The 65th San Francisco International Film Festival was a showcase for narrative, documentary, shorts, tributes and live music-film experiences. The following are some of the films from their Cine Latino showcase and other intriguing films that you should look out for during the next few months:
Mija is an absorbing documentary by filmmaker Isabel Castro on young Mexican-American music manager Doris Muñoz as she transitions from managing a rising Latinx artist to defining her own career as a musician and discovering new talent in singer-songwriter Jacks Haupt. She is also at the same time striving to support her undocumented family. Mija takes us in a fascinating fly on the wall look as Doris attempts to balance all the elements in her life: trying to get legal status for members of her family, being Jacks new manager and her own dreams as being an artist. Mija also reflects on the difficult struggles that latino immigrants who have become US citizens have with the expectations that their families have who are illegal or still living in Mexico. A fascinating film. (Photo: Disney, courtesy SF Film Festival 2022)
The Box (La Caja) is a gritty thriller-drama by filmmaker Lorenzo Vigas is about teenage Hatzín (Hatzín Navarette) who arrives in an industrial town to claim the remains of his estranged father. But when he sees a man in the street, Mario that resembles his father, he’s convinced that there has been a mistake. The mystery unravels as he becomes involved with Mario who hires laborers for factories where the conditions are harsh. Mario exposes Hatzín to a world of deception and corruption where he has the upper hand and the laborers very little choice. Fine acting, twists and turns and yet another angle on this disturbing subject matter makes La Caja an exceptional film.
La Guerra Civil, a spirited and engrossing feature length documentary by director/producer/actress Eva Longoria Bastón focuses on the legendary rivalry between Mexican Julio César Chavez and Mexican American Oscar De La Hoya in the 1990’s that sparked a cultural divide between Mexican Nationals and Mexican-Americans. Their rivalry culminated in their championship bouts in the 1990’s. Insightful interviews with Chavez and De La Hoya as well as great archival footage add to the story of identity, fame, cultural prejudices and glory. A thought provoking piece of history.
Renowned director Claire Denis‘ new film “Both Sides Of The Blade“(Fire) reunites with the superb Juliette Binoche to tell the passionate story of Sara, a woman who is torn between two men: her husband Jean (the excellent Vincent Lindon) and her ex-lover Francois (Grégoire Colon). After an idyllic vacation, Sara and Jean come back to Paris where she is a broadcaster and he is a rugby coach who is an ex-con. She sees her ex-lover Francois by chance on the street and her passion reignites for him. Jean is approached by Francois to scout for young players in a business partnership. Sara gets involved with Francois although she promised Jean that no problems would start by their business venture. An affair starts and chaos is unleashed. First class acting by Binoche and Lindon elevates this nuanced drama of love, lust, betrayal and relationships.
Hit The Road is a charming, sharp-witted, moving comedy-drama by Panah Panahi that revolves around an Iranian family on a road trip to accompany their older son to a mysterious destination.. The two middle aged parents with their two sons, one a taciturn adult and the other an ebullient 6 years old. During the trip, the family bonds over memories of the past as they grapple with the unknown as they race to reach their destination. The politics that caused their mission to take flight are not revealed but the consequences are felt in the last third of the film. The film is at times joyous, heartfelt, heartbreaking and tragic.
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