Zinemaldia 026
My fourth year at Zinemaldia! Just like last year (and even though I now have far less time that I'd like to keep writing stuff on the blog), I wanted to write some wee reviews and little thoughts on the films I got to watch this year at the festival. More than a month late, but here it is!
Body of Glass
Naemi Ada / France, Germany / 2026
The first movie at Zinemaldia after a whole year always feel exiting. Doesn't really matter which one is it. And it's always even more exciting to watch a film that's being screened for the first time at a festival, so you can be one of the first people to see it without being influenced by other people's opinions or reviews.
While watching Body of Glass, for some reason, I couldn't stop thinking about Christian Petzold. The story, the way it was filmed, the characters,... That's obviously a compliment. I'm really happy that the only thing you know about the movie before watching it is that it's a story about a dancer who wants to get away from an abusive relationship and just tries to connect with someone. No need to know more about it. Although it has some tough and violent scenes in the first part, it was a real pleasure to see the film unfold bit by bit. I did find it a little bit short, I think it would have benefited from a few more minutes of footage, but I'm not the director. Still, I really liked it and recommend it.
Bucking Fastard
Werner Herzog / Ireland / 2026
I mean it is definitely a movie about two twins who do everything in unison. And that's all about it. I did not expect this film to be a comedy but well, life gives you surprises. I do not have so much to say about this one, however I liked both Mara's acting, it was fun and entertaining to watch and think about how they rehearsed all their synchronised acting.
P.S.: Orlando Bloom reminded me so much of Will Schuester I couldn't stop laughing everytime he was on screen.
Fatherland
Paweł Pawlikowski / Poland / 2026
Typical of a Pawlikowski: beautifully shot, beautifully directed, beautifully scripted and beautifully acted. This was basically a road trip movie, which I love usually really enjoy. I really like a "not really knowing where you belong to" movie. People who have to move to another place, another country for extreme reasons and who don't feel at home in that new place either.
Did I like everything about it? Technically, yes. But, somehow, I did not work for me. It did absolutely nothing for me. Again, I really loved the script and OF COURSE Sandra Hüller is spectacular as always.
Hope
Na Hong-jin / South Korea / 2026
I NEVER HAD THIS MUCH FUN IN A THEATRE IN A VERY LONG TIME! People are right, this is not a Cannes movie and just imagining film critics watching this there makes me laugh. You don't get a moment to catch your breath throughout the whole film (go to the toilet for just 1 minute and 3 trees and 2 cars will have been blown sky-high, and you'll have missed a car or a horse chase); it's one stimulus after another, and the main plot kicks off from the very beginning. Basically, you're in for 3 hours of overstimulation and a rush of serotonin. Just imagine me going into the cinema at midnight and coming out of it at 3am. Seeing Zo In-sung as a long time k-drama fan made me feel like a teenager again, he's still SO handsome (no need to mention Hoyeon). And that ending... I've never in my life sat there so stiff for so long, staring into space from a cinema seat after a film had finished. No words. Can't wait to see how more and more people react to it!
And yes, I will be watching The Wailing as soon as possible now.
P.S.: I just saw that one of the oficial movie posters says "Is this how it ends?" and I have been laughing for 5 minutes straight.
Coward
Lukas Dhont / Belgium, France, Netherlands / 2026
As some people may know, I'm not the biggest Close fan. Now, Coward was something very different. I think Coward is a film that reflects the harsh reality of war and of young people who do not want to be part of it. It shows how theatre and the arts in general are a great form of escapism for people in times of war (and nowadays, too). It shows how the arts help us to connect with ourselves, to get to know ourselves and to be ourselves without fear of what others might say. I've always seen art and transformation as peaceful weapons, in some way. Weapons that can be helpful for the alienated and the marginalised to feel safe enough to be themselves.
The story is told with such tenderness at every moment that it's impossible not to be moved. The glances between the boys, the silences, the tears… Absolutely beautiful. And, luckily, a very hopeful film. As I mentioned before, absolutely NOTHING beats the sad gay european eyes.
Cinco años, cuatro meses
Esteban Hoyos García / Colombia / 2026
The premise was very promising but...sadly that's all. I was hoping it would focus more on the issue of child missing children in Colombia. It seems to me that everything is "touched on" very superficially and doesn't delve too deeply on the theme, resulting in a very weak film that lacks impact. I don't really have much else to say, what a shame.
Mis muertos tristes
Pablo Larraín / Chile / 2026
I kinda hate how this was elegible for best film when it was originally a miniseries (and it was really obvious when I watched it all in a raw, all those cuts...). Anyway, I still liked it! I always really appreciate touches of humor in themes related to death, since I personally have a hard time dealing with that subject and it helps me cope better. I've always found Argentine and Chilean humor particularly funny, I guess because my dad has always liked it. Mercedes Morán as Emma is a delight, she's MOTHER.
So yeah, it was fun and entertaining, although I don't think I could handle another 4 hours of sitting in the the Teatro Principal's uncomfortable seats.
P.S.: I loved how absolutely everyone was humming Shakira's best song in the street after the miniseries ended.
Wild Horse Nine
Martin McDonagh / UK / 2026
As a HUGE fan con McDonagh (often referred to as papá), you can imagine how excited I was for Wild Horse Nine (even more since those first raving reviews). And I was right. And I had every reason to be so eager to see it. It's exactly what you always expect from him: espionage and comedy. Chaos and comedy. And probably some devastating and touching moment. I don't know how but he does it every single time. And he's papá for that exact reason.
In this film, just as in some of his others, he takes the chance to criticise and condemn CIA's role in Chile's democracy. Also, at this point I think McDonagh hates the police? I'm pretty sure about this. In fact, much of this criticism could be a clear reflection of what is happening today with the rise of fascism around the world. I see you, papá.
John Malkovich's performance is definitely one of my favourites from this year and he made me cry! A lot!
All of a Sudden
Ryusuke Hamaguchi / Japan / 2026
I firmly believe that Hamaguchi is one of those directos who is best able to make films as human as possible. Very few directors reach this level of humanity and heart. And he always manages to do so whilst, at the same time, criticising some aspects of our society: capitalism, the rush in which our society lives, "productive" society, environmental exploitation...
Virginie Efira and Tao Okamoto are the heart of this film, making their relationship and each one of their conversations absolutely magical and mesmerising. Those 3 hours of the film just flew by, it was like being in a dream.
Perhaps I got a bit more emotional than usual because of the situation at the nursing home where my grandma is, but anyway. I love Hamaguchi and I would love to listen to every single one of his thoughts on the society we live in nowadays.
The Debut
Jesse Eisenberg / USA / 2026
One of the funniest films of the year, no doubt. And I swear if Julianne Moore doesn't win every single award... I practically adore every character Julianne has ever played (more specially Linda in Paul Thomas Anderson's Magnolia and Carol in Todd Haynes' Safe), but, this is definitely one of her best (at least in a comedy role).
Enough about Julianne, even though I could talk about her for hours. It is such a silly, lovely and fun film... It flies by, as if it only lasted 5 minutes. It is way better than A Real Pain and you can cleary see how much Jesse Eisenberg likes musicals. This was such a lovely love letter to them. And to introverts. I don't know man, I really love when a theatre full of people laugh non-stop in unison, it's one of the best things ever.
Club Kid
Jordan Firstman / USA / 2026
Had to watch this at 8am and I don't regret it. AT ALL. I did not like Jordan Firstman. I did not like him when he said all that bullshit against Heated Rivalry and their actors. I do not like I Love LA, I don't find it funny at all. NOW. My thoughts about him changed after watching Club Kid. At least as him as a director. He's fantastic! And he's fantastic in the role as the main character too! I'm so sorry Firstman, you are forgiven. Also, really scared me how he has practically the same music-taste as me (Elliott Smith, then Ethel Cain, and then Slayyyter? Okay).
Definitely one of the best films of the year. A film that is so tender and heart-warming, yet so heartbreaking at the same time. You laugh, you cry, you smile. In fact, at some point, you catch yourself smiling throughout almost the two hours of footage. Such a beautiful and excellent done queer movie, thank you! That sad realism at the end will fucking destroy you.
P.S.: Shout-out to the people who worked on the subtitles and the translation to Spanish of this film. One of the best and most entertaining I've ever seen!
Ink
Danny Boyle / UK / 2026
As you would expect from this year's surprise film: it was not good. God I hated it so much, I couldn't even focus on the performances because I almost fell asleep of boredom. I guess Guy Pearce was okay? I don't remember. This could have ended up in a drawer.
No need to use AI in those ugly ass shots. Fuck Danny Boyle and FUCK AI!
Josephine
Beth de Araújo / USA / 2025
Being a woman is a nightmare. Being a parent, the parent of a daughter, mostly, seems like a nightmare. The world and the court system is fucked up.
I don't feel like I should speak much about this one, such a delicate and harsh film. But I do want to say that, even though I'm not going to judge how each victim should feel and how they should portray their experience on screen, as always, I don't think it's appropiate to depict sexual assault in such a graphic way.