CHILDREN OF THE MIST – ★★★☆

Vietnamese documentary about a remote village, where the a courtship ritual for marriage that consists of 14 year old girls being kidnapped and then pushed into marriage with their kidnapper is not unusual. This was filmed over three years and shows the conflict of old ‘tradition’ against a more modern set of thinking, thanks to a school that tries to educate people to behave in better ways. Deeply troubling scenes as you see the main subject’s parents participating in the old way, with obvious protest by the subject herself.

COSTA BRAVA, LEBANON – ★★★★

Eight years after disconnecting from society by moving to a remote area away from others, a Lebanese family has society come to them, when a garbage dump is built literally outside their front yard. Wonderful portrayal of the families relationships with each other, society, and a bigger lesson about the greater risks of not respecting the land we live on. If you liked Digger (MIFF 2022) this one is worth a look.