by Gary M. Kramer, Staff Writer

This year marks the thirty-third Philadelphia Film Festival (PFF) which kicks off October 17 until October 27, 2024. Screenings will take place at various Philadelphia Film Society (PFS) venues across the city which include: Film Society Center, Film Society Bourse and Film Society East. Gary shares his thoughts on six films playing at this year’s fest.

The Black Sea
Directed by Derrick B. Harden and Crystal Moselle
Showtimes: Monday, October 21 at 12:45pm with Q&A
Wednesday, October 23 at 8:30pm
Tickets here

This amiable fish-out-of-water story has fast-talking Brooklynite Khalid (Derrick B. Harden who co-directed with Crystal Moselle) quitting his job and going to Bulgaria to be with a “sugar momma” he met on Facebook. But when he arrives, the woman’s son, Georgi (Stoyo Mirkov) informs Khalid that she has passed away. As such, Khalid finds himself homeless and broke in a country where he knows no one and doesn’t speak the language. After he loses his passport, he meets Ina (Irmena Chichikova), who runs a travel agency. She helps him get work—at first, with Georgi, who runs the town—but that opportunity does not quite pan out. Khalid soon, unexpectedly, starts a café with Ina which gives him some purpose and helps him earn money and establish himself. The Black Sea is winsome as Khalid ingratiates himself with many of the locals, playing basketball or hosting an open mic night. More disturbing are his exchanges with Georgi, who humiliates Khalid, and sees him as a disruptor. Harden is an engaging protagonist, and he is appealing as Khalid finds himself and realizes his potential halfway across the world. However, this easygoing, largely improvised film, which is shot like a documentary, ultimately feel slight and very low stakes. It could have packed more of a punch. 

Opens at the Metrograph Cinema November 22

Girls Will Be Girls
Written and Directed by Shuchi Talati
Showtimes: Thursday, October 17 at 6:15pm
Friday, October 18 at 2:30pm
Tickets here

This outstanding drama—it won the World Cinema Audience Award and a Special Jury Prize at Sundance—is a tender coming-of-age story set in the Himalayas. Mira (Preeti Panigahi) has just been made head prefect at her boarding school, the first girl to receive this honor. She is an excellent student who obeys (and enforces) the rules. But when the handsome and charming Sri (Kesav Binoy Kiron) catches her attention, Mira starts to catch feelings for him. As they share secrets after an astronomy club meeting, Mira finds Sri irresistible, and they become more intimate over time. When Mira’s mother, Anila (Kani Kusruti), meets Sri, he pays attention to her, even asking her about her past romances (which parallel Mira’s experience). Anila, it seems, may be developing a bit of a crush on Sri herself. Writer/director Shuchi Talati skillfully shows how Mira processes her puppy love for Sri, longing for his touch, or getting angry with him when she feels he lied to her. Mira also reconsiders her relationship with her mother, who really does care for and protect Mira. Girls Will Be Girls is gratifying as the booksmart Mira learns and grows from her decisions—good and bad. As she falls hard for Sri, Mira starts to lose respect from her classmates and teachers, while the question arises: is Sri’s interest in Mira in her best interests? Girls Will Be Girls builds to a quietly powerful and satisfying conclusion. Panigahi and Kursuti are both terrific as mother and daughter, respectively. This is a marvelous feature debut by Talati.

Now playing at Film Forum

Small Things Like These
Directed by Tim Mielants
Written by Enda Walsh
Showtime: Tuesday, October 22 at 6:30pm
Tickets here

Small Things Like These, adapted from Claire Keegan’s novel, is a somber drama about Bill Furlong (Cillian Murphy) a husband and father who delivers coal in New Ross, Ireland. During Christmastime, 1985, he encounters Sarah (Zara Devlin), who is being housed in the local convent—one of the Magdalene Laundries for unwed mothers—run by Sister Mary (Emily Watson). Sarah implores Bill to help her, but he is paralyzed by guilt and fear. When Bill and his wife, Eileen (Eileen Walsh, who appeared in 2002 film The Magdalene Sisters), talk in whispers, she tells her soft-spoken, soft-hearted husband that “there are things you should ignore.” But Bill is too troubled to overlook the issue or other injustices. He pities (and gives money to) his daughter’s classmate whose parents have left him to fend for himself. Moreover, Bill suffers from a past trauma involving his own mother. An episode where Bill scrubs his coal-stained hands raw depicts his internalized pain with a heavy hand. Murphy anchors the film with his brooding, melancholic performance but the film also feels as cold and reserved as its characters. Small Things Like These addresses an important subject, but director Tim Mielants’ slow-burn approach only simmers, never boils. As a result, it seems undercooked.

Opening November 8 in theaters nationwide

A Traveler’s Needs
Written and Directed by Hong Sang-soo
Showtimes: Monday, October 21 at 6:30pm
Saturday, October 26 at 5pm
Tickets here

Hong Sang-soo’s films are intentionally gentle and thoughtful, and his latest drama is no exception. Iris (Isabelle Huppert) teaching French in Seoul, but mostly speaks English to her students. Her first encounter is with Isong (Kim Seungyun), who plays the piano, prompting Iris to ask, “What did you feel playing,” and giving her index cards with her responses in French to practice. Iris, who has never really taught before developed an unusual method to make her students express their true emotions in a foreign language. And Isong  has real emotion, crying when she tells Iris about her father. A Traveler’s Needs also shows Iris working with Wonju (Lee Hyeyoung), who is wary of her pedagogical methods. They drink makgeolli (a milky rice wine) and Iris gets a little tipsy. Her earlier conversation with Isong is repeated with Wonju. A third episode depicts Iris relationship with her roommate, Inguk (Ha Seongguk). The older woman and younger man are somewhat flirtatious—much to the chagrin of his mother (Ha Jinwha), who raises her voice at her son in what is otherwise an extremely quiet film. Sang-soo lets these scenes and others all unfold naturally. Huppert is bewitching as the eccentric Iris who seeks enlightenment, cooling her feet in some water, enjoying a poem, or ambling down a street, (and possibly disappearing). A Traveler’s Needs is a talky film, and on the surface not much happens, but, in fact, much does, which is the magic of Sang-soo’s specific brand of cinema. 

Opening November 22 at Film at Lincoln Center and Film Forum

Vulcanizadora
Written and Directed by Joel Potrykus
Showtimes: Friday, October 18 at 10:15pm
Monday, October 21 at 8:15pm
Tickets here

As curious as it is compelling, Vulcanizadora opens with Derek (writer/director Joel Potrykus) and Marty (Joshua Burge) on a camping trip. Derek is a motormouth who makes deadpan comments during the hike, such as, “I wish I had a basketball.” He is noisy even when he eats. They don’t seem to get along; Martin just does not want to deal with Derek’s bullshit. (A physical fight the two men have at one point is quite stylish.) As Derek stops to make a “Faces of Death” video, climbs up a structure to check out a view, and hunts for some nudie magazines buried under some leaves, it becomes clear he is delaying something inevitable. There is a hint at what that is when Derek plays with some fireworks, acting like a pre-teen hoping for a big blast, only to have Martin impress him with a real explosive. But as the reality of what is going on here sets in—there is a reference to Martin owing Derek bail money—Vulcanizadora shifts gears and moves into very different territory with a revealing monologue or two and several unspoken moments that upend expectations. While it may be rough going at first, stick with it. Potrykus’ film is surprisingly potent.

Who by Fire
Written and Directed by Philippe Lesage
Showtimes: Friday, October 18 at 12:30pm
Saturday, October 26 at 12pm
Tickets here

This absorbing, talky drama, written and directed by Philippe Lesage has Albert (Paul Ahmarani), a filmmaker, bringing his son Max (Antonie Marchand-Gagnon), his daughter Aliocha (Aurélia Arandi-Longpré), and Max’s best friend Jeff (Noah Parker), to a lodge in the wilderness owned by Blake (Arieh Worthalter), Albert’s former filmmaking partner. The coziness of this retreat, which involves hunting, hiking, and fishing, is spoiled by the power dynamics and jealousies that erupt between various characters. Albert and Blake frequently argue and insult each other during a series of extended dinner table scenes that are as riveting as they are uncomfortable. Jeff makes an unwanted pass at Aliocha, which results in him fleeing and getting lost in the woods. Other minidramas occur, such as an episode where Albert gets visibly upset at the possibility that someone replaced his fancy wine with another, lesser bottle. There is more shameful behavior on display including acts of both physical and psychological violence. Lesage films everything incisively with a probing, observational lens. Scenes of Jeff crying in his bed, are revealing, but there are also telling dream sequences—nightmares, really—and an infectious episode where the entire cast sings and dances to the B-52’s “Rock Lobster.”  Who by Fire is a hypnotic film that will get under some viewers’ skin—although it is equally likely to get on some viewers’ nerves.

Find the entire PFF line-up here and stay tuned for additional coverage here during the fest from your friendly MovieJawn staff.