Mulan is a classic tale that many people grew up with and still remember well even today. The original animated film is one that a generation of people grew up loving and defined a generation of children’s animated films. What we see on screen is a young woman doing what she can to take her ailing father’s place in the Imperial Army, even if she must pretend to be a man. This main plot stays exactly the same from the animated version of the film.
From what can be seen in the trailers and from what we already know, the main plot is exactly the same with titular Mulan taking her father’s place. What seems to be different this time around is that her enemies do not include just the Huns, but also a witch of some kind. Also, it seems that the villains have some kind of background for the things they are doing, as seen in the trailers. It seems as though they have changed a lot of smaller details as well, but the only way to know for sure would be to go and watch the film.
The film stars Liu Yifei as the eponymous character, alongside Donnie Yen, Jason Scott Lee, Yoson An, Gong Li, and Jet Li in supporting roles. The movie was directed by New Zealand film director and screenwriter Niki Caro. The producers of the movie include Chris Bender, co-producer of the American Pie films, Tendo Nagenda, Jason Reed, and Jake Weiner. With a screenplay by Rick Jaffa and Amanda Silver (New Planet of the Apes Trilogy), Lauren Hynek, and Elizabeth Martin, the movie releases to theaters on March 27, 2020.
1. Bad Boys for Life– Coming in at the top spot for the third weekend in a row since its initial release, Bad Boys for Life brought in $17.7 million at the Box Office, bringing its gross amount to $148.1 million.
2. 1917– 1917 maintains a place near the top of the box office list having brought in $9.7 million which brings its total amount brought in at the box office to $119.2 million.
3. Dolittle– Dolittle takes the third spot on the list for the weekends top films, having brought in a total of $7.7 million, and bringing its grand total to $55.2 million.
4. Gretel and Hansel– With its opening weekend, Gretel and Hansel brought in $6.1 million, making its gross the same amount.
5. The Gentlemen– At the middle of the list, we have The Gentlemen in its second weekend having brought in $6.0 million, bringing its gross to 20.4 million.
6. Jumanji: The Next Level– Jumanji: The Next Level maintains a presence on the list after having brought in $6.0 million this past weekend which brings its gross amount brought in to $291.2 million.
7. Star Wars: Episode IX- The Rise of Skywalker– The Rise of Skywalker also keeps a place on this list after almost 2 months, though bringing in much less at $3.2 million for a total of $507.1 million.
8. The Turning– In its second week since its premiere, The Turning brought in $3.1 million which brings its total amount to $11.7 million.
9. Little Women– Little Women comes in next at $3.0 million, bringing the gross amount brought in to $98.8 million.
10. The Rhythm Section– Coming in at the last spot on the list is The Rhythm Section, which, on its opening weekend, brought in $2.8 million and this is also its gross amount brought in as well.
Sundance Film Festival is a famous yearly cinema festival that sees countless independent films being showcased to cinema lovers. The festival committee announces winners based off of how well done the movies are just like any other event. Lee Isaac Chung’s ‘Minari’ was so beloved by the audience at Sundance 2020 that it ended up receiving the top U.S. Dramatic grand jury prize. ‘Minari’ is based on Chung’s own childhood on a rural Arkansas farm, following a Korean American family as they struggle to establish roots in a new home. ‘Minari’ did not just win the jury grand prize, but also the audience award, something achieved by a total of eight films since 1989. Among those films are Oscar nominees ‘Whiplash’ and ‘Precious.’
The next winner on the list is the winner of the top U.S. Documentary prize ‘Boys State.’ This film tells the chronicle of a weeklong boys’ leadership camp in Texas from directors Jesse Moss and Amanda McBaine. ‘Boys State’ managed to ink a record-breaking $12 million documentary deal. The audience award for U.S. documentary went to ‘Crip Camp,’ directed by Nicole Newnham and Jim Lebrecht.
All four of the jury directing prizes went to female filmmakers: Garrett Bradley’s “Time” in U.S. Documentary, Radha Blank’s ‘The 40-Year-Old Version’ in U.S. Dramatic, Iryna Tsilyk’s ‘The Earth is Blue as an Orange’ from Ukraine/Lithuania in World Documentary and Maïmouna Doucouré’s ‘Cuties’ from France in World Dramatic. Blank won the award for U.S. Dramatic directing for a semiautobiographical New York-set story she wrote, directed and stars in about a frustrated playwright who finds a new outlet in hip-hop.
The winner of the NEXT section of the film festival received both the audience award and the jury award. This film is ‘I Carry You With Me,’ a Spanish language love story, and the first fiction feature filmed by documentary filmmaker Heidi Ewing. Which helped even more to highlight how strong competition was this year. Other than this winner, there were countless others that had never been their before. A testament to how unique the film festival is, there are always new directors receiving awards for their new and unique films.
U.S. Dramatic Jury Awards
The jury, composed of director Rodrigo Garcia, actor Ethan Hawke, filmmaker Dee Rees, actress Isabella Rossellini and director Wash Westmoreland vote on countless films for a variety of awards.
Grand Jury Prize: ‘Minari’- directed by Lee Isaac Chung
Jury Award for Directing: Radha Blank- ‘The 40-Year-Old Version’
Waldo Salt Screenwriting Award: Edson Oda- ‘Nine Days’
Special Jury Award for Neorealism: Eliza Hittman- ‘Never Rarely Sometimes Always’
Special Jury Award for Auteur Filmmaking: Josephine Decker- ‘Shirley’
Special Jury Award for Ensemble Cast: ‘Charm City Kings’
U.S. Documentary Jury Awards
This jury is composed of director Kimberly Reed, SFFILM director of programming Rachel Rosen, CNN Films senior vice president Courtney Sexton, director E. Chai Vasarhelyi and ITVS vice president of content Noland Walker.
Grand Jury Prize: ‘Boys State’- directed by Jesse Moss
Jury Award for Directing: Garrett Bradley- ‘Time’
Special Jury Award for Innovation in Nonfiction Storytelling: Kirsten Johnson- ‘Dick Johnson Is Dead’
Special Jury Award for Editing: Tyler H. Walk- ‘Welcome To Chechnya’
Special Jury Award for Social Impact Filmmaking: Elyse Steinberg, Josh Kriegman, and Eli Despres- ‘The Fight’
Special Jury Award for Emerging Filmmaker: Arthur Jones- ‘Feels Good Man’
World Cinema Dramatic Jury Awards
The jury for these awards was director Haifaa Al Mansour, actor Wagner Moura and actress Alba Rohrwacher.
Grand Jury Prize: ‘Yalda, A Night for Forgiveness,’- directed by Massoud Bakhsh (Iran/France/Germany/Switzerland/Luxembourg)
Jury Award for Directing: Maïmouna Doucouré- ‘Cuties’ (France)
Special Jury Award for Best Screenplay: Fernanda Valadez and Astrid Rondero- ‘Identifying Features (Sin Señas Particulares)’ (Mexico/Spain)
Special Jury Award for Visionary Filmmaking: Lemohang Jeremiah Mosese- ‘This Is Not a Burial, It’s a Resurrection’ (Lesotho/South Africa/Italy)
Special Jury Award for Acting: Ben Whishaw- ‘Surge’ (U.K.)
World Cinema Documentary Jury Awards
The jury for which was Museum of the Moving Image film curator Eric Hynes, Arab Fund for Arts and Culture executive director Rima Mismar and filmmaker Nanfu Wang.
Grand Jury Prize: ‘Epicentro’- directed by Hubert Sauper (Austria/France/U.S.A.)
Jury Award for Directing: Iryna Tsilyk- The Earth Is Blue as an Orange’ (Ukraine/Lithuania)
Special Jury Award for Creative Storytelling: Benjamin Ree- ‘The Painter and the Thief’ (Norway)
Special Jury Award for Cinematography: Mircea Topoleanu and Radu Ciorniciuc- ‘Acasa, My Home’ (Romania/Germany/Finland)
Special Jury Award for Editing: Mila Aung-Thwin, Sam Soko, and Ryan Mullins- ‘Softie’ (Kenya)
Next Innovator Award
Filmmaker Gregg Araki is the one-person jury who awarded this award to ‘I Carry You With Me- directed by Heidi Ewing (U.S.A./Mexico)
Audience Awards
U.S. Dramatic: ‘Minari,’ directed by Lee Isaac Chung (U.S.A.)
U.S. Documentary: ‘Crip Camp’- directed by Nicole Newnham and Jim LeBrecht (U.S.A.)
World Cinema Dramatic: ‘Identifying Features (Sin Señas Particulares)’- directed by Fernanda Valadez (Mexico/Spain)
World Cinema Documentary: ‘The Reason I Jump’- directed by Jerry Rothwell (U.K.)
Next: ‘I Carry You With Me’- directed by Heidi Ewing (U.S.A./Mexico)
Alfred P. Sloan Feature Film Prize
This award is a more specific award presented to an outstanding feature film focusing on science or technology as a theme, or depicting a scientist, engineer or mathematician as a major character.
American Museum of Natural History assistant curator Dr. Ruth Angus, actress Emily Mortimer, filmmaker and visual artist Jessica Oreck, scientist Ainissa Ramirez and filmmaker Michael Tyburski comprise the jury that voted on ‘Tesla’- directed by Michael Almereyda (U.S.A.) to win the award.
Short Film Jury Awards
The jury for this is comprised of actress Sian Clifford, Strand Releasing co-president and co-founder Marcus Hu and artist Cindy Sherman.
Grand Jury Prize: Sofia Alaoui- ‘So What If The Goats Die’ (France, Morocco)
Jury Award for U.S. Fiction: Terrance Daye- ‘-Ship: A Visual Poem’ (U.S.A.)
Jury Award for International Fiction: Dylan Holmes Williams- ‘The Devil’s Harmony’ (United Kingdom)
Jury Award for Non-fiction: Matthew Killip- ‘John Was Trying to Contact Aliens’ (U.S.A.)
Jury Award for Animation: Daria Kashcheeva- ‘Daughter’ (Czech Republic)
Special Jury Award for Acting: Sadaf Asgari- ‘Exam’ (Iran)
Special Jury Award for Directing: Michael Arcos- ‘Valerio’s Day Out’ (Colombia, U.S.A.)
Sundance Institute / Amazon Studios Producers Awards
Documentary Features: Diane Becker and Melanie Miller of Fishbowl Films- ‘Whirlybird’ (U.S.A.)
Narrative Features: Huriyyah Muhammad- ‘Farewell Amor’ (U.S.A.)
Among all of the films that are premiered at the Sundance Film Festival, there are pieces of visual media with interesting stories to tell which are told in parts. These films, with an emphasis on independent perspectives, are a part of the aptly named Indie Episodic Program. We will go over those episodics now. Starting with three that are a part of the Indie Episodic Showcase, a small subcategory.
Awkward Family Photos– The families behind some of the most viral photos from the archives of AwkwardFamilyPhotos.com share their unique stories and reunite to re-create their original portraits, forcing them to reconcile their past and celebrate their awkwardness. Written by William A. Kirkley, Mike Bender, and Doug Chernack and directed by William A. Kirkley.
The Ride– Wayne, a 40-year-old rideshare driver and spiritual coach, recently moved back in with his mom. He discovers that the key to giving his life meaning is to help his unsuspecting passengers let go of their negative thoughts—whether they want his help or not. Directed by Linas Phillips and co-written by Joslyn Jensen.
Hey Lady!– Nothing is safe when fearlessly off-the-charts senior citizen Lady and her chain-smoking best friend embark on a rampage of urban vengeance, upturning everything in their path. Social norms, common decency, and the fourth wall of the series itself are tossed out the window. Written by Morris Panych and directed by Sarah Polley, Adriana Maggs, and Will Bowes.
Chemo Brain– Twenty-eight-year-old Oliver spends his time studying, hanging out with friends, and trying to charm his new girlfriend, Signe, when he finds out that his lower-back pain is actually testicular cancer. Rapidly shifting from mindless living to becoming a hospital regular, chemotherapy sets him on a path of introspection. Welcome distraction, if minimal nurturing, comes via his best friend, his father, and fellow patient Eva, who is facing her own diagnosis with flair. Oliver struggles between maintaining his happy-go-lucky toehold in the life he shaped for himself and honing in on what will ultimately be best for him in the world he has been thrust into. Written and directed by Kristian Håskjold and written by Johan Wang.
City So Real– As a factious mayoral election coincides with the trial of the police officer who killed Laquan McDonald, Chicago becomes a flashpoint, with the city as a tinderbox and its citizens ready to spark. The meandering camera in City So Real captures a wide swath of voices and perspectives assembled from intimate family gatherings to combustible street protests and beyond. Candidates, voters, protestors, and bystanders all weigh in, with passionate arguments and casual insights presented in equal measure, creating a broad view of a city long held as a political lightning rod. Directed by Steve James.
Embrace– Against the backdrop of Oakland, California, Iranian American medical student Kat tries to save her Iranian family by taking on a surprising side hustle. The show is a culturally diverse, quasi-surrealist dramedy that captures the ever-increasing need for human connection and the subsequent commodification of it. Directed by Jessica Sanders and created by Kathreen Khavari and Chuck Neal.
Laetitia– When 18-year-old Jessica finds her twin sister Laetitia’s overturned scooter outside their foster parents’ home, it quickly becomes clear that something is terribly wrong. French police swiftly reconstruct the young girl’s final hours, leading to the arrest of lifelong criminal Tony Meilhon. Though investigators are convinced they have the right man, they are woefully unable to locate an integral piece of evidence: his victim’s body. The sordid details of this heinous crime develop into a focal point for the national media, drawing the attention of politicians at the highest level and leading to intense scrutiny of the country’s legal system. Written and directed by Jean-Xavier de Lestrade and written by Antoine Lacomblez.
Untitled Pizza Movie– In the early 1990s, David Shapiro and Leeds Atkinson, lifelong friends from Manhattan’s Lower East Side, set out to find the perfect slice of the city’s biggest commodity—pizza. Under the guise of filming a TV series titled Eat to Win, Dave and Leeds traversed pizzerias throughout their rapidly changing city until they found a favorite: Lombardi’s, widely acknowledged as the first pizzeria in the country.
There they discovered Andrew Bellucci, a passionate chef whose humble beginnings as a short-order cook at a bingo parlor segued into an unlikely role as a darling of the New York food world. When they discover that Bellucci had been a Wall Street criminal imprisoned after an FBI investigation, their project takes an unexpected turn. The two friends drift apart, and their film goes unfinished. Directed and written by David Shapiro.
Amongst the movies that premiere at the annual Sundance Film Festival in Park City, Utah, there is a program that highlights films that have played throughout the world. This category of films is known as the Spotlight category and we will go over which movies premiere in that showcase.
And Then We Danced– A gifted dancer named Merab moves beautifully, but his mannerisms enrage his coach, who finds them too effeminate. Merab, however, quietly defies not only his coach but his community’s hyperconservative constraints. An aura of danger emerges when he meets a handsome new dancer named Irakli, whose gifted technique becomes a source of attraction and competition for Merab. As the two fall into a secretive affair, whispers of their newfound romance threaten their respective careers. Written and directed by Levan Akin.
Collective– On October 30, 2015, a fire at the Bucharest club Colectiv killed 27 people and injured 180, leading to public protests that brought down the Romanian government. When an additional 37 people died in the hospital from infection, journalist Cătălin Tolontan and the reporters at Romania’s Sports Gazette newspaper exposed the unchecked corruption that sacrificed countless lives for the greed of a few.
At the same time, others fought hard against the system of oppression strangling the nation, including several whistleblowers, a young bureaucrat who tried to reform the system despite entrenched opposition, and a survivor from the Colectiv fire who expressed her pain through art. Written and directed by Alexander Nanau and written by Antoaneta Opris.
Ema– Between elegantly choreographed performances, it is revealed that dancer Ema (Mariana Di Girolamo) and her husband and dance company leader, Gastón (Gael García Bernal) returned their adopted son, Polo, to child services of their small town in Valparaíso, Chile, after he set their house on fire, badly burning Ema’s sister. The couple’s agonizing decision sets off a spiral of guilt and spins the marriage into crisis as Ema and Gastón blame each other for Polo’s actions. Ema decides to fill the wedge in her soul with a flamethrower, a rebellious ode to reggaeton, and a plan to regain motherhood. Written and directed by Pablo Larraín, as well as written by Guillermo Calderón and Alejandro Moreno.
La Llorona– Indignant retired general Enrique finally faces trial for the genocidal massacre of thousands of Mayans decades ago. As a horde of angry protestors threatens to invade their opulent home, the women of the house—his haughty wife, conflicted daughter, and precocious granddaughter—weigh their responsibility to shield the erratic, senile Enrique against the devastating truths being publicly revealed and the increasing sense that a wrathful supernatural force is targeting them for his crimes. Meanwhile, much of the family’s domestic staff flees, leaving only loyal housekeeper Valeriana until a mysterious young Indigenous maid arrives. Written and directed by Jayro Bustamante and written by Lisandro Sánchez.
The Assistant– Jane (Julia Garner) is a junior assistant to a prominent entertainment executive, a man whose face we never get to see, though whose character is clearly inspired by the #MeToo testimonies surrounding Harvey Weinstein. There is nothing glamorous or rewarding about her job, yet she’s often reminded that any young aspiring film producer would kill to take her place. Over the course of 24 hours we witness as Garner’s superbly understated Jane faces a multitude of degradations and hostilities (from both men and women), which she continues to bear stoically.
She quietly goes about her mundane tasks with an attitude of someone who is used to this type of treatment. Just when we think that nothing can be done about her growing discomfort in this land of self-importance, Jane takes action—and what follows is a fascinating depiction of the mechanics that lead to abuse of power. Written and directed by Kitty Green.
The Climb– Kyle is getting married. In France. To a French girl. He and his best friend (and best man), Mike, embark on a bike ride, traversing a twisting road in the South of France. Physically unable to keep the ascending pace, Kyle is a sweaty mess. More experienced cyclist Mike encourages his pal until, out of nowhere, he reveals that he slept with Kyle’s fiancée. Written and directed Michael Angelo Covino and written by Kyle Marvin.
The Perfect Candidate– When Maryam, a hardworking young doctor in a small-town clinic, is prevented from flying to Dubai for a conference without a male guardian’s approval, she seeks help from a politically connected cousin but inadvertently registers as a candidate for the municipal council. Maryam sees the election as a way to fix the muddy road in front of her clinic, but her campaign slowly garners broader appeal. Written and directed by Haifaa Al Mansour and written by Brad Niemann.
Sundance Film Festival has various showcases to show off a variety of movie categories. Among the movies shown at the festival there are even a few movies meant for the younger crowds visiting the festival. There may not be many but there are a few.
Binti– Twelve-year-old Binti and her father, Jovial, are undocumented immigrants from the Congo, who have lived in Belgium since Binti was a baby. She dreams of living a normal life and aspires to be an online influencer, but their lives are upended when the refugee squat they are living in is raided by the Belgian police. While on the run, Binti discovers a secret treehouse where she meets Elias, who is working to save the okapi, the threatened “forest giraffe” native to the Congo.
Elias is also struggling to come to terms with his parents’ divorce, his father’s new life in Brazil, and how to relate to his mother’s current suitor. Soon after Binti and Elias’s encounter in the woods, their parents meet, and Binti quickly realizes that a solution to her problems is right in front of her—all she needs to do is convince Elias’s mom and her dad to get married. Through poignant storytelling that all audiences will enjoy, this award-winning film explores weighty issues with humor, empathy, and love. Written and directed by Frederike Migom.
Come Away– Before Peter became Pan and Alice visited Wonderland, they were siblings living in an idyllic country home with their parents and their older brother, David. In this magical place, they are free to play and let their imaginations run wild as they romp around the nearby forest. However, change is in the air as their priggish aunt, Eleanor, who is extremely critical of how the children are being raised, has arranged for David to attend a prestigious boarding school.
As the family strives to accept David’s imminent departure, a deadly accident shatters their wondrous lives. With their family falling apart both emotionally and financially, Alice and Peter decide to find a solution. They travel to London to sell a family heirloom and soon find themselves in a dark, mysterious, and dangerous underworld that propels them on an adventure that will change the course of their lives. Written by Marissa Kate Goodhill and directed by Brenda Chapman.
Timmy Failure: Mistakes Were Made– Timmy Failure is the president, founder, and CEO of Total Failure, Inc., detective agency. With his partner, Total, a 1,500-pound polar bear, Timmy strives to keep the streets of Portland safe by solving seemingly unsolvable mysteries like finding missing backpacks and thwarting the plans of a nefarious criminal gang. Though he is focused on finding a new global headquarters, he endures school, where he must contend with his fellow students and his teacher and nemesis, Mr. Crocus.
While he is on a case, the “Failure Mobile,” his mother’s off-limits Segway scooter and his main source of transportation, disappears. Interpreting the theft as part of a secret plan devised by his adversaries, he begins a search that leads him through a series of misadventures that ultimately threaten the existence of his agency.
Based on the best-selling books by Stephan Pastis, who also co-wrote the screenplay, and directed by award-winning Sundance Film Festival alumnus Tom McCarthy, this heartwarming and entertaining film celebrates the idea that being different isn’t a bad thing. Written by Stephan Pastis and written and directed by Tom McCarthy.
Get Some Strange!
