Do you take notes?
There are a lot of new, good films on the agenda. We have listed the must-sees of the moment for you.
Fallen leaves
The winner of the Cannes jury prize Fallen leaves was directed and written by Finland’s most famous director: Aki Kaurismäki. The tragicomic film is about two lonely souls who meet during an average night in Helsinki. Both are looking for love, but that goal proves quite difficult due to alcohol consumption, lost telephone numbers and life’s general tendency to throw up obstacles.
Now in cinemas
Maestro
If Bradley Cooper plays the control freak, then that bodes well. His latest is the Leonard Bernstein biopic Maestro. The A Star Is Born filmmaker is back with a new music-based romance: this time the film follows the decades-long relationship between legendary composer Bernstein (Cooper) and his wife (Carey Mulligan). Their relationship runs into trouble when the musician begins to explore his own sexuality. According to Cooper, we get a look at the life of the acclaimed Bernstein, and above all, a “fearless love story, and an ode to family and love.”
Now in cinemas / from December 20 on Netflix
Priscilla
After the success of Baz Luhrman’s 2022 biopic Elvis, about rock ‘n’ roll icon Elvis Presley, some thought Priscilla came off a bit shabby. She didn’t have much screen time. Sofia Coppola promises things will get better with Priscilla. Based on Priscilla Presley’s biography Elvis & Me. As any Coppola fan knows, the director is not one to romanticize relationships, and this is no different. It makes sense when you consider that the real Priscilla was sidelined, while her husband was hailed as ‘the king’ of rock ‘n’ roll. The film looks at his career through her eyes (Priscilla is played by Cailee Spaeny), so much of the glamor is gone. With a good critical score, it seems to be Sofia Coppola’s best since Lost in Translation.
Now in cinemas
Il Boemo
In the Venice of 1764, the Czech Josef Myslivecek (played by Petr Vaclav) dreams of a career as an opera composer. It seems impossible in a city full of talents and established names. Then an opportunity arises when he becomes the lover of a marchioness. She teaches him his provincial ways and introduces him to her hedonistic circle. He gets success, but at what price? A richly decorated old-fashioned historical drama with impressive music and beautiful sets. The Czech Oscar candidate.
Now in cinemas
One life
Anthony Hopkins plays Sir Nicholas Winton in the inspiring and true story One Life. Winton managed to keep more than 600 Jewish children out of the hands of the Nazis on the eve of WWII. For years he and a number of friends worked to get the children safely from Prague via the Netherlands to England. He blamed himself for not doing enough for decades, until he was honored in the BBC program That’s life! in 1988. In addition to Hopkins, we see Johnny Flynn as the younger Nicholas, but also Helena Bonham Carter, Lena Olin. Now in theaters
It just depends on what you feel like, but there is plenty of choice! In any case, these five new films should not be missing from your watch list. Which one will you start with first?
Text: Jorrit Niels | Image: Priscillca
