The Films of 2026

[Boosmahn]

Na Hong-jin's Hope boldly asks the question: what if we spouted a bunch of nonsense after 140 so-so minutes and then rolled credits?

Fresh out of the theater, right now I can't get my head around that ending, but even before then I was oscillating between states of, "Oh, that's pretty cool," and genuine frustration. I didn't feel much of anything for the characters, the first hour and (unforgivably) the climactic action scene drag on and on, and the action is frequently repetitive and/or weightless.

Is Hope parody? Is it earnest? I wish I could tell. This is very, very rare for me: I feel robbed.

[Lowry_Sam]

Is Hope parody? Is it earnest? I wish I could tell. This is very, very rare for me: I feel robbed.

I'm surprised anyone would want to see it after the trailer.

[cantinflas]

Makoto Nagahisa's Burn

Very striking trailer, hopefully the whole film is this mesmerising.

Ecstatic to report that indeed it is. Watching it put me into sheer delirium and brought me to tears. Aesthetically it is off the chain with rich colouring and imagery in a stunning boxed frame, with hallucinatory sequences and knockout performances. While it's probably the most depressing film I've seen in a while it generates a real catharsis. Runaway, down and out teens finding and losing each other is the kind of film that speaks directly to me, moreso when it's in this style that gives peak detached 90s/00s vibes. Hope more people find this masterpiece.

[Soy Cuba]

'Rose'

Rose decides to set up a farm on land she inherits and the community begins to take her in as one of their own. The scenes are sometimes sparse and sometimes brutal. But Sandra Hüller, just wow. She truly deserves to be spoken about as one of the finest actors on the planet. She gives a remarkable performance here. Her worn face, her little facial movements, the way she walks, the way she shouts, the way she conveys emotion in the latter parts of the film. It’s all just gripping and amazing.

There are obvious Tarkovsky, Tarr, Pawlikowski and Haneke comparisons regarding tone and photography (cinematographer Gerald Kerkletz’ work here is outsnadning). Director Markus Schleinzer worked with Haneke on The White Ribbon so you can see that seeping through. Overall it’s a rather sad story and even more tragic to think how, in some aspects the world hasn’t really moved on in 300 years (although this is entirely fictional, not based on real events)

It's been a while since I rated a film 10 out of 10. This film is incredible, beautiful and devastating.

[nitin]

Tonally I was reminded of White Ribbon and Dreyer

Spoiler

the last 15 min are very Passion of Joan of Arc coded

And also thought that apart from Huller's typically great work, Caro Braun also matched her really well