Cinema

SUJO (SFF 2024)


A young boy in a remote Mexican village is left an orphan as his sicario father is murdered and so goes to live with his aunt in the isolated countryside in order for him to survive and escape his fate. He is visited by his other aunt and her two children who are as close to brothers to him. When he reaches his teens the allure to join the cartel back in town is strong.

The film is a slow but engaging and moving portrait of life in a cartel run area and the difficulties that young boys face with few options but to join the gangs.

The young Sujo with his father Josie the Eighth

The young Sujo with his father Josie the Eighth

There is a humanity to this film directed and written by longtime collaborators and Mexican filmmakers, Astrid Rondero and Fernanda Valadez who have worked together for over 15 years. Sujo has already won several prizes at film festivals around the world including the coveted Sundance Grand Jury Prize.

This is not your ordinary cartel film, there is little violence shown on screen, instead it is a moving portrait of a young boy who grows up navigating life when everything seems to be against him. 

Kevin Aguilar as the young Sujo

Kevin Aguilar as the young Sujo

Rounder and Valadez manage to elicit performances from the kids especially Juan Jesùs Varela as the titular character and Susan played by Sandra Lorenzano, who is actually a teacher who works at the University of Mexico.

Will Sujo escape the violence that took his father’s life along with many others in this world?

126 Minutes

SEPTEMBER SAYS (SFF 2024)


From the opening scene of the two sisters dressed as the twins from The Shining, you know this is going to be a strange one.

Sisters, September and July are different from the rest of their peers at school, they have a secret language punctuated by whistles and noises and seem to live in another universe from the others and are consequently shunned by their classmates.
Living with their artistic mother who has her own set of quirks, the sisters get by playing games and making their own fun that often entails September making July do odd dares.
September is the more dominant one and is very controlling but also protective of her much shyer younger sister.

Pascale Kann as September Rakhee Thakrar as Sheela and Mia Tharia as July in September Says

Pascale Kann as September Rakhee Thakrar as Sheela and Mia Tharia as July in September Says

There is an atmosphere of danger and dread that weaves its way throughout the film by actress, screenwriter and first time director, Ariane Labed who elicits great performances from her cast, Mia Tharia (July) Pascale Kann (September) and Rakhee Thakrar as their mother, Sheela.

The sense of unease is more than palpable, it is at times visceral. This gothic thriller is not the most pleasant of watches but is interesting nevertheless and evokes a tension and commentary on mental illness and manipulation.

100 Minutes