Sara Clements

Region A Blu-ray

Commentary with director Hannah Pearl Utt, writer Rhianon Jones, producer Mallory Schwartz, and executive producer Tristan Scott-Behrends

Trailer

Booklet featuring an essay by film critic Sara Clements

English SDH subtitles

“My Dead Friend Zoe” is a raw and visceral look into the lives of veterans grappling with the invisible scars of war. At the heart of the film lies the devastating reality that comes after the return home: American veterans with PTSD have been found to have “an unadjusted rate of 50.7 deaths by suicide per 100,000 person-years of risk, compared to a rate of 13.2 in the general adult population,” according to a study for the National Library of Medicine. This grim statistic underpins the journey of Merit (Sonequa Martin-Green), a U.S. Army veteran not only battling the demons of PTSD but is...

"Mr. Nobody Against Putin” is a hauntingly powerful documentary that brings to light the silent courage of civilians in the face of an oppressive regime. Directed by David Borenstein, this film follows the journey of Pasha Talankin, an event organizer and videographer at Karabash Primary School in Russia, while he navigates the disturbing and often heartbreaking transformation of his school into a propaganda machine for Putin’s war in Ukraine. The footage, captured by Pasha himself, tells a story of bravery that often goes unseen – the bravery of those who dare to expose the truth in a...

“Sauna,” directed by Mathias Broe, is a captivating and emotionally rich exploration of love, identity, and the complexities of queer spaces. Set against the vibrant backdrop of Copenhagen’s queer scene, the film offers an intimate portrayal of Johan (Magnus Juhl Andersen), a lonely receptionist and custodian working at a gay sauna. While the environment is filled with parties, fleeting pleasure, and the excitement of sexual liberation, Johan longs for something deeper – a connection that transcends the brief encounters of the night.

The narrative is a tender study of desire and...

A library isn’t just a building full of old books; it’s an archive of history, a tool for future education, and an opportunity to rewrite the narrative. Shiro and Wachuka are on a journey of undertaking an incredibly monumental task: transforming libraries – historic buildings that hold Kenya’s colonial past within their walls – into vibrant, inclusive cultural hubs of learning and community. In “How to Build a Library,” directors Maia Lekow and Christopher King unravel layers of personal ambition, cultural restoration, and political struggle while blending history with the present in a...

There’s so much horror in the unknown. Sure, as The Monkey’s tagline says, “everyone dies,” but it’s the how and when that makes that fact so terrifying. Of course, when it comes to dissecting our deepest, darkest fears, there’s no better genre than horror. Based on the Stephen King short story of the same name, director Osgood Perkins, the visionary behind Longlegs, uses the already well-painted strokes of King’s work to craft a horror film that feels fresh, cleverly balancing absurdist...

After a long wait, Paddington is finally back with a new adventure. Stepping into Paul King’s shoes as director, Dougal Wilson’s Paddington in Peru is still as warm-hearted, humorous, and entertaining as the first two films, bringing both the beloved bear and the Brown family to new and unexpected places — literally and emotionally. After spending quite a few years in London, you would think that Paddington would have discovered all there is to know about fa...

Documentaries give the audience a window into the lives of people they would never have known existed. People who light the spark of hope for their communities, much like the subject at the center of Sara Khaki and Mohammadreza Eyni’s film, “Cutting Through Rocks.” Told with poignancy and beautifully shot by Eyni, the film follows Sara Shahverdi, the first elected councilwoman in her Iranian village, and her courageous fight to challenge entrenched patriarchal norms. Her journey of breaking barriers – both cultural and personal – sees Shahverdi taking on some of the most difficult issues...

All That’s Left of You, directed and written by Cherien Dabis, is a poignant and contemplative film that delves deep into the heart of the Palestinian-Israeli conflict by examining the devastating history through the perspective of a single family. What makes this film particularly impactful is not only its exploration of one family’s journey but also the universality of the story it tells. It’s a narrative rooted in loss, resilience, and an unyielding desire for hope, even in the darkest of ...

Sorry, Baby, winner of the Waldo Salt Screenwriting Award at Sundance, is an impressive debut from writer-director Eva Victor. The film offers a nuanced exploration of trauma and features a character-driven narrative that captivates with deep emotional clarity. At its center is Agnes (played by Victor), a graduate student-turned-professor whose life is irrevocably changed by a traumatic event. The brilliance of Sorry, Baby lies in its refusal to reduce Agnes to merely the sum of her pain. Ins...

“The Perfect Neighbor” is a powerful documentary that explores the devastating consequences of Florida’s stand-your-ground laws, centered on the murder of Ajike Owens. Directed by Geeta Gandbhir, the film provides an unflinching, real-time examination of how a neighborhood dispute escalated into deadly violence. Through a careful integration of police body camera footage, 911 calls, and investigative interviews, the documentary reveals the horror and heartbreak surrounding this senseless act of violence.

Right from the beginning, the film captivates the audience with the haunting sounds...

From its very first frames, Omaha envelops the viewer in a quiet, intimate atmosphere as a father gently picks up his sleeping son, Charlie (Wyatt Solis), from his bed. This seemingly simple moment conveys a profound sense of fragility in their world. Directed by Cole Webley and written by Robert Machoian, the film is a quietly devastating drama that examines the emotional and financial burdens some families endure, particularly through the eyes of a single father and his children. The image ...

In 'By Design,' a Chair Becomes the Unlikely Symbol of Female Objectification and Desire
Not since Flashdance has a chair had such importance to a film’s narrative. In By Design, which had its premiere at the Sundance Film Festival, a chair becomes the lens through which the commodification of women is explored. This quirky premise from writer-director Amanda Kramer is introduced brilliantly as the film’s opening credits unfold like a vintage catalog, fading into a showroom filled with chairs...

For this week’s main podcast review, Sara Clements, Josh Parham, Dan Bayer, Tom O’Brien, and I are here to discuss and review the latest film from Osgood Perkins, “The Monkey,” starring Theo James, Tatiana Maslany, Christian Convery, Colin O’Brien, Rohan Campbell, Sarah Levy, Adam Scott & Elijah Wood. Hot off the success of “Longlegs,” Perkins decides to switch gears and adapt the 1980 Stephen King short story as a horror comedy, with some of the year’s darkest humor and shocking kills. What ...

For this week’s main podcast review, Sara Clements, Tom O’Brien, and I are here to discuss and review the latest film from Alex Parkinson, “Last Breath,” starring Woody Harrelson, Simu Liu, Finn Cole, and Cliff Curtis. Based on a true story, the survival thriller film follows a group of deep-sea divers who race to rescue a stranded teammate after an accident. It is a remake of Parkinson’s own 2019 documentary of the same name. What did we think of it? Please tune in below to hear our thoughts...