1. Landline
Gillian Robespierre's follow up to 'Obvious Child' has already been met with excellent reviews. Set against a 1990's backdrop, this comical look at a family falling apart possesses a quirky wit and charm. If Jenny Slate's presence alone wasn't enough to make you watch this movie, maybe the addition of Edie Falco, Jay Duplass, and John Turturro is. Not to mention what appears to be a promising performance from relative unknown Abby Quinn.
2. Rock'N Roll
Rock'N Roll is a fictional and hyperbolic look into the lives of Guillaume Canet and Marion Cotillard. Faced the pressures of middle age and stardom Canet plummets into an all encompassing midlife crisis. All the while, Cotillard becomes invested in her newest role, bringing her work and hilarity home with her.
3. Graduation
'Graduation' is a far more serious film that the two listed above. The film tells the story of Romeo Aldea, a Romanian doctor, and his daughter Eliza, an honors student with plans to study in the UK. All's well in the Aldea household until Eliza is assaulted a day before her last exams. Romeo struggles to gain justice for his daughter, all while worrying about her academic success and the future she may have lost. Cristian Mungiu won the Best Director prize at Cannes for this powerful film about the strength and sacrifice required to protect those closest to us.
4. Birdboy: The Forgotten Children
Don't let its position as an animated film deter you, Birdboy is the farthest thing from a Pixar film. The film is set in a nightmarish landscape, with striking visuals that will have your skin crawling. Cartoon animals pose existential questions and have audiences questioning morality and reality. Excited? You should be!
5. Manifesto
Manifesto solidifies the fact that Cate Blanchett can indeed do no wrong. Through trailer viewing alone, audiences are given a glimpse of the thirteen characters Blanchett portrays over the course of the film. Each character takes on a reimagination of famous manifestos. Men, Women, rich, poor, the old and the young at heart, Blanchett tackles all in this exploration of creativity and passion.
