A cinephiles’ paradise! The annual Hamptons International Film Festival (HIFF) returns with a stunning curation of this year’s top films.
While 2020 may not have stayed faithful to the typical filmgoing experience, HIFF has gracefully pivoted to adapt to the modern pandemic. Following suit with the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) and the recent New York Film Festival (NYFF), the Hamptons regional showcase offers a diverse array of viewing experiences, ranging from virtual screenings to drive-ins.
Below, The Knockturnal highlights a few of the can’t-miss films!
With Drawn Arms, dir. Glenn Kaino and Afshin Shahidi
The opening night documentary feature looks back on the monumental 1968 Olympic award ceremony during which U.S. athletes Tommy Smith and John Carlos raised their fists in solidarity. Over 50 years later, gold medalist Smith recalls how his action impacted the Civil Rights Movement. Executive produced by John Legend and Jesse Williams, the film includes interviews with Megan Rapinoe, Colin Kaepernick, and the late Congressman John Lewis.
Ammonite, dir. Francis Lee
The highly-anticipated film stars Kate Winslet and Saorise Ronan as two lovers in 19th-century England. Through class differences and social conflict, the couple’s romance endures, while the film provides a timeless commentary on pioneering women fighting for their truth. Actor Winslet is joined by Jenelle Riley, the Deputy Awards and Features Editor at Variety, to also discuss the role. The HIFF inclusion marks the film’s U.S. premiere.
Betye Saar: Taking Care of Business, dir. Christine Turner
The eight-minute long short film spotlights artist Betye Saar’s life across her 93 years.
The Climb, dir. Michael Angelo Covino
Writer-director Michael Angelo Covino uses “single take” scenes to capture a bike ride with best friend Kyle (co-writer Kyle Marvin) in this genre-bending story. The duo embark on both an emotional and physical journey after a revelation in the South of France, leading them to dissect their often co-dependent relationship.
Gunda, dir. Victor Kossakovsky
Documentarian Victor Kossakovsky turns his camera lens on Norwegian farm life. Two cows, a one-legged chicken, and the titular Gunda mother sow round out the silent black-and-white film. Their lives are tenderly recorded, emphasizing the dignity in the mundane and the beauty of the unspoken. Executive produced by actor and humanitarian Joaquin Phoenix, Gunda challenges any preconceived assumptions about the domestic animal world.
I Carry You With Me “Te Llevo Conmigo,” dir. Heidi Ewing
Director Heidi Ewing’s narrative debut is based on a true love story between aspiring chef and young father Iván (Armando Espitia) and his partner Gerardo (Christian Vazquez) in Mexico. After their relationship is discovered, Iván makes the dangerous trek across the U.S.-Mexico border in hope for a better life for himself, Gerardo, and his son. The decades-long story hinges on a startlingly honest portrayal of the American Dream while honoring the inspirational real-life couple.
I Am Greta, dir. Nathan Grossman
When 15 year-old Greta Thunberg organized a one-person protest for climate action in front of the Swedish Parliament, the world took notice. Now, director Nathan Grossman revisits what catapulted Thunberg’s message to an international audience, and follows her path of activism from the European Parliament to the 2019 UN Climate Summit in New York and two Nobel Peace Prize nominations. I Am Greta makes its U.S. premiere at HIFF.
Minari, dir. Lee Isaac Chung
A Korean-American family relocates to a small town in Arkansas, and while the family tries to adapt to a new life in the Ozarks, the surprise arrival of their foul-mouthed grandmother changes the dynamics. The Sundance Film Festival breakout stars beloved actor Steven Yeun, whom later virtually discusses the film with Indiewire Executive Editor and Chief Critic, Eric Kohn.
Nine Days, dir. Edson Oda
In a metaphysical realm, Will (Winston Duke) is tasked with choosing from five prospective candidates on Earth to find a worthy soul to be born. Will forges a relationship with candidate Emma (Zazie Beetz), and is eventually confronted with his own past. This feature debut from director Edson Oda speaks to the universal human condition and the inevitable reckoning of one’s own complexities.
Nomadland, dir. Chloé Zhao
After an economic collapse, Fern (Frances McDormand) decides to leave her small Nevada town in an RV, and begin a new nomadic life. Inspired by Jessica Bruder’s nonfiction book of the same name, the film captures the displaced American countryside with a cast of real-life travelers who guide Fern’s own path to self-discovery.
Sound of Metal, dir. Darius Marder
Punk-metal drummer and hard partier Ruben (Riz Ahmed) starts experiencing hearing loss, and quickly believes his music career has an expiration date. With the help of bandmate and girlfriend Lou (Olivia Cooke), Ruben moves into a sober house for the deaf, only to find that he must now choose between a balanced lifestyle or a relapse.
Wander Darkly, dir. Tara Miele
A traumatic accident causes Adrienne (Sienna Miller) and Matteo (Diego Luna) to exist in a surreal reliving of their shared memories. From the beginning of their romance to grappling with their present struggles, the couple rediscovers their timeless, soulful love.
One Night in Miami…, dir. Regina King
The closing night film centers on one fictional evening in 1964 as cultural icons collide. After Cassius Clay, later known as Muhammad Ali (Eli Goree), defeats heavy weight champion Sonny Liston, Clay celebrates with Malcolm X (Kingsley Ben-Adir), Sam Cooke (Leslie Odom, Jr.), and Jim Brown (Aldis Hodge). Based on the award-winning play, One Night in Miami… embraces discussions about racial injustice, personal responsibility, and cultural revolution.
“I had never seen conversations like this happen on the screen – small screen or big screen,” director Regina King said after the film’s premiere at TIFF, about what drew her to adapting the play originally. “And while it was through the voices of these legendary men, I felt like I was listening to a conversation with just Black men speaking about the Black men’s experiences…The things that are being discussed in the film are just as relevant now as they were 60 years ago.” Actor Leslie Odom, Jr. also speaks with playwright Matthew López following the HIFF screening.
The Hamptons International Film Festival is available via streaming and drive-in screenings from Oct. 8 – 14th.