This year was my first time attending the Toronto International Film Festival, TIFF24, and what a treat it was. What I was hoping for the most was to get a chance to catch films that wouldn’t necessarily get released in my area in the best possible formats. I caught a wide array of films from some of the most talented filmmakers working today. Although there were several female-directed films I missed out on, like Halina Reijn’s Babygirl and Rachel Morrison’s The Fire Inside, this list consists of my five favorites that I have been gushing over since TIFF24 ended.
5. Paying For It, Dir. Sook-Yin Lee
Synopsis: “When an introverted cartoonist’s girlfriend wants to redefine their relationship, he begins sleeping with sex workers and discovers a new kind of intimacy in the process.”
Paying For It explores the complexities of human relationships and how we maneuver through these complicated moments. Based on the graphic novel of the same name by Chester Brown, this film is an honest look at sex work and its impact on relationships. Director Sook-Yin Lee balances many different tones throughout this film, never letting the humor overshadow the heartfelt moments between the main couple.
Lee’s thoughtful exploration of sexuality in Paying For It is refreshing, showing the realities of sex workers and those who seek their services. Shedding the stigma and the idea of what it means to do sex work and the circumstances surrounding it.
4. The Assessment, Dir. Fleur Fortune
Synopsis: “In the near future where parenthood is strictly controlled, a couple’s seven-day assessment for the right to have a child unravels into a psychological nightmare.”
Fleur Fortune’s The Assessment is one of the most thought-provoking experiences I had at TIFF24. Her feature debut captured my attention from the start with an interesting premise about reproduction in a world with limited resources. Everything about this film is intoxicating, from the colors, cinematography, and the chemistry between Alicia Vikander, Elizabeth Olsen, and Himesh Patel.
The overwhelming sense of unease never left throughout this film; Fortune creates such an intense atmosphere where you feel the pressure for the couple to succeed just as much as they do.
3. Without Blood, Dir. Angelina Jolie
Synopsis: “A parable-like tale exploring themes of family, war, and revenge.”
Angelina Jolie gives one of the best revenge tales I’ve watched in some time, told from the perspective of two characters who reunite after a bloody war, reminiscing on their lives, where somewhere between them lies the truth. It showcases the impact deadly violence has on families, especially the most innocent ones.
Salma Hayek plays a woman seeking revenge for what was done to her and her family, staying one step ahead at all times. She’s mysterious and, at times, almost mythological.
2. Nightbitch, Dir. Marielle Heller
Synopsis: “An artist who pauses her career to be a stay-at-home mum seeks a new chapter in her life and encounters just that, when her nightly routine takes a surreal turn and her maternal instincts begin to manifest in canine form.”
Marielle Heller shows us women’s rage, passion, and perfect imperfections, touching on parts of motherhood that are often seen as too taboo to say out loud. Motherhood is a unique journey that, if we are lucky enough to experience it, will forever alter our lives in the most profound way.
Amy Adams brings so much to this role with her own experience as a mother, daughter, and woman. She’s not afraid to get messy, weird, and incredibly honest. Much like the novel written by Michelle Yoder, Heller’s film feels like a cautionary tale for women not yet ready to experience motherhood.
1. The Last Showgirl, Dir. Gia Coppola
Synopsis: “A seasoned showgirl must plan for her future when her show abruptly closes after a 30-year run.”
Gia Coppola pulls back the curtain on the glitz and the glamour of being a Vegas dancer, a role made for Pamela Anderson, showcasing an aging woman who has to grapple with her life choices. I was moved seeing women of a variety of ages chasing their dreams, doors being slammed in their faces, and the guilt of missing out on life’s most delicate moments.
The entirety of the cast works so well together, each showcasing an important walk of life within their chosen careers. From Kiernan Shipka’s young, vibrant dancer to Jaime Lee Curtis’s retired showgirl, each lives different lives, yet has similar experiences. Women have a unique viewpoint when it comes to ageism in the workplace, something Coppola captures perfectly in this film.
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A film lover from Mid Michigan who is a voting member of Michigan Movie Critics Guild, and North American Film Critics Association.
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