From left: “Emerge”; “Are you there, God? It’s me, Margaret’; ‘Past Lives’; “Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse”; and “Godland”.
Shown: Allyson Riggs/A24/Courtesy Everett Collection. Past: Jon Pack/A24/Courtesy The Everett Collection. Spider-Man: Courtesy of Sony Pictures. Margaret: Dana Hawley/Lionsgate. Godland: Courtesy of the Cannes Film Festival.
A transcendent chamber piece, Aleem Khan’s feature-length directorial debut is graced by an extraordinary lead role from Joanna Scanlan as an Englishwoman who years ago converted to Islam in order to get married – only to discover, when her husband dies, that he was in a shocking situation lived a double life. It’s a wondrous study of grief, jealousy, and ultimately compassion, all done with very little dialogue. — LESLIE FELPERIN
Kelly Fremon Craig’s adaptation of Judy Blume’s classic novel about a girl on the verge of puberty is charming, heartwarming and beautifully acted and voiced. However, its magic comes from the respectful revival of the source material: the film stays close to Margaret and her feelings, using them to honor an already solid narrative while expanding our understanding of the world around her. — LOVIA GYARKYE
Véréna Paravel and Lucien Castaing-Taylor not only take us deep into the world of invasive medical procedures in several Parisian hospitals, but also deeper into the human body than any feature-length documentary has ever seen. For those who can take it, this fascinating look at modern surgery is an unforgettable experience that makes us reflect on our own humanity as we watch humans become pure flesh and blood. – JORDAN MINTZER
In the late 19th century, a young priest travels from Denmark to Iceland, where his mission is mocked by nature and the evanescence of his faith in Hlynur Pálmason’s fascinating elemental epic. This description suggests dark suspects, but there’s a wonderfully odd vein of devious humor running through the film, coupled with an unpredictability that draws you in. It is a work of grim majesty that exerts a powerful influence. – DAVID ROONEY
Rebecca Zlotowski’s latest film stars the amazing Virginie Efira as a 40-something teacher whose bond with her boyfriend’s little daughter inspires unexpected maternal longings, and demonstrates her gift for bringing freshness and charm, cleverness and sexiness to formulas. It has all the contours of a traditional Parisian dramedy, but gradually deepens into something much harder and smarter. – JON FROG
Glimpses, shifts in body language, and willful silence combine in an unsettling confrontation with approval and robbery in Jamie Dack’s subtle, poignant debut about the relationship between a 17-year-old girl and a man twice her age. Lead actors Lily McInerny and Jonathan Tucker evoke the endearing awkwardness of courtship while never losing sight of the terrifying nature of this relationship. — LG
It’s difficult to convey the multi-layered beauty of playwright Celine Song’s exquisite debut feature film other than urging people to see it for themselves and experience its captivating magic. The melancholy love drama stars Greta Lee as a woman observed at three points in time, with Teo Yoo and John Magaro as the men whose fates are linked to hers on two continents. It’s a film that encourages you to look back into your own life, to reflect on crossroads and how a different course would have changed your identity. – DR
Julie Ledru plays a motorcyclist claiming her place in the brotherhood of outlaw dirt bike “rodeo” and leads a mostly amateur group who, in all seriousness, take no prisoners. The hustle and bustle in the Paris suburbs has been portrayed before, but never from the point of view of such an uncategorizable protagonist. Lola Quivoron’s gripping genre mashup is a crime story, a character study and an existential mystery, a celebration and a lament, both dark and transcendent. – SHERI LINDEN
Portland’s Oregon College of Art and Craft provides a great setting for Kelly Reichardt’s thoughtful, touching, and unexpectedly funny character study about a woman (Michelle Williams) who makes art while navigating the stressful vortex of everyday problems outside her garage studio. The film shows once again that Reichardt’s collaboration with Williams is one of the most rewarding collaborations in contemporary American independent cinema. – DR
Though it may seem leaden with the backstory, this gripping second chapter in the Spider-Verse series vibrates with the same unbridled energy as its predecessor, as Miles takes on challenges across the multiverse. The result is a visual feast with an impressive layering of styles and a hero that’s still worth rooting for. — LG
This story first appeared in the June 21 issue of magazine. Click here to login.