Movie Diary 6/5/2024

Another listing of the titles I watched for the Brooklyn Film Festival narrative feature jury; the awards have not yet been announced, so no editorial comment.

Ovid, New York (Vito A. Rowlands, 2024). A series of stories, all derived from Ovid’s transformation tales, but given a playful, experimental update. US.

Crookedfinger (Julia Halperin, Jason Courtland, 2023). In the aftermath of a shocking end to their parents’ lives, two siblings (Paula Jon DeRose, Blake DeLong) sort through the baggage of accumulated years. US.

The Faerie Queen (Lenny Luo, 2023). Students in Hong Kong navigate the serious business of romance and partying and outdated sexual politics. The director is still in his teens. Hong Kong.

Distancia (T.S. Meeks, 2024). Shot in a black-and-white immersive style, this close-to-non-narrative drama follows an undocumented immigrant (Javier B. Suarez) as he reels through life after the death of his wife. US.

Under My Skin (Pascal Tessaud, 2024). In Marseille, an ex-con is determined to go straight, which in his case means teaching krump dancing and maybe competing in the occasional dance-off. The streets and the past have other plans. France.

Weeknights (Alfred Giancarli, 2023). Almost-still-life portraits of in-between times and spaces, generally arranged around some all-night work. US.