Seventh Row’s guide to 10 must-see films — five docs and five features — at the 2016 San Francisco Film Festival, seven of which are directed by women.
Essays
Chantal Akerman’s final film No Home Movie is a heartbreaking personal essay
Chantal Akerman’s moving cinematic essay is a tribute to her mother, a holocaust survivor, and a subtle exploration of Jewish “suitcase-ready” culture.
Standing Tall is a gritty coming-of-ager told through rose-coloured glasses
Emmanuelle Bercot’s sophomore film is the story of Malony (Rod Paradot), a teenager prone to crime, and the justice system which only wants the best for him.
Jazz trumpeters reminisce in unconventional biopics Miles Ahead and Born to Be Blue
After a 28 year dry spell, the jazz biopic returns, with films about trumpet legends Chet Baker (Born to Be Blue) and Miles Davis (Miles Ahead).
Mountains May Depart charts the consequences of youthful decisions
Told in three distinct parts over the course of 30 years, it begins as a simple love triangle and expands, along with its aspect ratio, into a story that reverberates through future generations: the country and the film’s protagonist change.
Vogueing at Berlinale: Kiki and Strike a Pose
Despite being a rather niche subject, two films about vogueing competed in the Panorama Documentary section at this year’s Berlin Film Festival.