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Film reviews

The Seed of the Sacred Fig Review

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What is more detrimental than politics and culture? Is it expectations? Is it faith? Writer and director Mohammad Rasoulof painstakingly challenges these subjects. The Seed of the Sacred Fig is an anxiety-provoking journey of morals and sacrifices. Political unrest is deep below the surface while ethics are backwards. The Seed of the Sacred Fig diminishes the impact of its main character.

The story takes place in Tehran. The focus is on Iman (played by Missagh Zareh), a judge, husband, father, and liar. Iman hides political secrets for the safety of his job and his family. His wife is Najimeh (played by Soheila Golestani), and his daughters are Rezvan (played by Mahsa Rostami) and Sana (played by Setareh Maleki). The dynamic in the house is fueled by unrest thanks to the orders from Iman. His role involves bending the rules by creating propaganda in order to provide a home for his family.

The tension between politic and two worlds colliding is extraordinary. The conflicts in the authoritarian government are what fuel the frustration and lack of faith for Iman and his family. Their unsettling reality provides an intriguing structure. Iman knows they are in danger, but his career comes first, and his family knows it. His daughter’s rebelliousness causes The Seed of the Sacred Fig to go down a suspenseful rabbit hole. Once a gun goes missing, the clock of political corruption starts ticking.

With Iman’s gun missing, his job is on the line, and so is his family. The writing and continuity of the film made my head race with thoughts. Some people keep secrets to protect the ones they love, but other secrets open doors to darker alleys. The frustration of Iman’s daughters and his wife makes him question their respect and loyalty. They see the war in the media and know their dad is part of the chaos. The concepts of betrayal and sacrifice play off each other in The Seed of the Sacred Fig.

The film’s direction displays a portrait of tension and realism given the various events occurring which shift the characterizations. The Seed of the Sacred Fig does a stellar job of tying in the political factors to create suspense. With the many choices facing Iman, his world is rolled over as his expectations rotate. Who truly suffers?

The cultural components in the film form a connective and deceitful bond. The Seed of the Sacred Fig carries elementswhich reach their limits. With the family feeling brainwashed, the fight to find their voice delivers a breathtaking force. A powerful battle for change, honesty, and loyalty ensues. Iman’s fate is presented as non-negotiable, but his family may feel there is a way around that given their suffering. The Seed of the Sacred Fig is compelling, shocking, and politically empowering. It is one of the best thrillers of the year! Four out of four stars.

Film reviews

Anora Review

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Champion of the Palm d’Or at the Cannes Film Festival, Anorais an absolute wonder of a film that surpasses expectations. Written and directed by Sean Baker, Anora is his best film yet and is unconventional in the way it combines comedy, drama, and romantic genres. The writing is vivid, and the story leaves audiences breathless. This is the romantic comedy masterpiece the world needs. It displays how young love includes many moments to cherish while also navigating obstacles when things do not go as planned. The setting in both New York and Las Vegas provides a grandeur of adventure that spirals in an exhilarating light. These two cities never sleep and neither does Anora.

Baker’s Anora brings audiences into a strip club setting where they are introduced to Ani (played by Mikey Madison), a young escort in Brooklyn working many shifts and doing extra deeds to make ends meet. She has a kind-hearted attitude and presents a playful face that draws the attention of men. Out of the blue, a young stud named Ivan comes into her club (played by Mark Eidelstein). Ivan falls in love with Ani at first sight. He has many sessions with her and pays her well. He brings her into his castle-like home. They have so much fun together are inseparable. Ani and Ivan have incredible chemistry which is what makes Anora so riveting). Their love story goes from Ivan having many sessions with Ani, to them falling in love, and then Ivan proposing to Ani. Once they get married, the film shifts to a conflict over an issue that tests where Ani and Ivan stand with each other.

The moving parts in Anora have deep layers that are mind-boggling and engrossing. Emotions are heightened as the plot is exposed. The surprise is that Ivan is the son of a Russian Oligarch and comes from a family of wealth and power. His rich boy life is all because of his family, and they are distraught by the fact that Ivan has married a prostitute. When the news breaks, the fight for love truly begins. Soon, Ani is caught up with the authorities in Ivan’s family who wish for their marriage to be annulled. This is where the performances of Madison and Eidelstein get emotional, suspenseful, and even funny. With their marriage happening in Las Vegas, this creates a turmoil around whether their marriage is meant to be. The writing involving these circumstances and stressors makes the film more appealing despite the amount of added anxiety.

Love makes for a dazzling portrait, and it is painted with many layers in Anora. The life of two star-crossed lovers finding each other unconventionally creates an unforgettable landscape where happiness thrives audaciously in early parts of the film. When the dynamics of the family come into play, the emotions make audience repeatedly jump out of their seats.

Young love is true and surreal in Anora. Madison’s performance is a force of determination that fuels the hopes for lasting love. When their love story seems to be falling apart, her sensational acting will cause viewers to shed tears. Anora is a wild and breathtaking flick that is full of romantic vibes that lead to self-reflection about life and love. Mesmerizing and surreal, Anora is a knockout. Four out of four stars.

Film reviews

Seeking Mavis Beacon Review

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Seeking Mavis Beacon is unique in its exploration of technology. Written and directed by Jazmin Jones, the era of advancement (with technological moving parts) creates a pattern of appreciation—a fictional character for software aspiration. Seeking Mavis Beacon travels to the days when people found fascination in the software itself. The film tends to lack an invigorating component in its writing. It does an excellent job searching for the pieces of the development of Mavis Beacon. It just tends to be a sleeper.

The film presents Jones (herself) as the leader in finding the story of her project. She interviews people about the characterizations of Mavis Beacon. She searches for the ones who developed the fictional character and the software. As she navigates this journey, she realizes there is a background to how Mavis Beacon felt like a human being. Mavis Beacon has the technicality around the fictional character inspired by a legit person. That person is Renee L’Esperance. She was a model who was with part of Saks Fifth Avenue.

There is soul-searching that has value. The theories are in limbo. It brings in a lot of first-person focus before establishing its presence. The writing tried to capture more of the patterns of the director’s process. That is not a lacking element. The reality behind what the film was going into did not offer much. There is confusing artistry (that does not tune into the plot of the documentary well). It does a surreal job with interviews of individuals. The transitions of focus are not so fulfilling in Seeking Mavis Beacon. It is a documentary of a rushed quality.

There is a fascination for discreetness in Seeking Mavis Beacon. With the pros and cons of finding the beneficial sides (from a fictional character), the layers of fascination struggle to evolve. Seeking Mavis Beacon has invigorating aspects, but its fulfillment is dry. Seeking Mavis Beacon is a documentary where value feels incomplete.

To clarify, “value feels incomplete,” the details and interviews are diverse to many voices. The aspect of influence does not meet the eye. It is the software of a franchise where the appreciation vibes keep falling below the surface to keep its focus. It is not terrible. Seeking Mavis Beacon is complex to hold the attention of its audience. Two out of four stars.