Three films competing in the World Dramatic section of this year’s Sundance Film Festival tackle the thorny trials and tribulations faced while coming of age. Finnish writer-director Mikko Makela’s shallow sophomore film “Sebastian” centers on an aspiring young writer who lives a double life as a sex worker in order…

The following table of contents features all of the alphabetized review dispatches filed at the 2024 Sundance Film Festival penned by Brian Tallerico, Robert Daniels, Marya E. Gates and Monica Castillo. “The American Society of Magical Negroes” by Robert Daniels “Brief History of a Family” by Marya E. Gates “Freaky…

The first time I saw İlker Çatak’s “The Teachers’ Lounge,” I couldn’t help but think to myself: “The people who made this film really did their homework.” In 2023, there had been a steady stream of movies that have centered on the teaching profession that did not put the educator…

We are pleased to offer an excerpt from the January 2024 issue of the online magazine Bright Wall/Dark Room. Their theme for January 2024 is “The Best of 2024,” and, in addition to Sarah Welch-Larson’s piece about “Showing Up” below, includes new essays on “Anatomy of a Fall,” “Oppenheimer,” “May December,” “La Chimera,” “Evil Dead Rise,” “Monica,” “Reality,”…