A tale about beauty standards, a biopic of an Andalusian rock band, the story of a child being awaited and that of a father being reunited with, here are some films to see soon in theaters.
The Ugly Stepsister by Emilie Blichfeldt
We all know the story by heart: a handsome prince, a ball, a beautiful young woman condemned to do housework for her wicked stepfamily, and a shoe as the sole clue to who will become the kingdom's princess. Except this time, Norwegian director Emilie Blichfeldt tells the story of Cinderella from the perspective of the wicked stepsister. She, too, wants to marry the prince. But she lacks the natural beauty of her mother's deceased husband's daughter. To meet the kingdom's demanding beauty standards, she will have to endure humiliations and particularly gruesome surgical procedures. Borrowing from the body horror genre , reminiscent of The Substance , The Ugly Stepsister is a satire as brilliant as it is extreme. A terrifyingly contemporary tale.
In theaters July 2th.
Second prize by Isaki Lacuesta and Pol Rodriguez
For fans of 1990s alternative rock, Los Planetas is a cult band. Rather than a conventional biopic, Segundo Premio focuses on the band's pivotal period: the complex writing of their third album, a time when the bassist had just left the group, the singer was experiencing writer's block, and the guitarist was battling serious addiction problems. It's an interesting period because it resonates universally, questioning the creative process in general rather than the specific anecdote of a band not necessarily familiar to less musically inclined or non-Spanish-speaking audiences. However, nothing is as universal as what is highly specific. Well aware of this maxim, the directors situate their film within the band's stylistic legacy: demanding, somewhat punk, and overflowing with love for their city, Granada.
In theaters July 16th.
Vittoria by Alessandro Cassigoli and Casey Kauffman
They already have three boys, but she wants a girl. She doesn't want to get pregnant again and would rather adopt. Her husband is against it, but he's easily influenced. A hairdresser in a suburb south of Naples, Jasmine doesn't have a high income, but she's willing to take the risk. Skillfully blurring the lines between fiction and documentary (the protagonists play themselves and reinterpret their story in this scripted film), Vittoria is a powerful film about adoption, sometimes very difficult (the scene where the family meets little Vittoria, soon to be adopted, is as terrible and cruel as it is moving), but above all, filled with love.
In theaters July 23th.
Sentimental value by Joachim Trier.
Winner of the Grand Prix at the last Cannes Film Festival and the latest film in what Joachim Trier calls the "Oslo Trilogy"—which already comprised three films: Reprise , Oslo, August 31st , and Julie (in twelve chapters ) —Sentimental Value resembles the Norwegian filmmaker's previous works. We see the return of some of his favorite actors, such as Renate Reinsve and Anders Danielsen Lie, while others join the family: Stellan Skarsgård and the American actress Elle Fanning. But, while remaining very subtle, Sentimental Value is richer than the other installments of the trilogy. Several stories intertwine, including that of a somewhat washed-up director who, through a new film, seeks to reconcile with his daughter, a renowned stage actress suffering from bouts of depression, who is trying to distance herself from her father, whom she both despised and admired. And in their midst, the unassuming sister, who rejected the limelight of an artistic career, but who tries to reunite the family. Fascinating characters, who ring true, and as many stories as there are floors in the old family home in Oslo, which has witnessed many trials and many reconciliations.
In theaters on August 20th.
