Wrapping Up the 2026 Chicago Latino Film Festival

The 42nd annual edition of the Chicago Latino Film Festival – the longest continuously running event of its kind in the US – is now in the books, having featured an array of narrative, documentary and short films. Sponsored by the International Latino Cultural Center in Chicago, the event was held at the Landmark Century Centre Cinemas in the city’s Lincoln Park/Lakeview neighborhood. In all, I screened 10 features and 4 shorts during the festival’s 11-day run, and, for the most part, I was pleased with what I watched. So, with that said, here’s my take on what I watched and what I thought.

‘La Grazia’ explores life in a state of grace

As we approach the finish lines of our lives, we often take time to reflect on how we’ve spent the years of our existence. It’s a process that allows us to take stock of who we are and how we’ve lived, and it frequently provides a means to help us make decisions about any remaining unfinished business we may have. However, such soul-searching may also leave us with more questions than answers at a time when we need such clarity most, the alternative being pervasive indecisiveness that can be crippling.

This Week in Movies with Meaning

Reviews of "Is This Thing On"? and "Your Attention Please," along with my 2026 Oscar scorecard, are all in the latest Movies with Meaning post on the web site of The Good Radio Network, at https://www.thegoodradionetwork.com/2026/03/26/movies-with-meaning-by-brent-marchant-tgrn-movie-correspondent-2/. #BrentMarchant #TheGoodRadioNetwork #MovieswithMeaning #IsThisThingOn #YourAttentionPlease #Oscarscorecard #WillArnett #LauraDern #BradleyCooper #standupcomedian #divorce #personalfulfillment #volleyballcoach #film #movies #romanticcomedydrama #documentary #SaraRobin #socialmedia #cellphones #cyberbullying #teensuicide #BigInformation #AI #antisocialbehavior #AcademyAwards #OneBattleAfterAnother #Sinners #Hamnet #Weapons #SentimentalValue #MichaelBJordan #JessieBuckley #SeanPenn #AmyMadigan #PaulThomasAnderson

‘Is This Thing On?’ looks for solutions on the brink

No matter how much we may care for our significant others, we sometimes appear to experience issues with them that threaten the future of our relationships. The love between us might still be seemingly present, but the overall tone of the partnership feels … off, and we’re unlikely to know why. Unfortunately, under those circumstances, we give up and choose to separate, but is that really the wisest course? Perhaps there’s something more at work here.

The Best of 2025

With 2025 now in the books, it’s time to look back on the year in movies. In this first of three blogs, I spotlight my Top 10 Films of 2025, followed by 10 Honorable Mentions and an open-ended list (in alphabetical order) of other releases that I found noteworthy or worth a look.

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