‘La Gradiva’ Review: Marine Atlan’s Coming of Age Story Debut Erupts with Keen Observation [A]
Coming-of-age films often rely on a familiar promise: place a group of teenagers together, let their personalities collide, and watch adulthood slowly emerge from the... Read More
Ali Benzekri
A devoted cinephile, Ali started his career as Communication and Ditribution Manager at Ali n' Productions (Ali Zaoua, Casablanca Beats, Blue Caftan). He followed that resourceful experience by taking on the job of Head of Archives at the Cinémathèque de Tanger. Since 2021, Ali has been running a specialized film program on Radio 2M, one of the leading radio channels in Morocco. He is currently in the process of launching the Filmothèque, a traveling cinema project aimed at showing independent and classic films in Morocco in creative fashion. He writes about films in English and French Lioumness, International Cinephile Society and TelQuel.
‘Parallel Tales’ Review: Asghar Farhadi’s Kieślowski Dupe Fumbles Its Fact vs Fiction Story [D+]
For a filmmaker whose reputation was built on some of the most intricately written dramas of the century, Parallel Tales emerges as a strangely puzzling... Read More
‘The Dreamed Adventure’ Review: Valeska Grisebach’s Observant Thriller Examines the Grey Zones of Morality [B+]
What is striking about The Dreamed Adventure is how quietly it unfolds at first. The film begins almost like a subdued thriller, a mysterious search... Read More
‘Full Phil’ Review: Kristen Stewart is in Peak Form in Quentin Dupieux’s Manic Father-Daughter Comedy [C+] Cannes
Right from the start, Full Phil appears to be a movie that splits itself in two. One version is an unnerving father-daughter reunion unfolding inside... Read More
‘Queer’ Review: Daniel Craig is Perfect and Drew Starkey is Revelatory in Luca Guadagnino’s Gay Chiaroscuro of Dreams and Desperation | Venice
Luca Guadagnino’s Queer, adapted from William S. Burroughs’ novel, opens with a nostalgic nod to Call Me By Your Name, using a splashy blue font... Read More
‘The Room Next Door’ Review: Pedro Almodóvar’s Rumination on Death is an Actress Extravaganza for Tilda Swinton and Julianne Moore | Venice
It took two powerhouse actresses, a story about death, and the lure of a bold new challenge to finally coax Pedro Almodóvar into making his... Read More
‘Babygirl’ Review: Nicole Kidman is Feral and Fearless as a Woman Taking Charge of Her Sexual Freedom | Venice
This is a film about sex! From the first moments, as the logos of production companies flash on the screen, we’re immersed in a world... Read More
‘To a Land Unknown’ Review: Mahdi Fleifel’s Thriller about Stranded Palestinian Refugees is Powerful and Unpretentious | Cannes
Mahdi Fleifel’s directorial debut in fiction, To a Land Unknown, follows the harrowing journey of Chatila (Mahmood Bakri) and Reda (Aram Sabbah), two Palestinian cousins... Read More
‘Everybody Loves Touda’ Review: Nisrine Erradi’s Nuanced Performance Elevates Nabil Ayouch’s Return to Form | Cannes
For over two decades, Nabil Ayouch has been a dominant force in Moroccan cinema, crafting films that have garnered both critical acclaim and international recognition.... Read More
‘Emilia Pérez’ Review: Zoe Saldaña, Selena Gomez and Karla Sofía Gascón are Sensational in Delightfully Unhinged Jacques Audiard Musical | Cannes
It is hard to put Jacques Audiard in one mold. The French director keeps tackling different genres without ever giving you a hint of what... Read More
‘Stray Embers’ Directors Erin Brethauer and Tim Hussin Look at California’s Deadliest Wildfire Through the Eyes of a Selfless Hero 
‘La Gradiva’ Review: Marine Atlan’s Coming of Age Story Debut Erupts with Keen Observation [A] 
‘The Traitors’ Tops 8th Critics Choice Real TV Awards with 5 Wins 
2027 ACE Eddie Awards Set Key Dates and Timeline