Quirky and heartfelt are two qualities I value most highly in a film.
If you can offer both these wonderful things, and throw in some great visuals and stunning good performances, I am home and hosed.
That’s why these three films appeal.
They have a certain offbeat sense of self, an emotionally evocative core that can’t help but affect you and a strong story to tell — what’s not to love?
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Vivian (Hadley Robinson), a seemingly shy 16-year-old, has always preferred to keep her head down and fly under the radar. But when the arrival of a new student (Alycia Pascual-Peña) forces her to examine the unchecked behavior of her fellow students running rampant at her high school, Vivian realizes she’s fed up. Inspired by her mom’s (Amy Poehler) rebellious past, Vivian anonymously publishes an underground zine called Moxie to expose bias and wrongdoing in her high school, and unexpectedly sparks a movement. Now at the center of a revolution, Vivian begins to forge new friendships with other young women and allies, reaching across the divide of cliques and clubs as they learn to navigate the highs and lows of high school together. Moxie is directed by comedian / actress / filmmaker Amy Poehler, her second feature after directing Wine Country previously. (synopsis courtesy First Showing)
Moxie premieres on Netflix on 3 March 2021.
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A rookie drag queen known as “Fishy Falters” (Thomas Duplessie), reeling from a break-up, escapes to the country, where he finds his grandmother in steep decline yet desperate to avoid the local nursing home. Jump, Darling is directed by producer / filmmaker Philip J. Connell, making his feature directorial debut after a number of shorts and other projects previously. The screenplay is also written by Philip J. Connell, with story editing by Genevieve Scott. (synopsis courtesy First Showing)
Jump, Darling premieres in Canada on 9 March via VOD after premiering at (Toronto Inside Out Film Festival) on 2 October 2020.
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Director Zoé Wittock’s first feature film Jumbo stars Noémie Merlant (‘Portrait of a Lady on Fire’) as Jeanne, a shy young woman, lives at home with her uninhibited bartender mother and works the graveyard shift as a cleaner at an amusement park. Her mother wants her to meet a man, but Jeanne prefers tinkering in her bedroom with wires, light bulbs, and spare parts, creating miniature versions of theme park rides. During her late-night shifts she begins spending intimate time with the alluring new Tilt-A-Whirl ride that she decides to call Jumbo. Finding herself seduced by ‘his’ red lights, smooth chrome, and oily hydraulics, Jeanne concludes that the thrilling new relationship she wants to pursue is with Jumbo. (synopsis courtesy IndieWire)
Jumbo opens 19 February followed by VOD in USA.