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There is a useful directness to Firedancer, a drama shaped by Ashok Nanda with a firm understanding of its audience. In Firedancer, Baktash Zaher provides the anchor while Mariam Weiss introduces a contrasting energy. Without revealing later complications, Firedancer opens from this situation: A young Afghan American on a journey of "self discovery". The resulting its 1h 19m running time feels most convincing whenever Firedancer trusts behaviour more than explanation. ⁠ As di

There is a useful directness to Standing by Yourself, a documentary shaped by Josh Koury with a firm understanding of its audience. In Standing by Yourself, Adam Koury provides the anchor while Josh Siegfried introduces a contrasting energy. Without revealing later complications, Standing by Yourself opens from this situation: Documentary on two alienated teenagers in a downward narcotized spiral. The resulting its 1h 5m running time feels most convincing whenever Standing by

There is a useful directness to Dead or Alive: Final, an action film shaped by Takashi Miike with a firm understanding of its audience. In Dead or Alive: Final, Shô Aikawa provides the anchor while Maria Chen introduces a contrasting energy. Without revealing later complications, Dead or Alive: Final opens from this situation: The ace cop of a totalitarian police force and a drifting android play their parts in a post apocalyptic society. The resulting its 1h 29m running time

There is a useful directness to The Child I Never Was, a crime drama shaped by Kai S. Pieck with a firm understanding of its audience. In The Child I Never Was, Tobias Schenke provides the anchor while Sebastian Urzendowsky introduces a contrasting energy. Without revealing later complications, The Child I Never Was opens from this situation: The true life story of 19 year old Jürgen Bartsch, a German pedophile serial killer who murdered four boys, based on his correspondence

There is a useful directness to Three Days of Rain, a drama shaped by Michael Meredith with a firm understanding of its audience. In Three Days of Rain, Penelope Allen provides the anchor while Erick Avari introduces a contrasting energy. Without revealing later complications, Three Days of Rain opens from this situation: Six Anton Chekhov short stories set in modern day Cleveland during a three day rain storm. The resulting its 1h 38m running time feels most convincing whene

There is a useful directness to Ash Wednesday, a thriller shaped by Edward Burns with a firm understanding of its audience. In Ash Wednesday, Brian Burns provides the anchor while Vincent Rubino introduces a contrasting energy. Without revealing later complications, Ash Wednesday opens from this situation: Ash Wednesday is set in the Manhattan of the early 1980's and is about a pair of Irish American brothers (Burns and Wood) who become embroiled in a conflict with the Irish

There is a useful directness to The Backyard, a documentary shaped by Paul Hough with a firm understanding of its audience. In The Backyard, The Lizard provides the anchor while Mario Ponce introduces a contrasting energy. Without revealing later complications, The Backyard opens from this situation: Lightbulbs, fire, barbed wire, mousetraps, staple guns, thumbtacks and glass are weapons of choice in The Backyard. The resulting its 1h 20m running time feels most convincing wh

There is a useful directness to Our Father, a drama shaped by Mahamat Saleh Haroun with a firm understanding of its audience. In Our Father, Ahidjo Mahamat Moussa provides the anchor while Hamza Moctar Aguid introduces a contrasting energy. Without revealing later complications, Our Father opens from this situation: Tahir (15) and Amine (8) wake up one morning to learn that their father has left home. The resulting its 1h 24m running time feels most convincing whenever Our Fa

There is a useful directness to Tamala 2010: A Punk Cat in Space, an animated adventure shaped by Tol with a firm understanding of its audience. In Tamala 2010: A Punk Cat in Space, Béatrice Dalle provides the anchor while Takeshi Katô introduces a contrasting energy. Without revealing later complications, Tamala 2010: A Punk Cat in Space opens from this situation: A cerebral and existential story of Tamla, a kitten from the Planet of Cats, who sets out to solve the mystery o

There is a useful directness to Sister Helen, a documentary shaped by Rebecca Cammisa with a firm understanding of its audience. In Sister Helen, the lead performer provides the anchor while the principal supporting performer introduces a contrasting energy. Without revealing later complications, Sister Helen opens from this situation: In this emotionally compelling documentary, Sister Helen opens a private home for recovering addicts and alcoholics in the South Bronx after t

There is a useful directness to Happy Here and Now, a drama shaped by Michael Almereyda with a firm understanding of its audience. In Happy Here and Now, Karl Geary provides the anchor while Shalom Harlow introduces a contrasting energy. Without revealing later complications, Happy Here and Now opens from this situation: When an unhappy young woman disappears, her worried sister desperately searches the internet for a clue to her missing sibling's whereabouts. The resulting i

There is a useful directness to Journeys with George, a documentary shaped by Alexandra Pelosi with a firm understanding of its audience. In Journeys with George, George W. Bush provides the anchor while R.G. Ratcliffe introduces a contrasting energy. Without revealing later complications, Journeys with George opens from this situation: A documentary about George W. Bush's 2000 campaign for the White House. The resulting its 1h 19m running time feels most convincing whenever