In a post-screening Q&A, writer, producer, and actor Kyle Marvin described contemporary comedy in cinema to be focused on fitting as many jokes into the script as possible. In The Climb, Marvin and his director/co-producer/co-star Michael Angelo Covino come together to create a different kind of contemporary buddy comedy, one with uniquely long takes, slowContinue reading “The Climb at Cinema 21”
Author Archives: Portland State School of Film @ PIFF 2020
It Must Be Heaven (2019)
There is a misconception of festival films as being eternally stuffy and self-important, but director Elia Suleiman couldn’t be farther from such concepts. In his return to film, It Must Be Heaven, he tackles the Israel/Palestine conflict through a global perspective. Before walking into the film, I heard one festival-goer complain that “every festival hasContinue reading “It Must Be Heaven (2019)”
Life as We Know It: A Review of Anna at 13000 Feet
Anna at 13,000 feet directed by Kazik Radwanski is a heartbreaking story that revolves around the concept of loneliness and anxiety. The narrative is built around the character Anna (played by Deragh Campbell)beginning to live on her own while starting full time employment at a local Seattle daycare. Anna as a character is reluctant toContinue reading “Life as We Know It: A Review of Anna at 13000 Feet”
The World is Full of Secrets (2019): An Eerie and Nostalgic Exploration of Female Friendships
Do you remember your childhood sleepovers? The ones where you would stay up with your friends, eat pizza, pierce each other’s ears, and try to prank and scare each other all night? The World is Full of Secrets by US director Graham Swon immerses us into this nostalgic experience, while succeeding as an unconventional horror. Continue reading “The World is Full of Secrets (2019): An Eerie and Nostalgic Exploration of Female Friendships”
PIFF 2020: Cloudy but distinct demarcation between longing and obsession: and
Emancipation for the past, the beginning of obsession. About the visualization of immensely human emotions. Nothing is more interesting than watching two different movies in a low that have completely dissimilar styles and language but are still similar somehow. At PIFF 2020, the audience could experience this by watching A White, White Day directed byContinue reading “PIFF 2020: Cloudy but distinct demarcation between longing and obsession: and”
nipawistmasowin: We Will Stand Up (2019)
I would like to start by issuing a “Spoiler Alert”, so if you don’t like having plot points of films being revealed then you should stop reading reviews and go watch the film. The documentary nipawistamasowin: We Will Stand Up(2019) followed the story of a Cree-Canadian family seeking justice after the murder of their youngContinue reading “nipawistmasowin: We Will Stand Up (2019)”
Children of the Sea (2019)
A Japanese animated film from 2019, Children of the Sea is a story mixed with a fantastical visual experience. The showing at the festival was sponsored by the Consulate Office of Japan in Portland, and a short survey was handed out to fill after the film. One of the questions asked if the viewer’s opinionsContinue reading “Children of the Sea (2019)”
Thunderbolt in Mine Eye: An Honest Depiction of Modern Day Adolescence
By Hannah Cumming. After a successful world premiere at the Slamdance Film Festival, the Portland made feature film, Thunderbolt in Mine Eye, had its Portland premiere on March 10th, at the Portland International Film Festival. A Seed and Spark crowdfunding success story, the film is the brainchild of brother-sister directing team Sarah and Zachary Sherman. Continue reading “Thunderbolt in Mine Eye: An Honest Depiction of Modern Day Adolescence”
An Oregon-Made Puppet Horror Masterpiece: Frank and Zed
By Karlee Boon When attending an international film festival, you come to expect to see certain types of films. A horror fantasy-comedy with an all-puppet cast is not one of those films. Frank and Zed, the debut feature film from local filmmaker Jesse Blanchard, was, therefore, enticing right from the start. The project seemed incrediblyContinue reading “An Oregon-Made Puppet Horror Masterpiece: Frank and Zed”
Nîpawistamâsowin: We Will Stand Up
Nîpawistamâsowin: We Will Stand Up, a Cree documentary from Canada, focuses on the murder of a young Cree man named Colten Boushie, and the subsequent trial of his white killer, Gerald Stanley. Tasha Hubbard, a Cree woman and the director of the film, followed the story of 22-year old Colten Boushie, who was shot inContinue reading “Nîpawistamâsowin: We Will Stand Up”
PSU School of Film @ PIFF 