Sundance Film Festival 2023: Continued

The following entries are reviews and commentaries on movie screenings attended in-person at the Sundance Film Festival in Park City, Utah. 

Victim/Suspect:

“Victim/Suspect” is a documentary directed by Nancy Shwartzman that follows journalist Rae de Leon in uncovering the truth behind the arrest of women who “falsely” report men that raped or sexually assaulted them. Following a four-year investigation, the film reveals what really happens in police interrogations in which women were not believed and cases were “closed” under the guise of a plea bargain or a manipulation to confess they were lying (when they weren’t). This is a nationwide pattern that typically ends in arrests and incarcerations of women at the hands of and failure of law enforcement. The documentary further proves the processes in action that protect men at all costs. Footage of police interrogations depict interviews with assaulters ranging from 15-30 minutes and consisted of incessant apologies from officers for the “inconvenience” of having to come in. Meanwhile, the women are manipulated and tricked into believing they have somehow lied or dramatized their assault in hours-long interrogations. The film highlights the harm caused when a victim becomes the suspect.  

Pretty Baby:

Brooke Shields: To many, Brooke Shields is the pop culture icon of the ‘80s and ‘90s. Until watching this film, she was someone my mother referenced at times as an integral and formative figure of her childhood. Now, to me, Brooke Shields is a survivor. Directed by Lana Wilson, “Pretty Baby: Brooke Shields” tackles themes of the oversexualization of women in the media, the exploitation of a child and the impact it can have on a woman depicted as an American sex symbol from the age of 11. Starring in the 1978 film “Pretty Baby,” Shields played a child prostitute who was made to look older and desirable. Following her debut, Shields starred in “Blue Lagoon” and continued to book mature acting and modeling deals under the management of her alcoholic mother. Reflections and interviews with Shields reveal the vulnerability she felt and the scrutiny she was under as a public figure and her own personal removal from the very public part of her life.   

 All Dirt Roads Taste of Salt:

“All Dirt Roads Taste of Salt” is a story told through body language rather than dialogue — a story told through memories triggered by a feeling such as a hand running through water, dirt falling through fingertips, a drawn-out hug, the texture of the fish caught for dinner and the metaphorical texture surrounding Mack as she grows up in Mississippi. The simplicity of this film is what made it so enthralling to watch. Told in non-sequential scenes throughout Mack’s life, the film displays the inner workings of the female mind: growing up, being a mother, not being a mother, finding love and searching for acceptance. Written and directed by Raven Jackson, “All Dirt Roads Taste Of Salt” is a beautifully dynamic film that allows the viewer to feel a childhood in Mississippi rather than just watch it.  

Animalia:

“Animalia” was a movie whose power only registered once I had time to reflect on the not-so-obvious themes. Directed by Sofia Alaoui and winner of the Special Jury Award for Creative Vision, “Animalia” is a first-of-its-kind dystopian film set in Morocco. The film was made to make the viewer slightly uncomfortable and focuses on the socio-economic imbalances between those in higher classes and those in lower classes. The film follows pregnant Itto, who marries into a wealthy family and is left stranded at home after her in-laws leave for a trip she decided not to attend. After the government declares a state of emergency, she leaves in search of her family, traveling through a series of mysterious weather phenomena.

“I hope that it will help to continue fighting against the stereotypes surrounding a woman’s emancipation,” Alaoui said.

An exclusive interview with Sofia Alaoui after receiving her award.