Tag Archives: Capsule Reviews

Ebertfest 2025, Film reviews

Desperately Seeking Susan (Ebertfest 2025)

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It was my first time ever watching Desperately Seeking Susan. What came to mind during the film were themes of attention and attractiveness based on the characterizations and personalities of Rosanna Arquette and Madonna. This movie helped Madonna on her rise to world fame. Desperately Seeking Susan was an amazing experience for me. The value of popularity and seeking attention in New Jersey incorporated elements which contributed to Arquette’s performance (as Roberta) and the concept of envisioning a completely different life. Since I was born in the 1990s, it was special for me to see Desperately Seeking Susan at Ebertfest. The festival highlights unique films from various eras, many of which turned into unexpected successes like Desperately Seeking Susan. Finally seeing this heartfelt film about connection, is something I’ll always cherish from Ebertfest 2025. This classic film remains vibrant with ambition and still holds up!

41 CLFF, Capsule Reviews, Film reviews

Bitter Gold-41 CLFF-Review

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In the 41st year of the Chicago Latino Film Festival, my experience began with a film that is poverty-based in the vast surroundings of a desert. A film where mining and finding gold is the goal, but the dynamics and political factors are what lie beneath the surface. Directed by Juan Francisco Olea, the uncertainty of challenging moving parts is a prominent theme in Bitter Gold. I found this to be a one-of-a-kind achievement. Bitter Gold presents real-world issues and brings reality to a halting point unveiling the portrait of what events can unravel when scenarios go awry.

The film stars a father, Pacifico (played by Francisco Melo) and his daughter, Carola (played by Katalina Sanchez). Pacifico is the boss of a mining crew and their lives depend on the work he does. When the workers continually question their payments and who does what better, a detrimental situation arises for Pacifico. Furthermore, an injury impacts him from being able to fulfill his duties and secure his livelihood. It all falls onto Carola to take control of Pacifico’s operations, but with her being unaware of the politics or moving parts of the mining operation, many dynamics spiral downward and impact the workings and the potential for finding any form of gold.

The film lays down the foundation of why operating by the book serves a greater importance. There is a lot of conflict and personal corruption her. Especially with the absence of Pacifico, and Carola doing everything in her power to keep operations going. Overall, though, Bitter Gold is surreal in creating the outcomes of shifted situations in a different culture. It portrays awidespread landscape of scenarios that go awry when business is done under the table. Four out of four stars for Bitter Gold.

41 CLFF, Capsule Reviews, Film reviews

Beloved Tropic-41 CLFF-Review

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This is one of those artistic films that made me feel cultured and doing good deeds do not go unpunished. Written and directed by Ana Endara Mislov, Beloved Tropic is a film that weaves the narrative tone of connection through cultures of wealth and change. It is also one that is solely focused on an individual dealing with a pregnancy situation while trying to make ends meet. With its selection of being in the 41st Chicago Latino Film Festival, Beloved Tropic is a film that also connects the countries of Panama and Colombia—many of the correlations are done through the film presenting characterizations in tune with finding connections. Mixed feelings come along with Beloved Tropic.

The focus of the film is a pregnant immigrant named Ana Maria (played by Jenny Navarrete). She is hired by Jimena (played by Juliette Roy) to look after her mother Mercedes (played by Paulina Garcia). Mercedes is wealthy but is also suffering from dementia. Deep down though, she wants to thrive and be happy and Ana is her savior in this. As Ana takes care of Mercedes, they establish a bond that opens many doors of wonders. Some of them are sad, some are happy, and some are unanswered. Through it all there is a context of feeling connected when there is limited time left in life which correlates to enhance the cinematic essence.

Beloved Tropic is by far one of the most culturally and ethically fueled films I have seen at the 41st Chicago Latino Film Festival. Bonding moments and turmoil finding light weave together in Beloved Tropic. It has haunting components that continue to search for hope for both Ana Maria with her pregnancy and Mercedes with her overall health. The film is a little subtle in increments but cinematically keeps the texture of emotions in tune. Three-and-a-half out of four stars for Beloved Tropic.