2016 NYFF // A FILM REVIEW OF MANCHESTER BY THE SEA

BY MATEO MORENO

Tragedy has struck a small, working class Boston neighborhood. Joe Chandler (Kyle Chandler) has passed due to heart failure and his brother Lee (Casey Affleck) has been called back to town upon hearing about the death of his dearly departed brother. Lee is a bag of emotions: his quiet rage is simmering on his face at all times, and he suddenly gets angry for the smallest possible reason. It's a performance that Affleck nails, simmering and explosive, often at the same time. When he attends the reading of his brother's will, he finds out that his brother has left him custody of his son Patrick (Lucas Hedges). And just like that, Lee's life, which was already a spinning mess, has now been shaken up all over again.

Writer/Director Kenneth Lonergan is a master at telling the slow moving, fracture human story, as he did in You Can Count on Me, Margaret and on stage in Lobby Hero and This is Our Youth. He continues that stretch here, delicately telling the tale of a family trying to move on from grief and loss, and at the center of it is Affleck's character whose unbelievable pain (which is revealed in the middle of the film) is heartbreaking and catapults the already tender story. Casey Affleck gives the best performances of his career so far, alternating between the highs and lows of grief masterfully. Lucas Hedges also gives a fine, understated performance as a son who has no idea who wants him around. Kyle Candler, in flashbacks, truly showcases a warm and loving memory for the film to stand on, and as Lee's ex-wife Randi Michelle Williams turns in a broken, layered performance that, along with Affleck, is sure to destroy you. A late in the film scene between Williams and Affleck is simply devastating, and tells you everything about their entire relationship. Although MANCHESTER BY THE SEA isn't an easy film to digest, it's a powerful one, and a film that will stay with you long after the lights come up.

MATEO'S VERDICT: MUST SEE

WRITTEN AND DIRECTED BY Kenneth Lonergan STARRING Casey Affleck, Michelle Williams, Kyle Chandler, Lucas Hedges, Gretchen Mol. COUNTRY: USA

Playing as part of the 2016 54th Annual New York Film Festival. For tickets and information: 

http://www.filmlinc.org/

NYFF 2016 // A FILM REVIEW OF "RESTLESS CREATURE: WENDY WHELAN"

BY MATEO MORENO

In the world of ballet, old age can often mean your 30's. Definitely by 40, your time is coming. For Wendy Whelan, her time of professional dancing has come at 46 and she documents it here with the lovely RESTLESS CREATURE: WENDY WHELAN. It's unusual to get such an intimate portrait of such an acclaimed dancer like Whelan, and that's what makes a lot of this documentary truly fly. Directors Linda Saffire and Adam Schlesinger paint a delicate portrait of Whelan, a powerhouse dancer and a true "Star" in the truest form in the ballet world as she goes to get hip reconstruction surgery so that she can dance one more season with the New York City Ballet.

We see Wendy in rehearsal, in performances, and throughout the painful surgery. It encompasses what it's like to have the feelings of youth and fame pulled out from under you when you're not quite ready to let go. It highlights the beauty of a performance from 2014 that capped her illustrious career and showcases how she begins to move on and approach "Life after NYCB." The dancing is spectacular and the story is mesmerizing. It's a fitting tribute to one of the greatest dancers of our times.

MATEO'S VERDICT: SEE IT

DIRECTED BY Linda Saffire and Adam Schlesinger STARRING Wendy Whelan COUNTRY: USA

Playing as part of the 2016 54th Annual New York Film Festival. For tickets and information: http://www.filmlinc.org/

NYFF 2016 // A FILM REVIEW OF "SIERANEVADA

BY MATEO MORENO

Cristi Puiu, who first came into success with his 2005 film The Death of Mr. Lazarescu has written and directed the epic three hour long SIERANEVADA. Despite the very long running time, I believe it may be his finest film to date, and one that I suspect will be quite divisive with audiences. The style of the may not be for everyone. Characters come and go and are rarely introduced in a traditional sort of way. Often the camera sits as silent observer in the room, lingering with conversations until moving on to another part of the house. And often there are so many people within the shots it may enrage some. However I found it fascinating, enthralling, and entirely original.

Much of the action is set in one apartment and plays in (almost) real time. A reference to the Charlie Hebdo attacks happening three days before lets us know when the action is taking place and we are off and (slowly) running. The first hour of the film revolves around a family waiting at a cramped apartment for a priest to arrive. Within the Eastern Orthodox tradition, 40 days is the length that a soul needs to clean up his earthly business and see God. After 40 days, a priest will visit the home of the deceased and he blesses the belongings. We sit with the family as they casually talk, bicker, and experience the loss of Emil. There are arguments with couples (one of the wives wants to get out of there as soon as possible), one relative has some serious thoughts on 9/11 conspiracies, another wife is haunted (so to speak), and there's a lot of arguing over a parking spot. If that sounds like a bunch of fragmented, not connecting sentences, it sort of it. And that's why it works. Most conversations we have daily, especially with family, are disjointed, random at best, and that's often how the film feels. But it's always grounded in truth and is fascinating to watch.

The entire ensemble cast are fantastic, grounded by Mimi Branescu's Lary, our window into the world, and the camera work by Barbu Balasoiu truly makes us feel like we are experiencing every moment with them. SIERANEVADA is unusual, charming, often very funny, and touching. Settling in and enjoy the ride.

MATEO'S VERDICT: MUST SEE

WRITTEN AND DIRECTED BY Cristi Puiu STARRING Mimi Brănescu, Cătălina Moga, Dana Dogaru, Ana Ciontea, Tatiana Iekel, Judith State, Marin Grigore COUNTRY: ROMANIA

Playing as part of the 2016 54th Annual New York Film Festival. For tickets and information: http://www.filmlinc.org/