This is going to be a great month for film, and for our neighborhood in particular. This month I give you reviews of two films that likely will be nominated for Oscars; one of those should produce (at least) one winner.

But first, I am happy to present “Cinema of Survival: Ukraine’s Fight for Freedom—Through the Lens of Film.” I preview the series below, but also see www.mca80238.com/event-calendar/cinema-of-survival for more detailed information and for ticketing. This is a joint production among the Central Park MCA, Ukrainians of Colorado, MSU Denver, and yours truly. All proceeds go toward aiding humanitarian relief efforts in Ukraine. The series will be a great event where we can all learn, celebrate, and get involved in positive action. I hope you can join us for one or more of the shows. And please bring friends!

“Cinema of Survival: Ukraine’s Fight for Freedom—Through the Lens of Film”

All screenings and discussions will be at The Cube, 8371 Northfield Blvd.

A Rising Fury (2022) Friday 2/9 @6:30pm

This documentary delves into the heart of Ukraine’s recent tumultuous events, capturing the escalating fury and determination of a nation fighting for its sovereignty and democratic ideals.

The Music of Survival: The Story of the Ukrainian Bandurist Chorus (2015) Saturday 2/10 @1pm

This short documentary explores the remarkable journey of the Ukrainian Bandurist Chorus, an ensemble that has become a symbol of resistance and cultural preservation amidst political upheaval.

Black Raven (2022) Saturday 2/10 @3pm

This short documentary uses personal experiences to tell the story of the Holodomor genocide of Ukrainians in 1932–1933.

Klondike (2022) Saturday 2/10 @6:30pm

See my review from November ‘22 about this wonderful and devastating film from director Maryna Er Gorbach: https://frontporchne.com/article/indie-prof-the-2022-denver-film-festival. You won’t want to miss this one.

Freedom on Fire (2022) Sunday 2/11 @1pm

This documentary offers a powerful and heart-wrenching view of Ukraine’s journey through revolution and war, highlighting the unbreakable spirit of its people. The screening includes a Q&A session with the director via Zoom from Kyiv, Ukraine.

The Holdovers (2023)

Director Alexander Payne gives us not only an exceptional story set in the early 70s, but also a film that is from the early 70s. This could very well have been sitting on the shelf for 50+ years while just arriving at theaters now in some sort of timeslip. The formal aspects—cinematography, editing, sound, the period setting/décor/costumes, and even the titles and credits—spring directly from the 70s and recall that interesting period in film history. The film is masterfully constructed and all of the elements come together to produce a wonderful whole. To top it all off, the story is delightful, the writing is fantastic, and the acting is first rate all around. It’s all a treat.

The story takes place outside of Boston in 1970: At a boys’ prep school, an irascible teacher (Paul Giamatti) is tasked with staying behind during the holiday break with several students who are “holding over,” that is, not going home. That group dwindles down to just one student, a smart but snarky and vituperative young man (Dominic Sessa) who was ditched by his mother and stepfather. This unlikely duo also spends time with kitchen director Mary (Da’Vine Joy Randolph), who has just lost her son in Vietnam. It’s hard to overstate the acting from this trio: Giamatti is brilliant and just picked up a Golden Globe for his performance; Sessa is wonderful, dynamic, and vibrant; and Joy Randolph is beyond a revelation—she pulls off the exacta of being understated and effervescent at the same time. She also won a Golden Globe and is the favorite (according to this critic) for the Best Supporting Actress Oscar.

Great acting and excellent technical aspects always point to one thing: expert directing. Alexander Payne gives us that in every frame and beyond. He has been a standout since the early 90s with a phenomenal filmography: Election, About Schmidt, Sideways, Nebraska, and The Descendants among others. His films are always expertly staged, brilliantly acted, and technically savvy. The Holdovers is another star in his wonderful career.

Available on Peacock or for rent.

Beyond Utopia (2023)

“We were captured in a huge, virtual prison.”

Such are the words of a North Korean defector in this tense, riveting, and powerful new documentary directed by Madeleine Gavin. We follow two stories of North Korean defectors: One is a young male, who is 17 years old, trying to reunite with his mother in South Korea. The other is a family of five: a grandmother, her son, his wife, and the couple’s two young daughters. They are all attempting to cross the border into China.

The central character of the film is Seungeun Kim, a South Korean pastor whose life’s work is helping North Koreans defect. A defector himself, his activism is born of awful personal tragedy as well as his own journey. He uses funding from his church in Seoul to pay a network of agents throughout North Korea, China, Vietnam, and Laos to offer help and passage. The path is dangerous, brutal, and difficult. Sometimes Kim joins the fray and moves along with the defectors, but his own personal situation is tenuous (South Korean intelligence has told him to stay put since he is wanted in all of the aforementioned countries). Yet he soldiers on.

The film itself is well-structured, edited for maximum effect, and makes use of only real footage (without reenactments). We walk through the jungles with the family, we squat with them as they hear dogs in the distance, we struggle with them over slippery rocks at night, and we experience every range of emotion with them. The night vision camera adds to the visceral nature of the tension, but this is no contrived Hollywood plot; these are real people with real consequences at stake. We feel that throughout, and our hearts live and die with everyone involved. I won’t give away the ending, but be prepared for all outcomes.

Available for rent.

Vincent Piturro, PhD, is a Professor of Film and Media Studies at MSU Denver. Contact him directly at vpiturro@msudenver.com or follow him on Twitter. For more reviews, search The Indie Prof at FrontPorchNE.com.