“Teenage Sex and Death at Camp Miasma” by Jane Schoenbrun
I am not the first OBSCURAE collaborator to sing praises for Schoenbrun’s latest film, but trust me when I say that every good word is beyond deserved. A perfect balance between gripping humor and action sequences with a nuanced exploration of a delicate topic, Teenage Sex and Death at Camp Miasma is a film that made me feel seen and accepted in a way few films have managed to this degree.
As a film that can be both deeply personal and healing, while also being undoubtedly entertaining and uplifting, I firmly believe that any non-bigoted viewer who chooses to engage with it will leave the experience feeling satisfied. And for those of us who have embraced it as a new cult classic, it is sure to center a lot of fascinating conversations to come.
Jane Schoenbrun, you’ve done it again!
“Les Misérables” by Fred Cavayé
For viewers interested in a generally faithful adaptation of Victor Hugo’s classic novel, Cavayé’s Les Misérables accomplishes the task successfully. It is an entertaining film that manages to not drag on despite its three hour runtime – although perhaps it leaves something to be desired in terms of standing out as a creative contemporary adaptation of the story. (But then again, it never claimed to do so).
All in all, despite seeming to suffer from ‘Netflix film syndrome’ with its standard cinematography and at times overly blunt visual subtexts, the interlacing of the various characters’ plotlines is smoothly accomplished and worth a watch.
“The Housewife” by Ben Shirinian
On a technical level, The Housewife is a brilliant film. Using all the cinematographic tools at his disposal, Shirinian manages to bring Alyssa Hill’s script to life in a truly immersive experience for the viewers where we are forced to challenge our own prejudices and assumptions after the first twist, masterfully achieved through brilliant camera work and editing choices.
However, despite its seemingly nuanced original premise, the film ends up being concerningly conservative in tone. Particularly the last scene hammers down on the idea that America must protect itself from foreign criminals, which under the current political climate in the US seems like an irresponsible message to send – that is, if it wasn’t the intention all along. The fact that it’s based on real events doesn’t help, and although the original script was written a decade ago, I find it hard to recommend this film without a disclaimer to engage with it critically.
“The Loneliest Man in Town” by Tizza Covi & Rainer Frimmel
Slow paced films centered on emotional reflection are usually not my cup of tea, but The Loneliest Man in Town is so heartwarmingly beautiful that it has become the exception to my general preferences. The easiest way to describe the film is the equivalent to a warm hug, inviting you to bask in the simplicity of existence with its charming characters and hilariously dry humor that left me smiling during most of its runtime.
The passing of time, acceptance of change and realizing that grief and love are two sides of the same coin are only some of the beautiful reflections that Covi & Frimmel achieve with this film. The rest I leave for the viewers to discover for themselves.
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