Soko stars in the upcoming fantastical feminist war film
Mayday, which just premiered at the
2021 Sundance Film Festival. Normally, this takes place in Park City, Utah, but the French singer/actress made numerous virtual appearances to promote the movie. Seven outfit changes for all of her interviews, in fact!
“Meeting [director
Soko told
Just Jared. “There was this unshakable strength in this multi-hyphenate artist making her first feature. I love making movies with women. It’s always my favorite experience, especially becoming a mother and going back to work and bringing my baby to set in Croatia for two months. It felt like a blessing being surrounded by so much nurturing energy that made this transition from motherhood to working mom very easy for me.
You would think any movie that casts the iconic Udo Kier as an enigmatic dream guide who munches on fireflies would at least be interesting, but no –
The Blazing World, an over-stylized, under-baked bit of tomfoolery from writer-director-star
Carlson Young never manages to engross the viewer even as it continues to throw out fantastical scenarios left and right. It’s a draining mishmash of Intro to Psych lectures mixed with dream journal excerpts swirled together with some not-so-subtle
Pan’s Labyrinth rip-offs. It’s no doubt a film made with the best intentions, but that doesn’t make it any less of a chore to sit through.
If you can’t go to Utah, then Utah will just come to you. Last month, Austin Film Society announced it would be partnering with the Sundance Film Festival for this year’s event, and now it’s announced a line-up of drive-in screenings and special online events with a Texas twist.
Son of Monarchs, one of the Sundance Film Festival titles playing as a drive-in selection at Austin s Jordan Bachman Pioneer Farms, courtesy of the Austin Film Society
As the festival (often seen as the kick-off to the annual film calendar) has had to go virtual this year, it’s also selected a series of partner organizations like AFS around the country to act as satellite venues. Yet while AFS Cinema is still closed, the team has already been experimenting with drive-in screenings at Jordan Bachman Pioneer Farms. Today sees the scheduling of five Sundance titles – three narrative features and two documentaries – across four nights (Jan. 28-Feb. 1), all from the comfort of your own car.