Ulkar Alakbarova – Page 2 – ALLIANCE OF WOMEN FILM JOURNALISTS

DRIVING MADELINE (TIFF 2022) – Review by Ulkar Alakbarova

September 13, 2022September 13, 2022 Ulkar Alakbarova Christian Carion, Dany Boon, Driving Madeleine, Line Renaud, TIFF 2022, toronto international film festival

“Can the man who beats you day and night. Who rapes you and hits your son can be called a husband?” Driving Madeline explores the past trauma of an elderly woman, who knew how to fight back when the right moment came. Filled with sadness and laughter, happiness and tragic loss, the film transports you into the mind of Madeline, who flawlessly delivers the most educational aspect of domestic violence, femicide, perseverance, courage and the stories she tells, be prepared, will blow your mind away.

Festivals Reviews

THE WHALE (TIFF 2022) – Review by Ulkar Alakbarova

September 13, 2022September 22, 2022 Ulkar Alakbarova Brendan Fraser, darren aronofsky, hong Chau, the whale, TIFF 2022, toronto international film festival

The Whale is exceptional, brilliant, and mind-blowing. The concept itself is gut-wrenching. Darren Aronofsky does what he knows best – capturing the portrait of a broken human being and presenting it in the most devastating way. For that, he just needed to find the right actor and, Brendan Fraser was the chosen one. Don’t be surprised when he begins to grab one award after another because no one can match his level of acting this year – that’s what we all must be certain of.

Festivals Reviews

THE TRIANGLE OF SADNESS (TIFF 2022) – Review by Ulkar Alakbarova

September 9, 2022September 10, 2022 Ulkar Alakbarova Charlbi Dean, Dolly De Leon, Ruben Östlund, The Triangle of Sadness, TIFF 2022, Vicki Berlin, woody harrelson, Zlatko Buric

The Triangle of Sadness perfectly captures the balance of power and how it can shift. It all comes down to what you know, what you can do and what you cannot. Humans are corrupt, whether rich or poor. And when the poor gets a chance to stand out, they’re abused, taken advantage of, and the actual humiliation starts. Is the story about the poor going rogue? No. But it shows how we people do not realize one thing – for a better outcome, collaboration is required. And when we don’t work together but instead try to overpower each other, the result will be the exact the same – good or bad, wealthy or poor, we all become as corrupt as everyone else.

Festivals Reviews

THE SWEARING JAR (TIFF 2022) – Review by Ulkar Alakbarova

September 9, 2022September 9, 2022 Ulkar Alakbarova Adelaide Clemens, Kate Hewlett, Kathleen Turner, Lindsay MacKay, Patrick J. Adams, The Swearing Jar, tiff 2020, toronto international film festival

The Swearing Jar is a very compelling love story about a woman who is indeed broken inside. Through the beautiful songs and lyrics, more or less, we come to know what is really happening. But it’s the commanding Lindsay MacKay direction that brings an important aspect of Carey and Simon’s marriage to life and provides an exquisite explanation as to why Carey does what she does. She does look guilty. Because she does not want to let the other man into her life. But whatever we learn soon leaves her no option. But why complicate it if it’s an easy step? And that’s why The Swearing Jar is so good – it slowly builds up the narrative and delivers it with a bang, but through humor, gentleness and charisma.

Reviews

THE PRINCESS – Review by Ukar Alakbarova

August 4, 2022August 6, 2022 Ulkar Alakbarova documentary, Ed Perkins, Lady Diana, Princess of Wales., sundance film festival 2022, The Princess

The Princess, directed by Ed Perkins, serves as a reminder of how the loss of one particular person can have a significant impact not only on the country where they were from but the entire world. Using archival footage, the documentary reconstructs the life of Lady Diana; how she becomes Prince Charles’ wife, gives birth to two sons, her husband’s infidelity, her attempt to take her own life and rebuild it after divorce, and traveling the world to make it a better place. Her affair with Dodi Al-Fayed and her ultimate death in a tragic car accident. Whether you knew much or nothing, be prepared for a hell of a ride – an emotional roller coaster of the life and death of a woman who is now more alive than ever.

Festivals Reviews

THE PRINCESS (Sundance FF 2022) – Review by Ulkar Alakbarova

January 22, 2022January 23, 2022 Ulkar Alakbarova documentary, Ed Perkins, Lady Diana, Princess of Wales., sundance film festival 2022, The Princess

It’s unlikely that there’s anyone who’s never heard of The Princess of Wales, Lady Diana, or Queen of Hearts and the mother of Princes William and Harry, the first wife to Prince Charles, the heir apparent to the British throne. It’s a tragic story surrounding a woman who fought hard for her freedom and to be heard, yet had to ask the media to leave her alone. The Princess is a gut-wrenching documentary that can be passed from generation to generation as knowledge of how famous people should not be treated.

Festivals Reviews

WHERE IS ANNE FRANK (TIFF2021) – Review by Ulkar Alakbarova

September 17, 2021September 18, 2021 Ulkar Alakbarova animation, Ari Folman, TIFF, toronto international film festival, Where is Anne Frank

Anne Frank’s diary has been told, filmed, and has many documentaries about it. It seems there is nothing more left to be said until you watch Ari Folman’s Where is Anne Frank. This time, it takes a novel approach and revolves around Anne’s imaginary friend, Kitty, who finds herself in Frank’s house in Amsterdam. Getting a physical form, she steals Anne’s diary and begins the journey of her dearest friend, as she, with deep sadness, learns about Anne’s tragic fate.

Festivals Reviews

OUR FATHER (SXSW 21) – Review by Ulkar Alakbarova

March 19, 2021February 3, 2022 Ulkar Alakbarova Allison Torrent, Austin Pendleton, Baize Buzan, bradley grant smith, our father, sxsw 2021

Bradley Grant Smith’s Our Father is an absolute treat from the SXSW Film Festival. We need stories like these to remind us of the familial connection we need at all stages of life. We can deny it’s existence but not run away from it. Indeed, Zelda and Beta lost their father to suicide. But will they follow the same path by killing the only thing they have left – their relationship?

Reviews

RUN – Review by Ulkar Alakbarova

November 16, 2020November 22, 2020 Ulkar Alakbarova 0 Comments Aneesh Chaganty, Kiera Allen, run, Sarah Paulson, Sev Ohanian

Words cannot describe the love a mother has for her child. Her methods of nurturing, protecting and selfless sacrifice are undeniably laudable. Every day, the child is blessed to have someone who unconditionally gives them a shoulder to lean on, cry and laugh. Sadly, there is a side-effect to that love, called an unhealthy obsession.

Reviews

FINDING YINGYING (SXSW2020) – Review by Ulkar Alakbarova

March 16, 2020March 16, 2020 Ulkar Alakbarova 0 Comments AWFJ SXSW2020 Project, documentary, finding yingying, jenny shi, Yingying Zhang

Yingying Zhang left China for America to pursue her dream. She was enrolled in the University of Urbana Champaign College of Agricultural Consumer and Environmental Sciences in Illinois. She liked studying, enjoyed being independent, and wrote in her own diary. Everything was going according to her plans when one man, viciously and heartlessly, took everything away from her, including her life.