BEYOND UTOPIA – ★★★☆

Documentary about North Koreans trying to defect. Incredible effort, all footage is actually take during the attempts, without recreations. The abilities to brainwash people is apparent, and poses many levels of questions. For example, in the face of disgusting human rights violations, is low level brainwashing by a Christian pastor teaching a family to say Amen in prayer acceptable? Given the obvious exploitation being performed by the guides to free these people for money, are they evil? Is South Korea, a country known for its own share or corruption a good place? What are satisfactory levels of any of this? Needless to say, the worst offender by far is North Korea, and I’m glad for anyone who succeeds in escaping when they need or want to.

O CANADA! SHORTS FROM THE MAPLE-LEAFED NORTH – ★★★☆

As with any collection of short films, you’ll get a mixed bag. I’m pleased to say that all the films in this collection were watchable or better. There’s a lot of Canada, and this seemed pretty Quebec focussed; I wouldn’t have minded seeing some Vancouver in it.

AMA GLORIA – ★★★★

Another MIFF 2023 hit. This is a beautiful film about a little French girl whose mother figure (Gloria) is a nanny from Cape Verdean, an island off the West African coast. It’s mainly a story of family and relationships with the nanny being responsible for two; that of young Cleo, and of her own family. Very touching film, and an astoundingly good performance by the young actress who plays Cleo. This will be one of the four films I highly recommend to people when asked for my highlights this year.