I recently attended a few virtual screenings from the 2021 Sundance Film Festival. With tons of options to choose from, many caught by eye, but I narrowed it down mostly by availability. Here they are, in no particular order, and I hope you like them as much as I did.
A Glitch in the Matrix
At first, “simulation theory” seemed a bit far-fetched to me. As the film progressed, it posed Plato’s Allegory of the Cave, and eventually I felt like my mind turned inside out. A GLITCH IN THE MATRIX was directed by Rodney Ascher.
Knocking
I am a big fan of psychological thrillers, and KNOCKING shook me up, immersing me in the protagonist’s claustrophobic, frenzied world. During the post-screening discussion, I was amazed to hear that they shot it in 18 days! Friday Kempff does an amazing job of evoking empathy for her characters; I hope to see more from her.
President
Winner of the Sundance special jury award for verité filmmaking, PRESIDENT followed Zimbabwe’s election. This documentary highlighted many universal themes, and after screening it, I learned of Camilla Nielsson’s prior film DEMOCRATS.
R#J
Of the many Romeo and Juliet renditions over the years, R#J stands out to me. Directed by Carey Williams, this film blends modern day themes with Shakespearean dialogue, set in a tech-driven world. I enjoyed the overall energy of this film.
Columbus
I got lucky with COLUMBUS, because even though I didn’t schedule it, Sundance offered it as a “pre-test” before the festival officially began. It originally screened back in 2017, and it’s one of my favorites.
Street Gang: How We Got to Sesame Street
Sesame Street was one of my first outlets to the world as a kid. I told myself that I wasn’t going to cry, especially since I got a little teary-eyed during the promo clips, and I almost made it, but one scene opened up the flood gates. STREET GANG: HOW WE GOT TO SESAME STREET combines archival footage, interviews, and industry insights.
I also attended a few talks, like Shifting Scientific and Immigration Representations in Cinema and Women in Horror. Connecting with others through Sundance’s chat-enabled platform was valuable, and led me to other films, like MASS, to add to my watchlist. I had a great experience overall.
What were your Sundance favorites this year? I’d love to hear your thoughts.
Notes of Currant 