The Best of the 2021 San Francisco International Film Festival
THE DRY
Courtesy of SFFILM
A murder mystery set in rural Australia is enough to get the attention of many curious moviegoers, but “The Dry” is more than just an engaging concept. Eric Bana (“The Hulk”) stars as Aaron Falk, a Federal Agent returning to his hometown after a long absence for the funeral of a childhood friend. The details of the death have been shrouded in secrecy to outsiders. So after much deliberation, Falk decides to stay in town and investigate. What he ends up finding are more than just secrets within the locals, but a much bigger, more elaborate conspiracy that will test his moral compass. Bana is the main reason to see “The Dry,” crafting a quiet and powerful performance that will surprise many.
I’M FINE (THANKS FOR ASKING)
Courtesy of SFFILM
Shot during the pandemic and fully incorporating the chaos into its narrative, “I’m Fine (Thanks For Asking)” stands out as one of the best Covid-themed films at this year’s festival. Written, directed and starring Kelley Kali, the film takes place over one very long and stressful Los Angeles day. Widowed mother Danny (Kali) has just been evicted and needs quick cash to secure a down payment to a new home. That won’t be easy since her food delivery and hair care clients are only short term solutions, not to mention her 8-year-old daughter is starting to suspect something’s up. It becomes a race to beat the clock as Danny navigates colorful characters while aiming to not be homeless in this fresh and very entertaining comedy.
LANGUAGE LESSONS
Courtesy of SFFILM
Adam (Mark Duplass) has just been gifted online Spanish lessons but would rather lounge around his spacious home than practice making his adequate grasp of the language even better. But the first lesson with the outgoing instructor (Natalie Morales) goes better than expected, leading to not just more lessons but both parties opening up to each other in unexpected ways. “Language Lessons” is another film shot during the pandemic that makes the most out of its constraints to maximum effect. In this case, the story is shown mostly through Zoom in two different locations, making the film seem deceptively simple while allowing the dialogue (Duplass and Morales co-wrote the script) and performances to take center stage. “Language Lessons” grabs you from the start and instantly becomes endlessly entertaining.
LILY TOPPLES THE WORLD
Courtesy of SFFILM
A documentary about a world-renowned domino toppler may seem odd at first glance but “Lily Topples the World” is engaging enough to entertain both hard-core fans of the genre and newcomers too. Twenty-year-old Lily Hevesh started out as a YouTube sensation and the only female toppler with any serious skill in the art of domino construction. Her pieces have been featured in movies, TV and other outlets, earning her and her team of craftsmen a hugely dedicated following. The camera crew following her every move in “Lily Topples the World” show the ups and downs of how the art has progressed in the time she has been a part of it and make the film highly enjoyable and a must see experience for creators of all walks of life.
POPPY FIELD
Courtesy of SFFILM
Cristi is a Romanian policeman with a big secret, he is a gay man in a chauvinist and unforgiving workplace. Keeping his private life private is not easy for the deeply conflicted officer and that stress even begins to affect the bond with his long-distance boyfriend. After Cristi and his squad are called to break up a homophobic protest at a movie theater, things quickly escalate and test boundaries within the group. A protester even raises the chaotic stakes by recognizing Cristi and threatening to expose his private affairs, resulting in a surprising climax. “Poppy Field” is full of razor-sharp dialogue and kinetic energy that will put viewers on edge in the best way possible.
SUPERCOOL
Courtesy of SFFILM
It’s obvious from its opening moments that the new film “Supercool” wants to be “Superbad” for a new generation and that’s not necessarily a bad thing. Best friends Neil and Gilbert are nerdy high school outcasts who dream about what most high schoolers dream about, sex and partying. Through raunchy misadventures and dumb luck, the duo stumble on both of these things to mixed results. A plot device that mixes shades of 80’s classic “Big” doesn’t work as well as it should, but the party that is “Supercool” still entertains due to the strong chemistry of lead actors Jake Short and Miles J. Harvey. To make a film like this work, energy is key and these two feel like best friends that have been through the highs and awkward lows of high school.
