SIFF hot take June 03, 2019 at 08:12PM

Kifaru

(Kifaru is Swahili for rhino.) documentary about the caretakers of the last Northern White rhinoceroses. it's intimate and poignant. (includes footage of suffering animals and peaceful animal death.) particularly notable for being about the working class black Kenyans on the ground, not scientists or other talking heads. I liked this a lot and hope it becomes widely available.

SIFF hot take June 04, 2019 at 03:14PM

An Almost Ordinary Summer

Italian family comedy about two older men bringing their families together to announce their marriage. the adult kids are blindsided. many slurs are spoken; it feels about 25 years behind what I expect here. things happen on the way, but there is a HEA and charming wedding video in the end. ultimately a nice story about fatherhood and second chances.

SIFF hot take June 04, 2019 at 03:20PM

Long Time No Sea

story of a boy on Orchid Island, longing for a relationship with his father who works in Taiwan and rarely visits, and his new teacher trying to earn points by organizing the kids for an indigenous dance competition. I was ignorant of the indigenous peoples connected to Taiwan, so there was a lot to absorb. the story is bittersweet but the HFN ending is satisfying and believable. worth seeing.