The premiere section of the 2025 Sundance Film Festival is where we get to see the big stars in fictional films. Documentaries are also popular entries in this section. These highly anticipated stories often tell important stories about humanity through various perspectives in a way that truly tugs at our emotions. In other cases, the films in ‘Premieres’ can simply offer us an escape from the problems of the real world in ways that get us to smile.

This year, Magic Farm gave interesting insight to have filmmakers represent other countries and people from different cultures. Then, there’s If I Had Legs, I’d Kick You, which offered a deep perspective on the troubles of motherhood in a way that induces chaos, anxiety, and overwhelming empathy. While different in so many ways, both these features demonstrate the importance of perspective in filmmaking.

Magic Farm Review

Sundance Synopsis: A film crew working for an edgy media company travels to Argentina to profile a local musician, but their ineptitude leads them into the wrong country. As the crew collaborates with locals to fabricate a trend, unexpected connections blossom while a pervasive health crisis looms unacknowledged in the background.

Amalia Ulman’s dramatic comedy, Magic Farm, lays on the incompetence of a film crew quite thickly, to the point where it boasts plenty of laughs from beginning to end. The documentary filmmakers travel to Argentina to profile a musician without doing much research. Their ineptitude leads to some big mishaps that unravel to a major crisis. All the while, they intend to fabricate a story to meet their deadline.

Ethically, this crew has got some real problems, but on screen, the personalities are fun to watch. Edna (Chloë Sevigny) is the boss, and her partner—who can’t seem to do much of anything—is Dave (Simon Rex). To round out the filmmakers, there’s Jeff (Alex Wolff), who’s romantic side bears a lot of the film’s humor. Then, there’s Justin (Joe Apollonio) and the group’s Spanish translator Elena (Amalia Ulman). Together, this eclectic group journeys through Argentina to identify their next big story.

Magic Farm is a Sundance let-down

Though Ulman’s comedy seems like it’s designed for laughs on paper, there are some important concepts brought up. For one, there’s the ethical filmmaking piece when it comes to documentaries. Then, the film also brings up an interesting local health hazard and potential of religious cults. However, these moments never really take off in a way that provides added commentary or thought. And while their introductions offer insight into common issues, the film doesn’t dive deep enough to say anything meaningful.

I’d be almost willing to forgive Magic Farm’s lack of commentary had it not been for the wasted talent. Sevigny, a huge star in my opinion, doesn’t get anything of substance to hold onto within this film. Her onscreen partner Dave (Rex) gets an even shorter end of the stick after he exits the film about a third of the way in. There are funny moments, sure, but overall Ulman didn’t appear to know what to do with her own script.

The beauty in Magic Farm comes from its exploration of the Argentina’s culture. While it’s obvious to us as viewers, the crew within the film pay very little attention to the beauty surrounding them, which makes for a frustrating watch. While there are moments of laughter scattered throughout, the end product of this feature is severely lacking in commentary, entertainment, and meaning. It’s the kind of film you put on in the background while spending the weekend doing household chores.

If I Had Legs, I’d Kick You Review

Sundance Synopsis: With her life crashing down around her, Linda attempts to navigate her child’s mysterious illness, her absent husband, a missing person, and an increasingly hostile relationship with her therapist.

In good conscience, I can’t recommend If I Had Legs, I’d Kick You just knowing a bunch of the pain and misery that lies ahead. But if there’s one thing I do know, it’s that it’s a must-watch for Rose Byrne’s performance alone.

As everything in her life begins to cause more problems for her, Linda experiences an overwhelming sense of anxiety in a way that feels traumatic and claustrophobic. As a viewer, it’s very easy to get swept up in Linda’s emotions, making it a mentally-draining experience. Motherhood is already difficult, but when you’re a full-time caregiver, it adds layers of complexity. On top of that, Linda and her daughter are also displaced from their home thanks to a giant hole in the ceiling that flooded their house. And with her husband constantly away, she’s doing it all alone.

Did I mention that Linda is also a therapist? On top of everything going on in her life, she’s got people who rely on her, but it’s almost becoming too much for her to bear. Throughout the film, Linda even begins to question if she’s one of those women who’s “not supposed to be a mom.” This film is stress-inducing to say the least. Though some of the choices Linda makes throughout the feature may cause one to question her sanity, it’s hard to judge a person when it feels like life is beating them down consistently.

Rose Byrne gives the best performance of the 2025 Sundance Film Festival

To take us inside Linda’s chaotic mental health and never-ending anxiety, director Mary Bronstein uses frequent close-ups. To make that choice work, Byrne delivers a perfect nerve-wracking performance that invites you into the chaos you are going to desperately want to look away from—but can’t. As we know her, Byrne’s comedic chops work well here, providing humor to cut away at the very obvious discomfort you’ll feel while watching. Undeniably, she is the calming force to this exhausting script, which doesn’t let us off easily with its nonstop frenzy.

Aside from the great performance from Byrne, If I Had Legs also incorporates a tense sound design that puts us in the right vulnerable state. Together, with the cinematography, which truly brings us into the main character’s descent, the technical achievements round out Bronstein’s claustrophobic feature. And though witnessing Linda’s journey feels a bit too much at times, the sprinkled humor keeps your attention long enough to give you that much-needed relief at the end.