By Rayan Guelida and Louis Rosasco
In its 13th year, Miami Film Festival GEMS returned to the city to celebrate global cinema excellence.
This year’s lineup consisted of films from all across the world such as Mexico, the Philippines, Spain and the United States. Yet, the universal message throughout the diverse selection was an apparent search for emphatic truth.
Of the films covered below, some seem to be searching for this enlightened honesty, while others get closer to finding it.
All of a Sudden
This slow, plainly-shot drama follows the friendship of two middle-aged women as they explore what human connection really means. One, the director of an elderly home, and the other, a playwright dying of cancer—put on a performance that rewards its most patient and attentive viewers.
In this international feature film, the main component is entirely about talking. Ideas are exchanged in intricate bouquets of dialogue, but real emotions are shown in restrained, faint actions: holding a hand, or sharing an intimate glance.
The movie’s length—three hours and sixteen minutes—along with its lack of traditional action or hooks might scare some off, but if you’re looking for a truly life-affirming piece of art, you won’t find much better than All of a Sudden.
Campeon Gabacho
It’s a movie with money, and maybe some heart. But certainly no brains.
This is the third movie from Jonas Cuaron, son of the famous Alfonso Cuaron. But it seems Jonas doesn’t share his father’s talents––welcome to amateur hour.
An immigrant boxing story wrapped in every technique Cuaron can afford to think of, this is a movie about the poor made by the rich. There is no deeper commentary beyond the obvious truth that “being an immigrant is, like, hard.”
Instead, Cuaron treats his tale as a springboard for an onslaught of stylistic flourishes. Most of it feels like watching a film student’s phoned-in homework assignments, though the flourishes that do work are fantastic.
Look Back
Based off of the acclaimed 2021 manga of the same name, Look Back tells the story of two middle school girls who bond over a shared love of Japanese comics.
The film displays a full understanding of the complexities of emotion as we go through the lives of two fictional characters who feel fully real.
Like with All of a Sudden, the narrative is pushed forward by the small lingering moments the characters experience rather than a traditionally structured story.
Some scenes capture a level of joy that’s hard to describe and some capture a level of sorrow that feels almost soul crushing. Whichever the case, it can only describe the experience as transcendent. Just be prepared to keep a steady supply of tissues handy––this one’s a tearjerker.
Iron Boy
A hand-painted animated coming-of-age tale in rural France, this is one of the most gorgeous films you will ever see. It is a world awash in blue, white, and orange.
Uglier, however, is the authentic and often uncomfortable portrayal of youth here. Certain scenes felt almost documentary-like—the lack of score certainly helps. The characters might be cartoons, but their lives are real.
This is not an uncomfortable movie, though—it is strange, deeply spiritual and often breathtaking. If you are not invested in it by its climax, I would see a doctor. This was our favorite movie of the festival.
