Triangle of Sadness

The social hierarchy is turned upside down in this dark comedy about the passengers and crew of an ill-fated luxury yacht voyage. Celebrity couple Carl (Dickinson) and Yaya (Dean) are invited on an exotic vacation for the elite, but things are decidedly less relaxing for the crew and the captain (Harrelson), who struggle to maintain order and civility. As the various characters discuss and debate the perils of the world, a sudden storm capsizes the vessel, leaving everyone stranded on a desert island. With the power dynamics shifted, the wealthy passengers now find themselves at the mercy of the crew they’ve so frequently dismissed.

Director: Ruben Ostlund. Stars: Harris Dickinson, Charlbi Dean, Dolly De Leon, Zlatko Buric, Iris Berben, Vicki Berlin, Woody Harrelson. 2022. 147 mins. Comedy/Drama.

Jesus Revolution

Culture clashes and generational gaps are explored in this spiritual drama highlighting the intertwined origins of the Hippie movement and Christianity. Southern California teenager Greg Laurie (Courtney) is a youth minister seeking to bridge the gap and include the younger generation in the church, but faces opposition from traditionalist pastor Chuck Smith (Grammer). Laurie ends up meeting a young Christian street preacher, Lonnie Frisbee (Roumie), and the pair bond over their beliefs and desire to bring inclusivity into the church at the height of the Free Love movement. Hesitant at first, all parties soon realize that the principles of truth and liberation are shared, and the two groups have more in common than they initially thought.

Director(s): Jon Erwin, Brent McCorkle. Stars: Joel Courtney, Kelsey Grammer, Jonathan Roumie, Kimberly Williams-Paisley, Anna Grace Barlow, Julia Campbell. 2023. 120 mins. Drama.

Return to Seoul

This international family drama is the story of a young woman’s journey of self-discovery. Freddie (Ji-Min Park), a young French-Korean woman, travels to Seoul, South Korea, seeking to reconnect with her missing parents, who put her up for adoption 25 years earlier. Immersing herself in a culture unfamiliar to her, Freddie forges new relationships while losing old ones, all while realizing an identity she has always longed for. Learning the difficult truths of her estranged family, Freddie meets with her biological father (Oh Kwang-rok) and quickly realizes that integrating will be an uphill battle. 

Director: Davy Chou. Stars: Ji-Min Park, Oh Kwang-rok, Cho-woo Choi, Guka Han, Kim Sun-young, Yoann Zimmer, Louis-Do de Lencquesaing. 2022. 116 mins. Drama.