official ✅ (ig: ) as Eilert Lovborg, her ex-lover, and Imogen Poots (ig: impoots) as Thea, Eilert’s new lover and muse. There is so much power and chemistry between these women, with their characters and dialogues being so well written that my favorite scenes were the ones where their dynamic took center stage.

No wonder this movie is another for me. And to fully experience it, this one should be seen on the big cinema screen and with a good sound system.

After seeing the movie, I had the privilege and pleasure of meeting with two women connected to this movie. I first met with Hildur Guðnadóttir (ig: ), a music composer, who told me about the creative process of making movie scores, and this one in particular. The day after, I met Nia DaCosta, who shared great insights into how she created this impressive movie with a dedicated, talented team whose work brought her vision to life, adding the details and puzzle pieces that, together with the storyline, make it so compelling. *Hedda* marks their second collaboration between Nia and Hildur, with an additional one already set to be released in 2026.

To hear more, tune in to one of the next Gimme A Beats 📻

*Hedda* | Amazon MGM Studios premiered yesterday evening at ZURICH FILM FESTIVAL, with Nia DaCosta and Hildur Guðnadóttir in attendance to answer questions. If you missed the premiere, there are two more opportunities to see this movie during the festival. Both are in high demand with last tickets, so hurry up to get them 🎥📻

Follow the link for more screenings and tickets: https://zff.com/en/movies/hedda-98497

Das ZFF bringt die aufregendsten Autorenfilme aus der ganzen Welt nach Zürich. Meisterwerke und Premieren, die später Oscars gewinnen.

30/09/2025

It's 1990, and a 15-year-old Celeste is spending her summer holidays with a family by the Chilean coast. She is a dreamy, happy teenager, inexperienced about love and life in general. She likes hanging out with her friends and family, especially her parents, who are still madly in love and even working together. But then tragedy strikes, and her whole world falls apart. Months later, she returns to the same beach and realizes that nothing, the people or her surroundings, is the same.

With *Cuerpo Celeste* (ig: .film), director and screenwriter Nayra Ilić García (ig: ) creates a delicate and emotional coming-of-age story that reflects the growing up of a young girl, while digesting grief, and a transformation of society moving toward democracy. Both are in the process of finding their own footing and learning to breathe again. I love how hazy and dreamy the cinematography is, further amplifying the mood of Celeste and the people around her, the melancholy and nostalgia of the current moment. Nayra combines archive footage (even from her family) to create this very personal story, which reflects the experience of her family and generations before hers. Personally, deserts are special places for me, and some of my favorite shots in this movie are connected to it, either with the starry sky so close that one could touch the stars, or with a dramatic eclipse. In terms of the longevity of nature, our lives seem like tiny snippets of time; the realization of that during this movie made me feel nostalgic and hopeful at the same time.

Newcomer Helen Mrugalski (ig: ) is amazing in the role of Celeste; she brings this character to life effortlessly. At times, it’s hard to tell that she is even acting. The rest of the cast is also excellent, especially Daniela Ramírez (ig: ) as her mum and Mariana Loyola (ig: ) as her aunt.

I also find it fascinating that the underlying story about politics and society is never openly discussed; instead, it comes through subtle clues, from the news on the radio to the whispers of the grown-ups. After all, this is usually how these kinds of situations reach young people in times of social change, through fragments overheard, half-understood, and pieced together. This deep movie made me think about my own upbringing, the time when my home country was going through fundamental, devastating changes, while my friends and I, of the same age, had to find the way to leave childhood and the promises of the past behind, moving toward the unknown.

Immediately after seeing the movie, still deeply moved, I got together with Nayra for an interview. We talked about why it was important for her to tell this story and remind her society, and the rest of the world, of the important history, to ensure it is not forgotten and not repeated. We also talked about her personal connection to the movie and what she is working on next.

To hear more, tune in to one of the next Gimme A Beats 📻

*Cuerpo Celeste* | Intramovies already had two projections at ZURICH FILM FESTIVAL, with Nayra Ilić García (ig: nayrailic) in attendance to answer questions. Luckily, there are two more opportunities to see it during the festival. This is another movie of , and I highly recommend seeing it. The tickets are in high demand, so hurry up to get them and see it 🎥📻

Follow the link for more screenings and tickets: https://zff.com/en/movies/cuerpo-celeste-87707

Das ZFF bringt die aufregendsten Autorenfilme aus der ganzen Welt nach Zürich. Meisterwerke und Premieren, die später Oscars gewinnen.

29/09/2025

María Ángeles is a 79-year-old Spanish woman who has lived alone in Tangier for many years. This is the home she has always known. She loves her neighborhood, and her Calle Málaga, where she enjoys her quiet routines, chatting with locals, and watching their lives. Her daughter lives in Madrid, and they are not as connected as before. She is happy to see her coming for a visit, but when she comes with the news and intention of selling Maria’s apartment, Maria’s world and life she is used to begin to crumble. At first, Maria agrees, but after spending some time away from the life that she loves, she realizes that she just can’t accept this. Her soul, her identity, and her life force are strongly connected to her home and this neighbourhood, and she decides to do everything to prevent losing it.

With *Calle Malaga*, Maryam Touzani (ig: maryamtouzani), director and screenwriter, brings another beautiful story to the cinema. This is a story of a woman forced to reclaim her home and her life, who, in the process, rediscovers herself and the undercurrents of love, sensuality, and strength. Maryam’s talent to bring such an intimate story to the screen with a message that is so broad and universal is something I love and truly appreciate about her work. This is a pleasure for all senses with carefully crafted close-ups, colorful details, light, and music. This movie reminded me of the importance of our roots, not forgetting where we are coming from, even if life takes us far away.

Legendary Carmen Maura as Maria Angeles is outstanding in the lead role. I really couldn’t imagine anyone else in this role. She is the movie, and this movie is her. Full of life, vibrant, emotional, empathic, and so funny. Her mischievous smile when she comes up with something cheeky, sadness when life’s realities strike, or a seductive, girly smile are EVERYTHING. Similar to Maria Angeles, this movie has so many layers, so much to discover that I can’t imagine not watching it several times. And maybe the reason why I felt so emotional about the movie is that it reminded me of my own roots and the mentality of the people, especially women, I grew up with 🌟

For all these reasons, this movie is another for me. I wholeheartedly recommend that you go and see it either at the festival or when it comes to the cinema near you.

I met Maryam for the first time back in 2019 when she brought her movie Adam to ZURICH FILM FESTIVAL (review: https://tinyurl.com/mrxax8s9, episode: https://tinyurl.com/thn8tppt).

This year, I had the privilege and pleasure of meeting with her again for an interview. I was excited to see her again, bringing another powerful woman’s story to the ZURICH FILM FESTIVAL. This story is a more personal one for her as it is an homage to her own background, her mother and grandmother, the town, and the area they all grew up in. While talking about the movie and her work with Carmen, we touched upon all those personal topics as well as the beauty and the privilege of aging.

To hear more, tune in to one of the next Gimme A Beats 📻

*Calle Malaga* | Filmcoopi Zürich | Films Boutique premiered on Saturday at ZURICH FILM FESTIVAL, with Maryam Touzani (ig: maryamtouzani) and Nabil Ayouch (ig: nabil_ayouch), the producer and her husband, in attendance to answer questions. Their son was there as well, cheerleading them from the first row. There are two more opportunities to see it during the festival, both with last tickets, so hurry up to get them 🎥📻

Follow the link for more screenings and tickets: https://zff.com/en/movies/calle-malaga-99780

Das ZFF bringt die aufregendsten Autorenfilme aus der ganzen Welt nach Zürich. Meisterwerke und Premieren, die später Oscars gewinnen.

28/09/2025

Nawal is a young woman working in the local police station, helping to digitize their files. She has just moved to the town, leaving her husband, married life, and her own family kilometers behind. When the body of an unidentified young girl is found in the desert, Nawal, who is also a true-crime fan, decides to take the investigation into her own hands, against constraints and expectations placed on women by the culture and society she lives in.

In *Unidentified*, director and screenwriter Haifaa Al Mansour (ig:.almansour )creates an exciting thriller that combines the crime investigation journey with the discovery of a society where the behavior of both men and women is hidden behind the patriarchal norms. As we watch Nawal's curiosity turn into obsession, her own personal journey and trauma surface. We realize that this courageous, determined woman is already breaking down social and professional barriers with her own life choices. And in her search for justice for the victim, she continues this journey. The movie also reminded me that even in the world I live in, we still have a long way to go, especially in those moments when Nawal's competence and role were questioned.

The cast is phenomenal, Mila Al Zahrani (ig: ) as Nawal is fantastic in the lead role. During the viewing, the gripping storyline made me fully immerse myself in the movie, at times almost without breathing, but it was Mila's presence that stayed with me. Her beauty, intensified by her intelligence and determination, kept me glued to the screen, not blinking at times. I love how, throughout the movie, the director dropped little clues for us about the crime and Nawal's own story, turning them into a big ‘aha’ moment just before the ending👆

This movie is everything a great movie should be. It is a gripping crime story with a complex female lead that keeps you on your toes and glued to the screen. And as a beautiful cherry on top, it gives us a glimpse into the world many of us don’t know about, and the role of women in it.

The day after I saw the movie, I had the pleasure of getting together for an interview with Haifaa Al Mansour, director and screenwriter of *Unidentified*. We talked about *Unidentified*, the necessity of bringing complex female characters into the movies in the form of this particular genre, into local, Saudi Arabian, and world cinema. She shared stories about her upbringing, how she became the filmmaker she is today, and what is coming next for her..

To hear more, tune in to one of the next Gimme A Beats 📻

*Unidentified* | Paradise City Sales premiered on Sunday at ZURICH FILM FESTIVAL, with Haifaa al Mansour and Brad Niemann (producer and co-screenwriter) in attendance to answer questions. There are two more projections left at the festival, with tickets already in high demand. Don’t miss your chance to see it, especially since we don't often see movies from Saudi Arabia, let alone from female directors 🎥📻

Follow the link for more screenings and tickets: https://zff.com/de/movies/unidentified-98811

Das ZFF bringt die aufregendsten Autorenfilme aus der ganzen Welt nach Zürich. Meisterwerke und Premieren, die später Oscars gewinnen.

05/09/2025

The podcast from the last Gimme A Beat is available online:
** Juana Aguirre at Primavera Sound 2025 **
with a focus on Juana Aguirre (ig: .ag), featuring her music and female artists who inspire her, plus my impressions of her performance at Primavera Sound Barcelona 2025 🌟📻


(follow the link for more info..)

Primavera Sound (commonly referred to as simply Primavera) is an annual music festival with the main location in Parc del Fòrum, a park situated directly at the Mediterranean seafront in Barcelona, Spain. The festival takes place between the end of May and the beginning of June every year since 200...

18/08/2025

Tune in tonight to Radio LoRa 97,5 MHz
from 22:00 - 00:00
for ** Juana Aguirre at Primavera Sound 2025 **
with a focus on Juana Aguirre (ig: .ag), featuring her music and female artists who inspire her, plus my impressions of her performance at Primavera Sound Barcelona 2025 🌟📻


(follow the link for more info..)

Primavera Sound (commonly referred to as simply Primavera) is an annual music festival with the main location in Parc del Fòrum, a park situated directly at the Mediterranean seafront in Barcelona, Spain. The festival takes place between the end of May and the beginning of June every year since 200...