Recap and reviews of the Tribeca Film Festival – Day 5
Tribeca 2022 Day 5 might have been my favorite one so far. Everything I love about filmmaking has been captured in the four films I watched yesterday. I experienced a little bit of supernatural horror. I watched a family dynamic unlike anything I’ve ever seen. Additionally, I saw a young woman exercise her rights before it’s too late.
But if there’s one thing that stood out to me most, it’s the concept that family doesn’t always have to be blood. That’s a message I can always get behind. Here’s a recap and reviews from the emotional Tribeca Day 5.
Attachment | Director: Gabriel Bier Gislason
Synopsis: Maja and Leah’s new relationship is interrupted when mysterious things start happening in their London flat. It seems that Leah’s disapproving mother, who lives downstairs, is using Jewish folklore to come between them.
Review: Gabriel Bier Gislason’s horror mystery slow burn Attachment is the kind of film I always crave at film festivals. His atmospheric build is spectacular, leaving audiences to guess the reality of Maja and Leah’s situation. Though the film takes a turn for the stereotypical, the lead-up to the finale is all kinds of creepy. And ultimately, the payoff is worth the entire journey there. Add Attachment to your watchlist!
Allswell | Director: Ben Snyder
Synopsis: Three Nuyorican sisters navigate the daunting life challenges of single motherhood, career, and family, all while finding humor and solace within the bonds of sisterhood in this absorbing dramedy.
Review: Ben Snyder crafted a great showcase of a dynamic Puerto Rican family in New York City. Through three sisters, he examines motherhood, sisterhood, and what it means to be family. Early on, it becomes easy to predict how this story will play out. But Allswell is entertaining, nonetheless.
Additionally, the acting doesn’t always meet expectations for such an emotional script. However, this should be an easy watching experience for audiences of all types. As a result, I highly recommend it, especially for the character interactions.
The Cave of Adullam | Director: Laura Checkoway
Synopsis: Living by the mantra ‘it’s easier to raise boys than to repair broken men’, martial arts sensei Jason Wright tenderly guides his often-troubled young Detroit students with a beautifully effective blend of compassion and tough love.
Review: It’s confession time! I don’t always like to watch documentaries. Often times, filmmakers frame the stories in biased ways. But in Laura Checkoway’s The Cave of Adullam, there’s no reason not to be. The film shows the impact Jason Wilson has had on the lives of multiple young Black boys. And it reveals the difficult conversations parents often have to have with their Black children. So, if you’re looking for a documentary that is bound to make you cry, look no further. The Cave of Adullam is remarkably impactful in every way.
Cherry | Directors: Sophie Galibert & Arthur Cohen
Synopsis: A driftless young woman discovers she’s 11 weeks pregnant and has only 24 hours to make a consequential decision. This charming film examines how softly life moves, even in our most urgent moments. Directed by Sophie Galibert.
Review: When it comes to films centered around abortion, they often take things to the extreme to highlight the physical and emotional dangers. However, directors Galibert and Cohen take a more natural approach to highlight what a young woman may be feeling. Equal parts entertaining and emotional, Cherry‘s script is tight, intentional, and balanced. It’s the perfect introductory film to people who may not gravitate to those of its kind.
At times, the script ventures off into convenient and contrived territory. However, it’s all about perspective. It manages to offer a tight approach to its story structure even though it taps into familiar territory. And despite the fantasy ending, Cherry is a film worth watching for the content and acting alone!
Thanks for reading. I am almost through with my Tribeca 2022 Watchlist. What have been the films that intrigued you the most?
