THE PRESIDENT’S CAKE (2025, Iraq)

February 13, 2026

Greetings again from the darkness. We don’t see a lot of films from Iraq, but if this one from writer-director Hasan Hadi is any indication, the industry there is in fine form with storytelling. While not preachy or heavily politicized, the movie does offer some insight into authoritarianism in the 1990’s under dictator Saddam Hussein. Some would argue that the situation from thirty years ago acts as a modern-day cautionary tale.

Lamia (terrific first-timer Baneen Ahmad Nayyef) is a clever nine-year old who lives in the marshes with her elderly “Bibi” (Waheed Thabet Khreibat). Times are tough in the country due to UN sanctions and the pressure the Saddam Hussein regime pushes down to the citizenry. One of these pressures is the requirement of a national celebration of Saddam’s birthday. “Draw day” comes two days prior as Lamia’s teacher assigns responsibilities for the celebration. Lamia is to bake a birthday cake. This seemingly mundane task is gut-wrenching for Lamia, as she and Bibi barely have enough food to eat themselves. An ingredient list is compiled and Lamia, who feels the intense burden of this assignment, sets out to gather the items.

Lamia has two friends. Classmate Saeed (debuting Sajad Mohammad Qasem) and Lamia’s beloved pet rooster, Hindi, are her only connections outside of Bibi. Lamia and Saeed sometimes play a staring game (first to blink loses), and this serves as both a personal connection and a momentary timeout from the stressful world. It also gives us viewers a short reprieve from this environment as we find joy watching kids be kids, even if it’s a literal blink of an eye. Lamia’s pursuit of the ingredients proves there are creeps and good people in every society, even those under constant threat of war.

Daily life at school has the teacher leading mandatory support sessions for their leader Saddam, and it’s no joking matter. Lamia’s pressure-filled assignment teaches her (and us) that flour is for life, sugar makes life sweeter, and eggs are for fertility. Hadi’s film emphasizes the power of friendship and hope, while Lamia’s dedication to Hindi shows her own sterling mettle. Hadi ends the film with an archival clip of Saddam Hussein celebrating his birthday.

Limited theater opening on February 13, 2026, expanding on February 27, 2026

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Posted by David Ferguson

A PRIVATE LIFE (2026)

January 29, 2026

Greetings again from the darkness. The concept is interesting and relatable. A woman undertakes the solving of a mystery, and in the process, learns a great deal about herself. Writer-director Rebecca Zlotowski w-d (OTHER PEOPLE’S CHILDREN, 2022) and co-writers Anne Berest and Gaelle Mace have delivered a film that works on a couple of levels: as a whodunit and self-discovery.

Oscar winner Jodie Foster plays Lillian Steiner, a successful psychiatrist with a bit of a chip on her shoulder. We see her leave a voicemail for a patient who has just missed her third appointment, followed immediately by an unscheduled drop-by from another patient – this one angry for having spent thousands of dollars for treatment by Lillian, when a hypnotist cured him of his smoking habit with a single visit. Lillian then learns that the no-show patient, Paula Cohen-Solal (Virginie Efira), has died. Paula’s daughter, Valerie (Luana Bajrami), informs her that Paula committed suicide by downing all the pills Lillian had prescribed.

The news sets Lillian off on the case, refusing to believe that she missed any warning signs during her sessions with Paula. A bizarre and uncontrollable case of tears sends Lillian to her ex-husband optometrist, Gabriel (Daniel Auteuil, CACHE, 2005) for an exam. He finds nothing that physically explains the tears, and she then leans on Gabriel for guidance on the case, and the two re-kindle a bit more than that. Lillian’s relationship with her son Julian (Vincent Lacoste) is a bit icy and she purposefully avoids alone time with her baby grandchild. Paula’s husband Simon (Mathieu Amalric, THE DIVING BELL AND THE BUTTERFLY, 2007) and daughter Valerie play key roles here as Lillian tries to put the pieces together.

There is no shortage of characters to keep track of, including Dr. Goldstein (renowned documentarian Frederick Wiseman), a former professor who bluntly explains to Lillian that she’s always been a bit of a pain, and Jessica the hypnotist (Sophie Guilleman) first visited by Lillian’s smoking patient. When Lillian herself goes ‘under’, much is revealed about her past and true feelings, and though she doesn’t admit it, this session has opened her up.

This is a French film and in addition to the French actors mentioned above, a couple other long-time well-respected French actors appear: Aurore Clement (PARIS, TEXAS 1984) and Irene Jacob (AU REVOIR LES ENFANTES, 1987). Some may be surprised at Jodie Foster’s excellemt French dialogue … sprinkled with the occasional colorful English. Cinematographer brilliantly uses spiral staircases as Lillian works through the maze of information, and viewers should take note that this is not the typical ‘American in Paris’ fairy tale. It’s more of a psychological character study.

Opens in theaters on January 30, 2026

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Posted by David Ferguson

THE LOVE THAT REMAINS (2026, Iceland)

January 29, 2026

Greetings again from the darkness. If not for a few bizarre (and interesting) visual metaphors tossed in, one might mistake this film from Icelandic filmmaker Hlynur Palmason (GODLAND, 2022) as a documentary. After all, we are mostly watching one family’s life over the course of a year. There are no car chases or criminal masterminds – just a few people living their lives.

A simple story or film does not necessarily mean boring or dull. Anna (Saga Gardarsdottir) is an artist striving to get her work displayed in a gallery. Magnus (Sverrir Gudnason) works at sea on a commercial fishing vessel. The two longtime lovers are working through the boundaries of their recent separation. While they keep things very cordial and familiar for their three kids, it seems Magnus (“Maggi”) holds hope that they can reconcile, while Anna is trying her best to maintain the break.

We watch as these normal folks go about their normal days. The kids act like kids – playing and exploring and joking around. Anna meets with an annoying museum curator, and Maggi takes his shifts aboard the ship. Another key player is the family dog – perfectly named Panda. There are times the dog seems to have more personality and energy than the others, but of course, life can be that way … we just go about our daily rituals.

The fragility of relationships is front and center here … even though love still exists. Director Palmason includes some stunning shots displaying the beauty of the Icelandic countryside, and the phrasing of one particular piece of dialogue stuck with me: “A relentless monologue of death.” It’s a toss-up whether this movie is more about normal life or whether it’s as much about being lost at sea (both proverbially and actually). American audience may find the pacing a bit slow, but as you might guess, there’s plenty going on.

Opens in NYC theaters on January 30, 2026 and expands regionally in February.

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Posted by David Ferguson

THE TESTAMENT OF ANN LEE (2026)

January 23, 2026

Greetings again from the darkness. One might believe that celibate communal living and worship would have been an easier sell in the 1780’s than today, yet this film from writer-director Mona Fastvold (THE WORLD TO COME, 2020) and co-writer Brady Corbet (THE BRUTALIST, 2024) proves otherwise. It turns out the second coming and extreme shaking while worshipping requires a bit more faith than many possess. The film is based on the true story of Ann Lee, the founder of the Shakers who, along with a small contingency, emigrated to the U.S. from England to spread their beliefs.

That small group of believers who followed Ann Lee (Amanda Seyfried) included her brother William (Lewis Pullman), her husband Abraham (Christopher Abbott), and young Mary (Thomasin McKenzie), among others. Their life is not easy and recruiting a congregation proves challenging. Ann never loses faith and consistently stays true to her beliefs, allowing all to follow … well, except for her husband Abraham who doesn’t much buy into the pure life with no sexual relations requirement. Ann believes that this was Adam and Eve’s sin and is convinced a pure existence is the way to righteous living.

Probably the most unique thing about the film (other than the actual subjects of Ann and the Shakers) is the manner in which the hymns/songs are choreographed and performed. This makes for such an odd visual and there are quite a few of these moments. Tim Blake Nelson plays a pastor who crosses paths with Ann, providing an interesting sequence (as he typically does). The choreography is the work of Celia Rowlson-Hall and the music comes from Oscar winner Daniel Blumberg. Ms. Seyfried delivers yet another standout performance, although this movie certainly won’t be to everyone’s taste. It’s a long film that’s not easy to relate to. Ann Lee saw herself as the female incarnation of God, and the film attempts to show how some believed her.

Opens in theaters on January 23, 2026

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Posted by David Ferguson

H IS FOR HAWK (2026)

January 23, 2026

Greetings again from the darkness. Some losses hit hard. When Helen’s dad dies suddenly and unexpectedly, her downward spiral begins. Writer-director Philippa Lowthorpe and co-writer Emma Donaghue have adapted Helen MacDonald’s 2014 book/memoir for a screen version that moves about as slowly as any movie I’ve ever seen. That’s allowed when depression is taking hold (of Helen, not me).

Claire Foy (THE GIRL IN THE SPIDER’S WEB, 2018) stars as Helen. She’s a natural science academic at Cambridge and has a close relationship with her photojournalist dad (the always great Brendan Gleeson). His death leads her to training a beautiful goshawk she names Mabel. Helen is patient with the bird and spends an inordinate amount of time with the magnificent creature … so much time, in fact, that it jeopardizes her job, her friendships, her family, and quite frankly, her sanity. But that all makes it sound much more exciting than it plays out on screen

Based on Helen’s true story, the time period is 2007, yet we believe this emotional crash could happen to most anyone at any time. Her distraction (which she claims Mabel isn’t) is a bit more worrisome than some, and as her mom (Lindsay Duncan), brother James (Josh Dylan), and best friend Christina (Denise Gough) fret over how best to help her, it turns out time and delivering her dad’s eulogy are even more effective than training the hawk. As odd as it seems, this may be a textbook “finding yourself” story and film.

Opening in theaters on January 23, 2026

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Posted by David Ferguson

WITHOUT KELLY (2026, short film)

January 23, 2026

Greetings again from the darkness. The Sundance Film Festival does a terrific job each year of selecting captivating short films. One of the films in the lineup of this year’s shorts program on January 24, 2026 is from Swedish filmmaker Lovisa Siren, and it’s a gem.

Medea Strid stars as Esther, a young mother who must face the first separation from her child when she’s required to allow the child’s father Anton, played by Truls Carlberg, to spend one week with Kelly. The story was inspired by the director’s own experience as a young parent, and Esther’s emotions are palpable as she struggles to let go … as well as replacing the personal touch that she’s come to depend on.

It’s painful to watch Anton attempt to gently usher Esther away, and perhaps more painful watching her ultimately find the intimacy she craves – from a source she probably shouldn’t. This is a relatable and powerful story and Ms. Strid’s performance carries the ten-minute run time. The film also won the Orizzonti Award for Best Short Film at the 2025 Venice Film Festival.

Selected for Sundance Film Festival shorts program on January 24, 2026

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Posted by David Ferguson

SHEEPDOG (2025)

January 15, 2026

Greetings again from the darkness. We expect movies to entertain us, and the really good ones also carry a message or educate us on some important topic. This film from writer-director Steven Grayhm opens our eyes to the difficulties military veterans face when they return from war. Of course, numerous other films have taken on PTSD, and filmmaker Grayhm is sensitive to this history as he portrays the emotional, physical, and societal challenges that must be dealt with.

Grayhm undertook years of research with veterans and much of what we see here was derived directly from those personal discussions. The film opens with an elderly man in a parole hearing. We learn Whitney St. Germain (the always great Vondie Curtis-Hall) is a veteran and has served 30 years of a life sentence at Leavenworth.  As he’s paroled, we skip to the final day at a paper mill in Massachusetts. Another veteran, Calvin Cole (Mr. Grayhm is also the lead actor) is one of those put out of work – or as Calvin calls it, “between gigs” by the closing of the mill.

It takes a while for these two men to cross paths. By the time they do, Calvin (thanks to drugs and booze) has been charged with assault and forced to participate in a VA program run by Dr. Elecia Knox (Virginia Madsen). An awkward exchange leads Whitney (also known as “Gunny”) to learn Calvin is the ex-husband of his daughter, Alice (Lilli Cooper). The two men share something else – Lilli wants nothing to do with either of them, which becomes the start of a bond … along with the fact they are both veterans, albeit from different eras.

His career as a dependable supporting actor has provided the chance to see Curtis-Hall in this substantial role. His level-headedness and desire to re-connect with his daughter lead him to be supportive of Calvin, who really goes through some emotional stuff thanks to the VA program. Basically, the idea is to tear down the man and rebuild him so that he can control the violent urges and contribute to family and society. Calvin is also helped by his friend and old hockey coach, Clarence (Dominic Fumusa), while Calvin himself does what he can to support his friend Darryl (Matt Dallas), yet another struggling vet.

Some of the banter from these men is so realistic that we assume filmmaker Grayhm used his research specifically. Gunny talks about being unappreciated on his return from Vietnam, while Calvin’s multiple brain injuries are little more than entries in the VA file. It would be nice if the film’s message would inspire some families and friends to reconnect with struggling veterans – those whose ‘normal’ doesn’t feel normal. Providing hope means a great deal.

Opens in limited theaters on December 17, 2025 and then wide on January 16, 2026

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Posted by David Ferguson

MY NEIGHBOR ADOLF (2025)

January 12, 2026

Greetings again from the darkness. We can pick our friends, but not our family or neighbors. However, we can (and do) speculate on and judge our neighbors – and that’s what occurs in this smart little film from writer-director Leon Prudovsky and co-writer Dmitri Malinsky. The premise of the film may initially seem absurd to some, but the final version is touching and quite entertaining.

A short prologue takes us to 1934 in Eastern Europe where a large Jewish family is enjoying their time together and posing for a family portrait. We then flash forward to 1960 South America. It’s after the war, and Polsky (screen vet David Hayman) is living a life of solitude in a dilapidated countryside home. Polsky still grieves for his many losses, while wearing the mark of a Holocaust survivor. He’s a grumpy man who shares pleasantries with neither the friendly postal carrier nor the inquisitive lady inquiring about the empty house next door … a house he would much prefer remain vacant. Polsky spends his days tending the black rose bush, which is his bond to happier times, especially those with his wife.

The previously mentioned inquisitive lady turns out to be Frau Kaltenbrunner (Olivia Sibush), charged with finding a home for the mysterious Mr. Herzog (Udo Kier), a process that means Polsky now has a neighbor – one whose German Shepard named Wolfie breaks through the fence and damages the beloved rose bush. The two men barely acknowledge each other, except for a property line negotiation. Polsky catches a glimpse of Herzog’s eyes without the sunglasses and immediately pegs him as Hitler. Heavy duty research follows as Polsky displays an urgency missing from his life for many years.

Remarkably, the premise is bizarre, yet rather than be the main thrust, it merely leads to the crux of the story. Of course, we understand why Polsky might not believe the media reports of Hitler’s bunker suicide, but he’s taken aback by how investigators show little interest in his evidence, and are more concerned about his own mental health. Almost accidentally, the two men slowly begin relaxing their defenses towards the other. A chess board thaws the ice, as does the slow-to-come conversation. What we soon see are two men, burdened by the past, finally opening themselves up to living again.

An odd twist is handled beautifully by the actors. A few bits of note to go with this one. Frau Kaltenbrunner’s last name is (probably not) coincidentally the same as that of Ernst Kaltenbrunner, former Director of Reich Security, and a convicted Nazi criminal. Our two lead actors, David Hayman and Udo Kier have had excellent careers dating back to the mid-60’s. Kier has long been a personal favorite, and he recently passed in November 2025. He also has a role in THE SECRET AGENT, Brazil’s submission for Best International Feature of 2025. The performances of these two men elevate the material and create emotion where it’s needed … and neither actor ever stoops to scene stealing. Prudovsky’s film is not just a pleasant surprise, it’s an excellent film worthy of attention.

Opens in theaters on January 9, 2026

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Posted by David Ferguson

IT WAS JUST AN ACCIDENT (Iran/France, 2025)

January 3, 2026

Greetings again from the darkness. What is true human nature? Is there even such a thing? Are we preprogrammed to do the right thing, or is it our nature to hold grudges, seek revenge, and take advantage of every situation? This superb film from Iranian filmmaker Jafar Panahi explores the topic, and it’s important to know that he was inspired to write the story after being imprisoned for creating propaganda against the regime.

A man is driving his family on a dusty road through the darkness. His pregnant wife (Afssaneh Najmabadi) sits beside him as their young daughter dances to the blasting music in the backseat. When the man hits a stray dog, the daughter becomes upset. Her level-headed mother says, “It was only an accident” … setting the tone for what is to come. When their car breaks down a bit farther down the road, the shop’s owner, Vahid (Vahid Mobasseri) is startled by a familiar and haunting sound – the squeak of the car driver’s prosthetic leg.

Vahid is convinced that squeak belongs to Eghbal, or Peg Leg, as he referred to the prison guard who tortured him. The next day, Vahid kidnaps the man (Ebrahim Azizi) by force and drives him to the desert where he digs a hole in which to bury him. However, the man is convincing in his pleas of “you’ve got the wrong man”, and since Vahid was constantly blindfolded, he has only that haunting squeak as evidence. Rather than risk killing the wrong man, Vahid begins assembling folks who, like himself, were once tortured by Peg Leg. His friend Salar recommends Shiva (Mariam Afshari), a wedding photographer, which leads to bride-to-be Goli (Hadis Pakbaten), the groom-to-be (Madjid Panahi), and an angry and emotional Hamid (Mohamad Ali Elyasmeyr) joining in the quest to decide: mistaken identity or guilty of torture.

This journey of decision-making is bold storytelling filled with some great long takes. Director Panahi filmed this (guerilla style) in Iran, although Postproduction took place in France, which has submitted the film for Best International Feature film. Despite the intensity of the subject matter and the characters, there are surprising moments of (dark) humor … and the crazy twists are what have us questioning so much. At what price does revenge come? Can justice be served, and if so, what would it look like? The details one remembers from being tortured are likely ingrained forever. Filmmaker Panahi sticks the ending in such a way that we leave nearly as haunted as Vahid.

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Posted by David Ferguson

THE LIFE OF CHUCK (2025)

January 2, 2026

Greetings again from the darkness. Well, we can’t really call this a feel-good movie. After all, the first segment (which is really the third) deals with what appears to be the early stages of the end of the world. Plus, it’s adapted from a Stephen King novella/short story and it’s directed by Mike Flanagan, who is best known for DOCTOR SLEEP (2019) and “The Haunting of Hill House” … not exactly the genes of a happy-go-lucky film experience. Still, beyond those points, it’s a terrific film that leaves us with an inspirational and life-affirming message.

The storytelling structure is worthy of forewarning. Reverse order, or backwards … the story of Charles “Chuck” Krantz is told mostly from old age to youth, rather than the traditional chronological order. Beginning with Act III, we get a glimpse of Chuck in a hospital bed, before picking up in the classroom where teacher Marty Anderson (Chiwetel Ejiofor) is informed by his smartphone-toting students that an earthquake has caused parts of California to collapse into the sea. This catastrophe has an impact on the parent-teacher conferences Marty holds … everyone wonders what’s the point – especially once internet is lost. This segment is subtitled, “Thanks, Chuck” because billboards everywhere are thanking the unknown Chuck for 39 great years. After the parent conferences with David Dastmalchian and Harvey Guillen, Marty crosses paths with his neighbor (Matthew Lilliard) and a funeral home director (Carl Lumbly), before re-connecting with his ex-wife (Karen Gillian). Rather than face the end of the world alone, Marty chooses to be with someone who has been special in his life. We understand.

Act II, “Buskers Forever”, delivers the most memorable scene from the movie. We meet the infamous “Chuck” from the billboards. It’s Tom Hiddleston who spontaneously plops down his briefcase and begins dancing to the beats of a street drummer (The Pocket Queen). Chuck’s fantastic dance steps draw a crowd and he invites bystander Janice (Annalise Basso) to join him. It’s a beautiful sequence guaranteed to put a smile on your face – just like with Chuck and Janice, both of whom have had a bad day. Hiddleston (as Chuck) only has about 20 minutes of screen time, but it will definitely stick with you.

Although those first two acts pack a wallop, it’s Act I, “I Contain Multitudes”, that carries much of the weight. Teen Chuck is played by Jacob Tremblay (ROOM, 2015), while even younger Chuck is played by a debuting Cody Flanagan (the director’s son).  Chuck’s grandparents are played by Mia Sara (the girlfriend in FERRIS BUELLER’S DAY OFF, 1986) and Mark Hamill, both exceptional here. Grandma Sarah teaches young Chuck to find the joy in dancing, while Grandpa Albie has the best intentions with his not-so-great life advice. We also find Chuck’s teacher (Kate Siegel, Flanagan’s wife) explaining the Walt Whitman poem, “Song of Myself”, to young Chuck – it’s the same Whitman poem Marty was teaching early in the film.

Flanagan delivers an unusual way to look back on one’s life, and seems to stress the point that the view can be quite different from how you recall certain moments. An environmental and global event forces folks to live in that moment, but the lesson here is about all the other moments in our life. The message is to avoid obsessing about what could happen in the future and focus on what (and who) matters. Nick Offerman serves as the film’s narrator, and yes, some sentimentality is involved, yet it’s never an overdose. In fact, the story is likely to leave you in a contemplative state – analyzing how you deal with your moments. Maybe a dance?

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Posted by David Ferguson

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