01/04/2025
2025 PSIFF - Day 1
Bad Shabbos - 4.5 out of 5 - a hilarious and smart U.S. crowd-pleaser, it’s an almost-slapstick comedy about a Jewish family preparing for their Sabbath dinner with the son’s fiancé’s Catholic parents. Hijinks ensue when the daughter’s boyfriend (who she’s been meaning to break up with for a while) accidentally dies in the bathroom. Starring Kyra Sedgewick and a bunch of familiar faces (if not names), it was a great way to start this year’s festival.
My Favourite Year - 3 out of 5 - an Iranian film that was sweet and touching, but also slow and simple. About a 70 year old widow who pursues a relationship with a lonely taxi driver, they both are reinvigorated with the possibility of new love, all in one night.
Santosh - 4 out of 5 - somewhat of a police procedural from the U.K. (their Oscar submission) about an Indian widow that inherits her late husband’s job as a police constable. She gets drawn into a high-profile case involving police abuse/corruption and the caste system.
The Wailing - 4 out of 5 - a very creepy Spanish horror film, with “It Follows” vibes. Three women across 30 years deal with the same sinister force stalking them. The description mentions “the haunting sound of a wailing,” but I didn’t notice it.
June 10, 2024
