Leeds International Film Festival 2023
Sweet Dreams
Underwhelmed by this one. The trailer had made it out to be deeply weird but it was mostly straight faced and gloomy. An interesting setup - Dutch East Indies in decay, inheritance and illegitimate children - but it didn’t really do very much with it.
The Animal Kingdom
Decent French people-turning-into-animals film. Some fairly heavy handed allegories about tolerance, growing up etc but also… lots of half-animal people. Fun.
The Becomers
absolutely unhinged alien invasion story. Gloriously low budget with shonky acting and enthusiastic vfx. Bodysnatchers, biblical sex cults, and glowing eyes
The Bikeriders
I enjoyed this a lot. Tom Hardy on fine form and Jodie Comer was fab. It’s not really so much about the story (bike gang, power struggle, etc) so much as the mood. It looked and sounded incredible.
The Breaking Ice
A very low key slice of three briefly connected lives in the frozen north of china. It’s simple and sad and full of small moments but doesn’t really go anywhere. But I enjoyed it.