*Benicio del Toro and Mia Threapleton in a still from ‘The Phoenician Scheme’ in theaters on Friday*

The Magnificent Wes Anderson: Why 'The Phoenician Scheme' is my fave since 'Grand Budapest'

E. Nina Rothe May 20, 2025

At the core of his latest film, Anderson, along with co-writer Roman Coppola and leading man Benicio de Toro, has created a wonderfully entertaining antihero of contradictions: European yet eerily Trumpian, bigger than life yet soft spoken, bearing many passports yet without a fixed address, a self professed diplomat who carries a crate of hand-grenades — just in case they are needed. And more often than not, they are.

Reinventing the narrative: 'Nino' by Pauline Loquès Cannes Review

E. Nina Rothe May 19, 2025

If you thought a film following a man’s weekend after discovering he’s ill couldn’t be charming, funny, tender, warm and thoroughly entertaining from beginning to end, journalist turned filmmaker Pauline Loquès will change your mind. And your hearts, forever.

Cannes Gem: A review of 'Urchin' by Harris Dickinson

E. Nina Rothe May 18, 2025

A film that, aside from its spellbinding leading man and touching crucial themes about the habits that bring us down, again and again, also begs the question: “Who do the streets of London belong to? Those who thread upon them or those who call them home?”

To be Muslim, French and Queer: 'The Little Sister' Cannes review

E. Nina Rothe May 17, 2025

What do you do when you don’t see people like you represented in French literature? Well, if you are Fatima Daas, you write a character that has never been shown before — a lesbian, Muslim young woman, first generation French daughter of Algerian immigrants. And then, a great filmmaker and actress like Hafsia Herzi might make it into a film that ends up in Cannes, in Competition. Well, this is what happened.

Tom Cruise must need a nap after 'Mission: Impossible -- The Final Reckoning'

E. Nina Rothe May 15, 2025

He runs across London, dives to the depth of the Baltic Sea, flies through the South African sky, most of the time outside an airplane, and never misses a beat — and I was exhausted just watching him do it all…

*A still from ‘Yalla Parkour!’ by Areeb Zuaiter*

There are eight DFI-supported titles in this year's Berlinale lineup

E. Nina Rothe January 23, 2025

And at least one in each section too, including Competition and the new Perspectives for first time features.

*Jacob Elordi in Justin Kurzel’s ‘The Narrow Road to the Deep North’ photo © Curio Pictures*

New additions to Berlinale Special program include much anticipated title 'Mickey 17' and new Justin Kurzel series with Jacob Elordi

E. Nina Rothe January 16, 2025

There is goodness to be found in this year’s Berlinale Special program and it includes some eye candy, for yours truly.

*Daniel Craig and Drew Starkey in a still from Luca Guadagnino’s ‘Queer’*

Cinema is "something that is going to change your mind forever": Let's talk about Luca Guadagnino's 'Queer'

E. Nina Rothe November 30, 2024

As the Italian-born filmmaker heads the Competition Jury at this year’s Marrakech International Film Festival, I’m reminded of one of my favorite, count-them-on-the-fingers-of-one-hand films from this year’s Venice Film Festival and why Guadagnino will always be a beloved filmmaker of mine.

*Fink, Roz and Pinktail in ‘The Wild Robot’, courtesy of DreamWorks Animation*

Kindness is a superpower: 'The Wild Robot' review

E. Nina Rothe October 17, 2024

They say you can’t judge a book by its cover, but feel free to judge this magnificent film by its spellbinding still above.

*Photo by © Akis Bado, used with permission*

Locarno Golden Leopard winner 'Toxic' by Saulė Bliuvaitė reviewed

E. Nina Rothe August 19, 2024

The film, which was awarded top prize by a jury chaired by Austrian auteur Jessica Hausner, was also the winner in the separately juried First Feature Competition.

*Bérénice Béjo and Matheo Labbé in a still from ‘Mexico 86’*

Review of 'Mexico 86' by César Diaz: A film with its heart in the perfect place

E. Nina Rothe August 11, 2024

The fictionalized, yet personal story of the troubled relationship between the filmmaker and his own mother, ‘Mexico 86’ offers a viewpoint into the price women pay when trying to balance motherhood, and a revolution.

*Cate Blanchett and Sasha Baron Cohen in a still from ‘Disclaimer’ by Alfonso Cuaron*

Trailer released for 'Disclaimer': **Not to be watched if you can't handle entertainment

E. Nina Rothe August 7, 2024

“DISCLAIMER*

*Any resemblance to persons living or dead is not a coincidence.”

'Why War' may be Amos Gitai's most important film to date and will screen at this year's Venice Film Festival

E. Nina Rothe July 24, 2024

For a man whose personal mission has been to “build bridges through cinema,” as he told La Repubblica newspaper in an interview just published this week, his latest film may prove the most important peace-making link yet.

Venice Film Festival line up includes latest from Amos Gitai, Scandar Copti, Pedro Almodóvar, plus a series from Alfonso Cuarón, Luca Guadagnino's 'Queer' and Pablo Larraín's 'Maria'

E. Nina Rothe July 23, 2024

All wrapped up with the Lady Gaga starrer ‘Joker: Folie à Deux’, Tunisian gem ‘Aïcha’ by Mehdi Barsaoui and ‘Wolfs’ starring George Clooney and Brad Pitt — talk about a festival for the stars!

*Sophia Loren in a frame from the film ‘L’oro di Napoli’ by Vittorio De Sica*

Vittorio De Sica's classic 'L'oro di Napoli' is pre-opening film of 81st Venice Film Fest

E. Nina Rothe June 18, 2024

The Pre-opening film will screen on Tuesday August 27th of the 81st Venice International Film Festival of La Biennale di Venezia, on the 50th anniversary of the death of Vittorio De Sica and the 70th anniversary of the film.

DreamWorks Animation launches brand new trailer for 'The Wild Robot' in Annecy

E. Nina Rothe June 11, 2024

The latest DreamWorks Animation title will be distributed by Universal and is a new adaptation of the literary sensation by Peter Brown.

'Being Maria' Cannes Review: A problematic woman or simply someone who dared to call it like it is?

E. Nina Rothe May 22, 2024

Cinematic, albeit scandalous history was made in 1972 when Bernardo Bertolucci’s ‘Last Tango in Paris’ was first screened. Now French filmmaker Jessica Palud, with the help of a book written by Maria Schneider’s cousin, retells the story to finally bring out the heroine in a woman who simply stood up for herself. And, as is often the case for strong women, lost.

Francis Ford Coppola's 'Megalopolis' Cannes "review": For the love of cinema (and America)

E. Nina Rothe May 17, 2024

If you go into Coppola’s opus without a heavy belief in romance and a huge cultural knowledge of cinema, you’ll miss the point. Once you’ve got that sorted, all you need is to sit back, relax and enjoy the show — because what a show it is!

'Wild Diamond' Cannes Review: A woman's story for the age we live in

E. Nina Rothe May 16, 2024

Agathe Riedinger’s Competition title shows us the contradictions and pressures of being a modern woman. And the resulting film is a work of the seventh art not to be missed.

Jeremy Xido's 'The Bones' follows CPH:DOX premiere with Hot Docs Surprise Screening

E. Nina Rothe May 2, 2024

And the film importantly holds proof that in order to understand our future, we must look at the past — the very distant, millions of years ago, dinosaurs and all, past!

Favorite movies only need apply. Life is too short to write about what I didn't enjoy.