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What stands out first about You Resemble Me is the confidence with which Dina Amer establishes its drama identity. Rather than relying on premise alone, You Resemble Me asks Lorenza Grimaudo and Ilonna Grimaudo to supply personality from the opening stretch. The premise of You Resemble Me is established with useful clarity: When two young sisters are torn apart, the eldest loses her identity and transforms into someone new in the name of belonging and resistance. That direct

What stands out first about Make Me Famous is the confidence with which Brian Vincent establishes its documentary identity. Rather than relying on premise alone, Make Me Famous asks David McDermott and Marguerite Van Cook to supply personality from the opening stretch. The premise of Make Me Famous is established with useful clarity: A madcap romp through the 1980's NYC art scene amid the colorful career of painter, Edward Brezinski, hell bent on making it. That direct approa

What stands out first about Freakscene: The Story of Dinosaur Jr. is the confidence with which Philipp Virus establishes its documentary identity. Rather than relying on premise alone, Freakscene: The Story of Dinosaur Jr. asks Dinosaur Jr. and J. Mascis to supply personality from the opening stretch. The premise of Freakscene: The Story of Dinosaur Jr. is established with useful clarity: Homage of one of the most influential bands on the American East Coast, which inspired t

What stands out first about Cinema Sabaya is the confidence with which Orit Fouks Rotem establishes its drama identity. Rather than relying on premise alone, Cinema Sabaya asks Liora Levi and Aseel Farhat to supply personality from the opening stretch. The premise of Cinema Sabaya is established with useful clarity: Eight women, Arab and Jewish, take part in a video workshop hosted by Rona, a young filmmaker. That direct approach lets Cinema Sabaya use its 1h 31m running time

What stands out first about Demonic is the confidence with which Neill Blomkamp establishes its horror film identity. Rather than relying on premise alone, Demonic asks Carly Pope and Chris William Martin to supply personality from the opening stretch. The premise of Demonic is established with useful clarity: A young woman unleashes terrifying demons when supernatural forces at the root of a decades old rift between mother and daughter are ruthlessly revealed. That direct ap

What stands out first about Great Freedom is the confidence with which Sebastian Meise establishes its drama identity. Rather than relying on premise alone, Great Freedom asks Franz Rogowski and Georg Friedrich to supply personality from the opening stretch. The premise of Great Freedom is established with useful clarity: In post war Germany, liberation by the Allies does not mean freedom for everyone. That direct approach lets Great Freedom use its 1h 56m running time for ch

What stands out first about Paris, 13th District is the confidence with which Jacques Audiard establishes its comedy identity. Rather than relying on premise alone, Paris, 13th District asks Lucie Zhang and Makita Samba to supply personality from the opening stretch. The premise of Paris, 13th District is established with useful clarity: Émilie meets Camille, who is attracted to Nora, who crosses paths with Amber. That direct approach lets Paris, 13th District use its 1h 45m

What stands out first about Language Lessons is the confidence with which Natalie Morales establishes its comedy identity. Rather than relying on premise alone, Language Lessons asks Natalie Morales and Desean Terry to supply personality from the opening stretch. The premise of Language Lessons is established with useful clarity: A Spanish teacher and her student develop an unexpected friendship. That direct approach lets Language Lessons use its 1h 31m running time for chara

What stands out first about Hold Me Tight is the confidence with which Mathieu Amalric establishes its drama identity. Rather than relying on premise alone, Hold Me Tight asks Vicky Krieps and Arieh Worthalter to supply personality from the opening stretch. The premise of Hold Me Tight is established with useful clarity: A woman one day simply walks out on her family. That direct approach lets Hold Me Tight use its 1h 37m running time for character, atmosphere and consequence

What stands out first about Between Two Worlds is the confidence with which Emmanuel Carrère establishes its drama identity. Rather than relying on premise alone, Between Two Worlds asks Juliette Binoche and Louise Pociecka to supply personality from the opening stretch. The premise of Between Two Worlds is established with useful clarity: It is based on French journalist Florence Aubenas's bestselling non fiction work Le Quai de Ouistreham, investigating rising precarity in

What stands out first about Monster Family 2 is the confidence with which Holger Tappe establishes its animated adventure identity. Rather than relying on premise alone, Monster Family 2 asks Emily Carey and Jason Isaacs to supply personality from the opening stretch. The premise of Monster Family 2 is established with useful clarity: To free Baba Yaga and Renfield from the clutches of Monster Hunter Mila Starr, the Wishbone Family once more transforms into a Vampire, Franken

What stands out first about In Balanchine's Classroom is the confidence with which Connie Hochman establishes its documentary identity. Rather than relying on premise alone, In Balanchine's Classroom asks Merrill Ashley and George Balanchine to supply personality from the opening stretch. The premise of In Balanchine's Classroom is established with useful clarity: IN BALANCHINE'S CLASSROOM takes us back to the glory years of George Balanchine's New York City Ballet through th