FANTASIA FEST MONTREAL 2023 July 20th to August 9th 2023 • WEEK 2

 

FANTASIA FEST

FRANÇAIS app de traduction à gauche

I have been screening many intriguing movies! Here are a few for you to consider and don't forget, these movies will get released on larger scales during the coming months.

APORIA •Directed by Jared Moshé  

                                                    Edi Gathegi as Mal with Judy Greer as Sophie

Sophie has lost her husband Mal to a drunk driving accident and she is devastated. Next door is one of Mal's closest friends, a dilettante scientist like himself, interpreted by Payman Maadi. Before his untimely death the two friends had been working on a time machine because Payman never got over the loss of his family and wanted to get them back. Payman decides to test the machine with Sophie by killing the drunk driver who had killed Mal in the first place. When Mal shows up the next day, she is brought back to life but then the ethical questions and ramifications of her decision reveal that her blessing is another's tragedy. 

I truly enjoyed this thoughtful science fiction that takes us on twists and turns with subtlety and soulfulness. For example, you will know everything as changed when a character's clothing changes colour. Although there are no more screenings at Fantasia, keep an eye out for the theatrical release. I recommend it!

WITH LOVE AND A MAJOR ORGAN •Directed by Kim Albright

Hamza Hak as George with Anna Maguire as Anabel

This is a fairy tale that examines how our use of technology and the demands of urban life can limit the opportunity to find true love and happiness. Anabel (Anna Maguire) is not like the people in her environment who are ruled by an app, LifeZapp. This app does everything for them. For example, when her friend Casey (Donna Benedicto) gets married instead of letting Anabel, her maid of honour, organize the bachelorette party, the friend wants LifeZapp to take care of it so everything will be as she wants it. In this fantasy, people don't suffer broken hearts. They take them out of their chests and often throw them away. She meets a possible love interest in George (Hamza Haq) but his peculiar character makes her throw away her heart in pain.

An intriguing examination of where we are going and whether or not our choices are consciously made or governed by an app.

FEMME • Directed by Sam H. Freeman, Ng Choon Ping

George MacKay as Preston and Nathan Stewart-Jarrett as Jules aka Aphrodite Banks

What attracted me to this movie is the synopsis: a drag queen is attacked and plots revenge on the attacker. My curiosity was piqued. I enjoyed the movie thoroughly. As Jules (Nathan Stewart-Jarrett), the victim, gets to know Preston (George MacKay), the attacker, and plans to out him as a straight man who is secretly gay on a porn site, he also becomes aware of the foibles in his tormentor's life. Meanwhile, Preston grows fond of Jules. Edgy, sexy and devastating.

The acting is superb and the tension relentless. This movie will be coming out, no pun intended, later this year. I recommend it.

LENA GHIO   

Twitter  Facebook  Instagram   Pinterest  Paradox