Dan Beirne – ALLIANCE OF WOMEN FILM JOURNALISTS

SUMMER WAR (Tribeca 2026) – Review by Valerie Kalfrin

June 11, 2026June 15, 2026 Valerie Kalfrin Alicia Scherson, chilean films, Dan Beirne, David Gaete, Lux Pascal, Roberto Bolaño, summer war, Tribeca 2026

A board game champion sinks deeper into his obsession while on vacation at a Chilean seaside resort in Summer War, director Alicia Scherson’s second adaptation of a book by Chilean author Roberto Bolaño. Summer War has the laid-back feel of a summer vacation at first, with warm cinematography from Alejo Maglio and deliberate pacing. Unfortunately, there’s a less-than-compelling protagonist, one of those insufferable American tourists myopic about his own behavior and the politics of the nation he’s visiting. While that might have been Bolaño’s point, it doesn’t make for a riveting watch.

Reviews

PAYING FOR IT – Review by Shadan Larki

January 21, 2026January 25, 2026 Shadan Larki Dan Beirne, Emily Le, Paying for It, Sook-Yin Lee

“Romantic love is bullshit, and I’m not spending more time chasing it.” This is Chester Brown’s (Dan Beirne) declaration to friends when pressed about his romantic endeavors, presenting the central thesis of Paying for It, the latest feature from co-writer and director Sook-Yin Lee. The film is holding back. If it presents itself as an honest, no-holds-barred look at sex, it has to mean more than just nudity—where are the stakes? Where are the consequences? The film sets expectations for a clever meditation on why “romantic love is bullshit,” but as the plot progresses, it fails to deliver answers to the questions it raises. A strong thesis with no defining conclusion is a classic writerly mistake, made all the more ironic given that the film is based on the real-life Chester Brown’s own comic book chronicling of his dating experiences.