The 62nd annual New York Film Festival is in full swing, and as always, it brings an array of films that ignite engaging conversations among cinephiles. This year is no different, with the Main Slate and Spotlight selections featuring some of the year’s most anticipated films.
With titles premiering across various festivals this year, anticipation has been building as films were announced in the weeks leading up to the festival’s opening night. But with any film riding a wave of pre-festival hype, the inevitable question arises: Does the film live up to the buzz, or is it just hyperbolic chatter?
The Seed of the Sacred Fig
Before its premiere at Cannes, Mohammad Rasoulof’s The Seed of the Sacred Fig had already generated plenty of chatter. Following its selection for the festival, Iranian authorities interrogated the cast and crew, banned them from leaving the country, and pressured them to convince Rasoulof to withdraw the film from the lineup.
When the film was not withdrawn, Rasoulof’s lawyer announced that the director had been sentenced to eight years in prison, in addition to a hefty fine and the confiscation of his property. This led to Rasoulof’s dramatic 28-day escape from Iran to Europe, making The Seed of the Sacred Fig one of the festival’s most anticipated entries.
Rasoulof’s film is a cerebral, slow-paced examination of a country’s political landscape and its impact on the familial home. While the film features harrowing performances from Soheila Golestani, Mahsa Rostami, and Setareh Maleki, it feels like a tale of two halves. The unease and tension built in the first 90 minutes give way to a more conventional third act, failing to fully pay off the stakes set up in the beginning. Though The Seed of the Sacred Fig is an important viewing experience, it doesn’t quite deliver on the pre-festival hype.
Emilia Perez
Few films at this year’s festival came with as much buzz as Jacques Audiard’s Emilia Perez. After taking home the lead actress prize at Cannes, it entered NYFF as one of the most anticipated titles, only to become one of the festival’s biggest disappointments.
The film starts strong, with its musical aspects delivering an entertaining opening. However, Emilia Perez is hampered by tonal issues that linger throughout, culminating in what may be the year’s most unsatisfying ending. The film tries to blend musical elements with melodrama but never quite finds the perfect balance between the two.
Despite the pre-festival hype around Karla Sofia Gascón, it’s Zoe Saldana who elevates the film, giving not only the best performance but also carrying the most successful musical numbers. Selena Gomez, while commendable for stepping outside her usual roles, doesn’t quite connect in her performance. In another universe, Emilia Perez may live up to its potential, but here, it falls short—making it not just one of NYFF62’s biggest disappointments, but one of the year’s biggest misses.
Rumours
The phrase “there’s a reason I never” often holds true, and when it comes to my experience with Guy Maddin’s films, that sentiment is reinforced by his latest effort, Rumours. I’ve never been particularly drawn to Maddin’s work, but I thought this film might change that, thanks to its premise of political satire—a genre I usually gravitate towards for its delicate balance between absurdity and precision. Unfortunately, Rumours misses the mark on both fronts.
Rumours follows world leaders at a G7 summit who, after getting lost in the woods and being menaced by the undead and a giant brain, must navigate through their own internal trauma. The film starts with promise, enticing in its first 30 minutes. But as it progresses, so does my impatience. Rather than offering sharp insights or satirical laughs about current events, the film descends into monotony and struggles to find relevance, turning into one of the year’s most tedious slogs.
Though the cast, including Academy Award winner Cate Blanchett and Charles Dance, deliver strong performances, Rumours ultimately fails to create noteworthy characters or commentary, leaving it with little to say.
The New York Film Festival is known for showcasing a range of films that provoke thought and discussion. But as with any festival, not every film lives up to its hype. The Seed of the Sacred Fig, Emilia Perez, and Rumours each came in with high expectations, but while they had moments of promise, they ultimately fell short of delivering the powerful experiences that cinephiles hoped for.
