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What stands out first about A Revision is the confidence with which Catherine Therrien establishes its drama identity. Rather than relying on premise alone, A Revision asks Patrice Robitaille and Nour Belkhiria to supply personality from the opening stretch. The premise of A Revision is established with useful clarity: A philosophy professor at the Cegep, generally appreciated by his students, sees his values challenged when he crosses paths with Nacira, a diligent student of

What stands out first about Pompo: The Cinéphile is the confidence with which Takayuki Hirao establishes its animated adventure identity. Rather than relying on premise alone, Pompo: The Cinéphile asks Hiroya Shimizu and Konomi Kohara to supply personality from the opening stretch. The premise of Pompo: The Cinéphile is established with useful clarity: A famous movie producer gives her young production assistant a chance to direct his first film. That direct approach lets Pom

What stands out first about My Country, My Parents is the confidence with which Teng Shen establishes its drama identity. Rather than relying on premise alone, My Country, My Parents asks Jing Wu and Ziyi Zhang to supply personality from the opening stretch. The premise of My Country, My Parents is established with useful clarity: Included as the third installment of "National Day Celebration" trilogy with My People, My Country (2019) and My People, My Homeland (2020), My Cou

What stands out first about Happening is the confidence with which Audrey Diwan establishes its drama identity. Rather than relying on premise alone, Happening asks Anamaria Vartolomei and Kacey Mottet Klein to supply personality from the opening stretch. The premise of Happening is established with useful clarity: An adaptation of Annie Ernaux's novel of the same name, looking back on her experience with abortion when it was still illegal in France in the 1960s. That direct

What stands out first about Hockeyland is the confidence with which Tommy Haines establishes its documentary identity. Rather than relying on premise alone, Hockeyland asks Blake Biondi and Elliot Van Orsdel to supply personality from the opening stretch. The premise of Hockeyland is established with useful clarity: In Minnesota's fabled heartland of US ice hockey, the teams of rival towns skate for a last chance to etch their names into local lore. That direct approach lets

What stands out first about Kaamelott: First Installment is the confidence with which Alexandre Astier establishes its comedy identity. Rather than relying on premise alone, Kaamelott: First Installment asks Alexandre Astier and Lionnel Astier to supply personality from the opening stretch. The premise of Kaamelott: First Installment is established with useful clarity: The sequel on the big screen to the cult series of Alexandre Astier, an offbeat version of the legend of the

What stands out first about The Resort is the confidence with which Taylor Chien establishes its horror film identity. Rather than relying on premise alone, The Resort asks Bianca Haase and Brock O'Hurn to supply personality from the opening stretch. The premise of The Resort is established with useful clarity: Four friends head to Hawaii to investigate reports of a haunting at an abandoned resort in hopes of finding the infamous Half Faced Girl. That direct approach lets The

What stands out first about Neptune Frost is the confidence with which Anisia Uzeyman establishes its science fiction film identity. Rather than relying on premise alone, Neptune Frost asks Cheryl Isheja and Elvis Ngabo to supply personality from the opening stretch. The premise of Neptune Frost is established with useful clarity: An intersex African hacker, a coltan miner and the virtual marvel born as a result of their union. That direct approach lets Neptune Frost use its

What stands out first about Benediction is the confidence with which Terence Davies establishes its biographical drama identity. Rather than relying on premise alone, Benediction asks Jack Lowden and Thom Ashley to supply personality from the opening stretch. The premise of Benediction is established with useful clarity: Legendary 20th century English war poet Siegfried Sassoon embarks on a life long quest for personal salvation through his experiences with family, war, his w

What stands out first about Ailey is the confidence with which Jamila Wignot establishes its documentary identity. Rather than relying on premise alone, Ailey asks Alvin Ailey and Cicely Tyson to supply personality from the opening stretch. The premise of Ailey is established with useful clarity: An immersive portrait of dance pioneer Alvin Ailey, told through his own words and a new dance inspired by his life. That direct approach lets Ailey use its 1h 35m running time for c

What stands out first about Compartment Number 6 is the confidence with which Juho Kuosmanen establishes its romance identity. Rather than relying on premise alone, Compartment Number 6 asks Seidi Haarla and Yura Borisov to supply personality from the opening stretch. The premise of Compartment Number 6 is established with useful clarity: As a train weaves its way up to the arctic circle, two strangers share a journey that will change their perspective on life. That direct ap

What stands out first about Together is the confidence with which Stephen Daldry establishes its comedy identity. Rather than relying on premise alone, Together asks James McAvoy and Sharon Horgan to supply personality from the opening stretch. The premise of Together is established with useful clarity: A husband and wife are forced to re evaluate themselves and their relationship through the reality of the COVID 19 lockdown. That direct approach lets Together use its 1h 32m