What to See at New Directors/New Films 2015

WHAT TO SEE AT 

NEW DIRECTORS/NEW FILMS 2015

By Joshua Handler

New Directors/New Films is an annual film festival held at the Film Society of Lincoln Center and MoMA that showcases the work of new directors.  The selection is diverse and there are always gems in the lineup.  The following three are ones that I highly recommend.  More full reviews of films screening at the festival will be published in the coming week.  New Directors/New Films runs from March 18 - March 29.

A scene from WHITE GOD, a Magnolia Pictures release.
Photo courtesy of Magnolia Pictures.

WHITE GOD (Dir. Kornél Mundruczó) - Cannes Un Certain Regard award-winner, White God, is a brutal watch, but one that is infinitely worth the watch because of its huge ambition, powerful storytelling, and emotional performances.  It's impossible to view this film and not wonder how Mundruczó executed it.  I don't want to say more about White God so that those of you who see it can view it knowing as little as possible.

Courtesy of Drafthouse Films

THE TRIBE (Dir. Miroslav Slaboshpitsky) - A major award-winner at Cannes 2014, The Tribe is an innovative, provocative film about a young man who goes to a boarding school for the deaf and must work his way up the power hierarchy to find his place.  The entire film is in Sign Language, but isn't subtitled.  However, this doesn't hinder the film, as the performances are so expressive and the direction so impressive that everything that needs to be understood is.  The Tribe certainly won't be for everyone for many reasons, not least because of its shocking violence, but it's a great film for more adventurous filmgoers and has long-take scenes that rival or surpass those in Birdman.

Courtesy of Zeitgeist Films

COURT (Dir. Caitanya Tamhane) - This meditative, infuriating, and brilliant debut feature from Chaitanya Tamhane is a cooly scathing indictment of the Indian justice system.  It's surprising that Court is Tamhane's first feature because its case is remarkably well-argued and the performances feel so natural that you'll forget that you're watching actors.  Court is simply great filmmaking.