Year: 2024

“Tótem” (2023). Cast: Naíma Sentíes, Iazua Amador, Montserrat Marañon, Saori Gurza, Marisol Gasé, Mateo García Elizondo, Teresita Sánchez, Marisela Villarreal, Alberto Amador, Juan Francisco Maldonado. Director: Lila Avilés. Screenplay: Lila Avilés. Web site. Trailer. It’s never easy to face difficult situations, especially when they’re impending and it seems as though they’re inevitable, circumstances in which there’s nothing we can do about them. Indeed, it’s hard enough for us as adults to process and cope with such conditions, but how are children supposed to handle these kinds of situations? Youngsters seldom possess the experience and wisdom needed to deal with their feelings, leaving them unable to address their emotions and outlooks and to find ways to get by. These events can lead to devastating if not irreparable damage that can scar them for life. But are there ways of handling such scenarios that minimize the impact? Those are the issues beautifully and sensitively examined in the touching new Mexican comedy-drama, “Tótem.” Nine-year-old Sol (Naíma Sentíes) should be spending the carefree days of youth enjoying life and having fun. But that’s not easy, or at times even possible, given that her young father, Tona (Mateo García Elizondo), a gifted painter, is struggling ...

It’s that time of year again – time for my predictions of the winners at the upcoming annual Academy Awards. For me, this is a labor of love, especially since there were some excellent releases in 2023 that are very deserving of the accolades they have received, either as Oscar nominees and/or as nominees or winners in the major competitions leading up to this event. And so, with these contests now in the books, that leaves just the main event for the season’s biggest winners to be announced. Many of the prospective victors in the top six categories – actor, actress, supporting actor, supporting actress, director and picture – have come into view, though a few are still potentially up for grabs. So, with that said and for what it’s worth, here are my picks for who will take home statues on Oscar night. Best Actor The Field: Bradley Cooper, “Maestro”; Colman Domingo, “Rustin”; Paul Giamatti, “The Holdovers”; Cillian Murphy, “Oppenheimer”; Jeffrey Wright, “American Fiction” Who Will Likely Win: This is essentially a two-horse race between Cillian Murphy for “Oppenheimer” and Paul Giamatti for “The Holdovers,” with Murphy currently holding the edge. I wouldn’t go so far as to call ...

Tune in for the latest Cinema Scribe segment on Bring Me 2 Life Radio, beginning Tuesday February 27, available by clicking here. You can also catch it later on demand on Spreaker, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, iHeartRadio, Podchaser, Audible, Deezer, Podcast Addict and Jiosaavn ...

“Upon Entry” (“La Ilegada”) (2022 production, 2023 release). Cast: Alberto Ammann, Bruna Cusí, Ben Temple, Laura Gómez. Director: Alejandro Rojas and Juan Sebastián Vasquez. Screenplay: Alejandro Rojas and Juan Sebastián Vasquez. Web site. Trailer. Questions related to immigration have been asked with increasing frequency in recent years. This has been particularly true where illegal entry has been concerned, providing considerable fodder for widespread public debate. But what of legal immigration – is that a benign subject, one worthy of little attention or recognition? Indeed, if would-be immigrants are doing everything by the book, there shouldn’t be any concerns, right? The answer to that might not be as simple as it seems, as illustrated in the gripping Spanish drama, “Upon Entry” (“La Ilegada”). Diego (Alberto Ammann), an urban planner, and Elena (Bruna Cusí), a contemporary dancer, have gone to great lengths to change their lives. The couple lives in Barcelona, Spain, but they have meticulously made extensive arrangements to relocate to the US to begin again, primarily to advance their careers and join family members who have already made the move. They look forward to this new opportunity, confident that they have done everything necessary to ensure a smooth transition. And, ...

Reviews of “The Zone of Interest,” “The Teachers’ Lounge” and “When Time Got Louder” are all in the latest Movies with Meaning post on the web site of The Good Media Network, available by clicking here ...

“The Teachers’ Lounge” (“Das Lehrerzimmer”) (2023). Cast: Leonie Benesch, Leonard Stettnisch, Eva Löbau, Michael Klammer, Anne-Kathrin Gummich, Kathrin Wehlisch, Sarah Bauerett, Rafael Stachowiak, Uygar Tamer, Özgür Karadeniz, Can Rodenbostel, Vincent Stachowiak, Elsa Krieger, Padmé Hamdemir, Oskar Zickur, Lewe Wagner, Lisa Marie Trense. Director: Ilker Çatak. Screenplay: Johannes Duncker and Ilker Çatak. Web site. Trailer. We’ve all no doubt heard about the proverbial molehill unwittingly being made into a mountain. The inconsequential somehow manages to become overly (and unnecessarily) inflated, taking on undeserved significance. This usually comes about as a result of undue attention paid to it by those who have self-serving agendas that they want to see escalated and addressed to resolve petty or trumped-up grievances. And the result is a chaotic maelstrom characterized by overhyped shrieking and misplaced ridicule, often directed at the wrong parties or the wrong issues. Such scenarios, unfortunately, have become far too commonplace these days, frequently blowing matters all out of reasonable proportion. If you doubt that, it’s possible to see an example of such lunacy at work in the satirical new German comedy-drama, “The Teachers’ Lounge” (“Das Lehrerzimmer”). Middle school is one of those few remaining environments thought to be safe, secure and free ...