Tag: oscars

The colour, the luster, the luminescence. “The Girl Who Cried Pearls” (2025)

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directed by Chris Lavis & Maciek Szczerbowski
© 2025 National Film Board of Canada. All Rights Reserved.

If you’ve been following me for some time, you may probably know that I’m a huge fan of stop-motion animation. And no matter what, I will always support such films. Luckily, this short is not only technically beautiful, but also moving when it comes to the story. A grandfather is telling his granddaughter a story about an unusual girl. She was very miserable and, instead of tears, she was crying pearls. One day, her neighbour noticed that and wanted to see whether those pearls are real. When he found out that they are indeed of a significant value, at first he wanted to sell them and improve his life situation. However, seeing the girl suffering so much was heart-breaking and the boy decided to do everything to make her happy, even though it means no more pearls to sell. It’s an adorable story about, well, being a decent person. Maybe it’s not that complex and surprising, but it’s simply pleasant. I’m sure that both children and adults might find something interesting for themselves in this film. As I said, I love every stop-motion animation, so maybe I’m not objective, but in the end – my blog, my rules. Jokes aside, making such short film takes so much effort and creativity that I’d award all filmmakers who choose this method. Besides, the production in this case might be quite unpredictable. I’ve read that the crew of today’s film left a part of the set outside and the unexpected rain changed the shape of it, which actually made it look unique and suitable for the story. That wouldn’t have happened if they were animating purely on the screen, right? If you’re still not a fan of this method, I hope “The Girl Who Cried Pearls” will change your mind. Enjoy!

My rating: 7/10
S.

I see you. “A Friend of Dorothy” (2025)

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directed by Lee Knight
© 2025 Filthy Gorgeous Productions. All Rights Reserved.

If you’re looking for a new friend, just kick the football really hard and see where it lands. Then go there, knock on the door and let the friendship begin! That’s basically how the story goes here. A teenage boy named JJ (Alistair Nwachukwu) meets Dorothy (Miriam Margolyes), who’s an elderly widow living alone. She’s a typical grumpy grandma from the neighbourhood, but somehow those two have a good vibe between each other. Instead of shouting at the boy for kicking the ball into her property, Dorothy invites him over for a cup of tea. And that’s how an unexpected friendship begins. It’s an adorable short film about building connections despite differences in age, gender, race, or any other. In fact, thanks to Dorothy and JJ, we get reminded that such unusual relations may be surprisingly beneficial for both sides. Also, recently I’ve learnt a new expression – “family by choice” – which refers to all our closest friend, to whom we’re not actually related, but they are like family members to us. Because sometimes, our real families might not fulfil our needs for affection, trust or support. And then, it’s important to search for that somewhere else. In this case, someone found a loving grandma, and the other person found a supportive grandson. If you’re in need for some serotonin, this short film definitely provides it. Make friends, my dearest readers!

My rating: 7/10
S.

The shoe will fit her. “The Ugly Stepsister” (“Den stygge stesøsteren”, 2025)

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directed by Emilie Blichfeldt
© 2025 Scanbox Entertainment. All Rights Reserved.

I’ve read a comment saying that this film is a combination of “Cinderella” and “The Substance”… and I couldn’t agree more. That’s exactly what I had in mind while watching “The Ugly Stepsister”. And I must say – I loved it! The film crew took such a boringly common story and made a unique horror out of it. So, if you remember, Cinderella was the poor girl that lost her father and had to live with the evil stepmother and two annoying stepsisters. However, in this film, we get to experience the old story from the perspective of one of the stepsisters, Elvira (Lea Myren). When the prince is looking for his future wife among unmarried ladies, both Elvira and Agnes (Thea Sofie Loch Næss), Cinderella-like character, wish to catch his attention. The problem is that Agnes is the pretty one, so Elvira doesn’t have much chance. However, if only she “corrects” some elements of her body, perhaps the prince won’t even hesitate. That is why Elvira goes through a series of surgeries in order to stop being the ugly stepsister. The filmmakers ask a question: what if Cinderella was the bad character? Why do we always tell this story in the same way and never stop to think of other possibilities? That’s something I definitely appreciated here. Another thing is the costumes, make-up and production design that look fabulous and suit the vibe of this production very well. Also, even though it’s labelled as a comedy, it’s a horror as well, so if you’re a sensitive one – better get yourself a blanket to hide under it from time to time. Maybe it’s not a horror full of jumpscares, but it’s rather very realistic and disgusting. All the zoom-ins may stay in your nightmares for a long time. I believe this film speaks for itself, especially since the director was inspired by Brothers Grimm, David Cronenberg and… a Polish pornography maker. So in case you’re caught watching blue movies, you can always say it’s just one of the steps on your path to win an Oscar. You’re welcome.

My rating: 7/10
S.

I have absolutely no interest in myself whatsoever. “Blue Moon” (2025)

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directed by Richard Linklater
© 2025 Sony Pictures Classics. All Rights Reserved.

“You’re not old enough, let’s wait 12 years” – said the director of the film to Ethan Hawke. And they did. Some may think it’s ridiculous – they could have chosen any other older actor. But no, it was always supposed to be Ethan Hawke, and, to be honest, I’m grateful for this stubborness. The film focuses on the character of Lorenz Hart, a famous songwriter, whose work has been admired on Broadway. But it’s not another ordinary biopic with a predictable script, which is definitely a huge plus. We move to 1943, where Hart’s former work partner, Richard Rodgers (Andrew Scott), is celebrating the official premiere of his new musical “Oklahoma!”. The thing is Rodgers decided to cooperate with another writer, Oscar Hammerstein (Simon Delaney), so the night is quite bittersweet for Hart. He sits at the bar and begins a conversation (which is more of a monologue) with a bartender, during which we may learn more about his life, both personal and professional. In fact, the whole opening ceremony is just a background and the main action happens at the bar. At first, I was confused why it takes so long to begin the film, but then I realised that Hart’s monologuing is the main point. I must say, sometimes it was a bit tiring and I was zoning out, but the reason why I’m recommending this production to you is because of the unusual biopic form and Hawke’s performance. Even though my rating is quite average, I do believe Hawke deserved to be awarded for this role. It seems simple, but such are the most difficult to master. And he nailed it! Despite zoning out because of the script, I was absolutely amazed by the power of this character. Just to remind you – he’s just sitting at a bar and talking. That’s it. Yet, you become fascinated by him. Also, it’s a very moving way of presenting what loneliness may look like. That the drunk guy ordering another glass is in fact a lost soul unable to ask for help. I hope you’ll find a moment to see it and reflect on the story.

My rating: 6/10
S.

I just want someone to tell me what to do. “If I Had Legs I’d Kick You” (2025)

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directed by Mary Bronstein
© 2025 A24. All Rights Reserved.

Make children! Be parents! The world needs babies! Who will bring you a glass of water when you’re old?! Sounds familiar? Young adults are shamed for not reproducing, which either leads to their mental health problems or actually having a child… and then mental health problems. Either way, not very pleasant. Today’s film is A24’s quite unique reminder that being an adult is the most difficult job in the world and it’s okay if we perform the absolute minimum. Linda (Rose Byrne) is a psychotherapist, who seems to like helping people, but at the same time she’s slowly getting overwhelmed. In the end, they pay her for listening to complaints and dramas – it can be rather hard. Her husband is a ship captain, so he’s often away, leaving Linda with their daughter with special needs. The girl has a feeding disorder and must be fed through a tube, which means she needs constant assistance. At the beginning of the story, the ceiling in their flat collapses and the entire place gets flooded. That situation is just the prologue to Linda’s mental breakdown. Rose Byrne is highly praised for her performance here and I’m not surprised at all. She managed to understand her character and present it as a good-hearted, strong, yet sensitive woman, who is slowly losing control over her own life. As I said, being an adult is damn difficult. I hate seeing all those influencers pretending that every day they manage to do 120% of whatever they planned and still look fabulous, and have time for taking cringy photos for the background of even cringier quotations. No, the real adult wakes up and hopes to survive the day. Period. It’s okay to be angry with your partner. It’s okay to be tired of your job. It’s okay to be overwhelmed with extra responsibilities. It’s absolutely okay to be a damn human. Perhaps not all of you will like the character of Linda, but I appreciate showing the ugly truth of “normality”. Watch it, reflect and stop meeting other people’s expectations.

My rating: 7/10
S.

To live with our hearts open. “Hamnet” (2025)

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directed by Chloé Zhao
© 2025 Focus Features. All Rights Reserved.

Oscars are coming, but I do not really care. Because if “Hamnet” doesn’t win as the Best Picture, I don’t even want to hear about it. According to me, no film of the nominees is as good as “Hamnet”. Not even close. If you want to see a quality cinema with spectacular acting, amazing costumes and production design, engaging story full of real emotions – then that’s it. Chloé Zhao takes us back to the times of William Shakespeare, but, unlike in other films, the spotlight is put on his wife, Agnes Hathaway (Jessie Buckley). She’s said to be a forest witch’s daughter, which seems to attract William (Paul Mescal) even more. Well, he had a specific type, can’t lie. He’s fascinated by Agnes’ bravery and love for nature, while she’s mesmerised by William’s imagination and storytelling skills. Those two fall in love and have 3 children, which seems like a perfect life. Unfortunately, William spends a lot of time in London working on his plays, while Agnes misses his presence at home. The things get even more complicated when their only son, Hamnet (Jacobi Jupe), is suffering from a serious illness and Agnes’ healing skills seem to be insufficient. I don’t want to spoil more, because it’s really worth experiencing this story to the fullest. Since we know very little about Shakespeare’s family life, the screenplay is fictional, but there are several facts it’s based on. I feel like Chloé Zhao wanted to create the character of Agnes to show she’s more than just a famous writer’s wife. That she had to be a strong individual to go through the reality she was living in. It’s a story about how unusual love can be and how differently each person searches for ease in case of experiencing incredible pain. What Jessie Buckley does in this film is… out of this world. I had chills watching each scene and she made me forget it’s not real. But Jessie’s emotions were beyond being real. Thanks to her, the character of Agnes was complete. Also, she represents the uniqueness of women, which may show in numerous ways, far from common stereotypes. But at the same time, the film doesn’t make William the bad one. Instead, we get the message that those two needed to complement each other, even though they were different human beings with their own needs, values and weaknesses. To me, this film is also a lesson that a quality relation may flourish in unprecedented circumstances and it’s important to connect on a profound level. Anything shallow is of little importance. I believe each person may benefit from seeing “Hamnet” and get whatever they need from it at the moment. I did and I’m thankful. This is the best picture of 2025. Nothing more to add.

My rating: 9/10
S.

It was time to change it all. “Two People Exchanging Saliva” (“Deux personnes échangeant de la salive”, 2024)

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directed by Natalie Musteata & Alexandre Singh
© 2024 The New Yorker. All Rights Reserved.

Probably the best short film I’ve seen in years! Period. Now go and watch… You’re still here? Ugh, fine. So let me tell you shortly why you must see this one. It’s a dystopian story about a world where intimacy is a crime. Kissing another person is forbidden, so nobody brushes their teeth in order to discourage potential physical contact. In the same world, people don’t use money – instead, they are being slapped in the face. The more expensive the service, the bigger number of slaps. In case you’re confused, I’m a huge fan of dystopian productions, so to me it’s incredibly interesting! Anyway, we need a protagonist – and that’s Malaise (Luàna Bajrami), a young woman who’s just got a job at a fancy departement store. One day, she meets an important client, Angine (Zahra Amir Ebrahimi), a wealthy housewife that spends a lot of money on shopping there. Malaise approaches her quite directly, which surprises the cutomer, but at the same time catches her attention. From now on, Angine requests Malaise to be her personal assistant during shopping at the store. The connection they’re bulding doesn’t look that professional anymore and the chemistry is quite visible. But how to get intimate in the world deprived of it? Even though the idea for this story might seem ridiculous, I absolutely loved it. First, the value of money is presented as physical violence that people accept. To me, it’s a visualisation of how much we sacrifice to get the things we want. Perhaps we’re not being slapped in real life, but just think how much energy and effort you put into earning money that you later spend. Isn’t it some kind of self-violence as well? Second, we get a strange picture of forbidden attraction, which reminds us how ridiculous it is to restrict people from loving who they want. In this case, the two ladies cannot deepen their relation because of the silly kissing rule. It is aburd, isn’t it? So now, let’s return to our reality – isn’t it absurd to stop two people of the same sex to love each other? Do people of different sexual orientation than hetero must put on masks and pretend to be someone else? Do they need to “eat garlic” and “avoid toothpaste”? Can’t even describe how much food for thought this short film has given me and I really hope you will find a moment to see it. My absolute winner this year!

My rating: 9/10
S.

I am the reaper of death. Now say my name! “The Alabama Solution” (2025)

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directed by Andrew Jarecki & Charlotte Kaufman
© 2025 HBO. All Rights Reserved.

Is it okay to murder the murderer? Well… I won’t answer this question, but I invite you to another philosophy lesson on this blog, and all that because of “The Alabama Solution”. It’s a documentary that may really play with your mind and values. In 2019, the filmmakers, Andrew and Charlotte, visited one state prison to record some religious event taking place. As they were there, several prisoners approached them in secret to share that they’re being abused on a daily basis. Imagine, a person who committed a crime (even a murder) asks you for help because they’re in danger. What do you do? Andrew and Charlotte decide to investigate and, with the participation of the prisoners, they create this documentary to show the reality behind bars. What you will see is drastic and heart-breaking, but at the same time incredibly confusing. I believe no person should be allowed to torture or kill another one, without exceptions. However, it was difficult for me to sympathise with the prisoners, because they weren’t there without a reason. Once again, they should be punished for their crimes, but additional harming is definitely an example of power abuse. Unfortunately, I do imagine why people might ignore this problem – in the end, they would care about the criminals who had perhaps hurt their beloved ones. It is an extremely difficult topic and the documentary made me reflect on it for a long time. I wish it was a series, so we could dig deeper and try to create several answers to those complex questions. The film left me curious, but not fully informed, at least not as much as I’d like. Technically, it’s an average documentary, but the idea for it makes it outstanding. If you’re ready for such philosophical experience, I highly recommend it.

My rating: 6/10
S.

Who’s fighting? I’m racing. “F1” (2025)

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directed by Joseph Kosinski
© 2025 Warner Bros. Pictures. All Rights Reserved.

It took me a lot of time to sit down and watch this film. I couldn’t force myself to see it in the cinema… I mean, it’s a film about car racing… No offence, but I see absolutely nothing tempting about this activity. However, since so many people recommend it and it’s nominated to Oscars, I just had to make myself a big mug of coffee and watch it. And unfortunately, I still see no point in driving around the circle, but I do think this film looks entertaining and from the technical point of view – it is spectacular. So I’m taking you for a ride in F1! Put on the helmet, fasten the seatbelt and check your insurance. At the beginning we get to know Sonny Hayes (Brad Pitt), who used to be a very successful F1 driver in the 90s, but a horrible accident forced him to finish his career. One day, he’s offered to become a mentor for another driver and help him in winning the upcoming races. I mean, the story is as simple as tying sandals, so if you already have an idea how things will go – you’re probably right. And everything here is correct – the screenplay, the plot twists, the acting etc. So it is a complete production. Is it outstanding as a story? Not at all. But the work put into creating this film is enormous. The thing that fascinates me the most is how they managed to shoot the action from the inside of the car, where, as you know, there’s very little space. I guess it’s good that Apple produced “F1” because they were using iPhones in such scenes. Perhaps promoting the usage of their phones as professional video cameras was even the main point of making the film – who knows, just my hypothesis. So, to sum up – it’s a fun action/drama to watch if you appreciate great visual effects and you like cars. Then, you’ll have the time of your life. And even though I still don’t feel the enthusiasm about Formula 1, I try to be objective and point out the good sides. For sure I understand the nomination for the best editing, sound and visual effects, but the best picture… well, that’s questionable. Still, I cannot say it’s a bad production and I believe it truly deserves a recommendation. But risking your life for driving in a circle is something I’ll never support and this story hasn’t changed my mind.

My rating: 7/10
S.

How to make you cry in 13 minutes? “Forevergreen” (2025)

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directed by Nathan Engelhardt & Jeremy Spears
© 2025 Nathan Engelhardt & Jeremy Spears. All Rights Reserved.

Who would have thought that I would feel like crying while watching a short animation about a bear and a tree… Since it’s a short film, my post will be rather short as well, so I don’t spoil too much. It’s one of the animations nominated to Oscars and my personal favourite this year. It tells the story of a little orphaned bear that finds a friend in a big tree. They create a lovely bond and become a quite unusual family, I could say. However, one day the little bear is tempted by something strange in the forest that doesn’t belong there. The tree tries to stop the bear from following the unwelcome thing, but sometimes curiosity wins no matter what… I’m so impressed that the film crew managed to tell such a meaningful story in only 13 minutes. On the one hand, they presented the importance of keeping nature safe and not destroying its ecosystem by our silly human actions. On the other hand, it’s also a story about making mistakes, which are sometimes inevitable, and learning lessons that lead to positive changes in the future. Except the messages coming out of this film, I have to appreciate the beautiful and unique animation style. It took the film crew over 5 years to make it, which sounds incredibly impressive. Let me say – this production was worth all this time. It’s my winner this year for sure.

My rating: 7/10
S.