Mina Takla

‘Wendell & Wild’ review: Henry Selick’s newest is a charming, bold and mostly satisfying film about wrestling with one’s demons [B] | Toronto

Mina Takla September 13, 2022

Following a string of acclaimed stop-motion animated features that have cemented him as one of the most exciting voices in the enchanting world of animation,... Read More

‘The Good Nurse’ review: Eddie Redmayne and Jessica Chastain are riveting in creepy true life murder mystery [B+] | Toronto

Mina Takla September 12, 2022

Longtime Thomas Vinterberg collaborator, Tobias Lindholm, marks his English-language debut with The Good Nurse, a gripping thriller with mainstream appeal. Uncovering a harrowing true story... Read More

‘My Policeman’ Review: Michael Grandage’s film adaptation is a mixed bag of conventional storytelling and compelling performances [B-] | Toronto

Mina Takla September 11, 2022

One of TIFF’s most anticipated premieres, My Policeman is a perhaps too by-the-numbers adaptation. What could have been an insightful look at living in a... Read More

‘Godland’ review: Hlynur Pálmason’s latest is an intriguing and evocative look at Danish colonialism [B+] | Toronto

Mina Takla September 11, 2022

Godland is not a film for everyone. Inaccessible at times and undoubtedly not without traces of indulgence, this arthouse film rewards its patient viewers with... Read More

‘Autobiography’ review: Makbul Mubarak’s debut feature is a harrowing tale of lust for power and deeply rooted corruption [A-] | Toronto

Mina Takla September 10, 2022

Rarely do debut features feel as confident as Makbul Mubarak’s Autobigraphy, an electrifying, bold and heartbreaking film that sends an urgent message about Indonesia’s decaying... Read More

‘The Blue Caftan’ review: A groundbreaking LGBTQ film of MENA cinema [A-] | TIFF

Mina Takla September 9, 2022

Maryam Touzani’s second feature breaks major ground for Arab cinema with a bold, absorbing and heartbreaking ode to love. For those familiar with Middle Eastern... Read More

Cannes 2022: 20 Potential Contenders for a Palme d’Or Competition Slot

Mina Takla April 11, 2022

The much-anticipated Cannes 2022 lineup will be revealed this Thursday, April 14, promising a wealth of international films from established and new voices. As always,... Read More

TIFF Review: Alexandre Moratto’s ‘7 Prisoners’ is a compelling and harrowing look at modern-day slave trade [Grade: B+]

Mina Takla September 16, 2021

Brazilian filmmaker Alexandre Moratto creates a highly effective, if uneven, picture on the devastating working conditions in his homeland, capturing both the dreams crushed by... Read More

TIFF Review: Pablo Larraín’s ‘Spencer’ is a riveting tale of isolation and loneliness with a stellar performance by Kristen Stewart [Grade: A]

Mina Takla September 16, 2021

One of the best films of the 2021 Toronto International Film Festival, Pablo Larraín’s Spencer is a perfect example of how imagined fables within the... Read More

TIFF Review: Darin J. Sallam’s debut feature ‘Farha’ is an effective socio-political thriller of the horrors of displacement in the Middle East [Grade: B]

Mina Takla September 16, 2021

Despite glaring pacing issues, Darin J. Sallam’s debut feature, Farha, manages to leave a strong impression. After a clunky first 30 minutes, the film finds... Read More

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