A Sister (Belgium)
4.5 stars out of 5
A taut, highly realistic thriller based around a nighttime car ride. I won’t say any more plot-wise as it’s very worth watching and I don’t want to ruin it. Terrific performance by the actress not in the car, Veerle Baetens. This would be my choice for the Oscar winner.
Brotherhood (Tunisia/Canada)
4.5 stars out of 5
An eldest son returns from fighting in Syria to his family’s farm in rural Tunisia, with his devout new Muslim bride. Mom is so happy to see him but Dad is filled with resentment and suspicion. This packs so much into a short — family, faith, prejudice, current events (he was fighting for ISIS, yikes), regret, love — that it feels like a feature film. Mohamed Grayaâ is superb as the dad. Weird to see Tunisians with red hair and freckles. My runner-up as Oscar winner.
Nefta Football Club (France)
3.5 stars out of 5
Move aside, Hollywood, here comes Tunisia! Two brothers in rural Tunisia find a donkey wearing headphones, just over the border in Algeria, carrying a surprise cargo. Very cute but ultimately too silly and forgettable.
Saria (USA)
4 stars out of 5
Based on a true story, two sisters plot a group escape from an abusive orphanage in Guatemala. This is certainly very important and deals with hot-button issues — women’s rights, refugees — but to me felt a little over-dramatized. I would’ve preferred a documentary.
The Neighbors’ Window (USA)
3 stars out of 5
Rear Window but if set in boring upscale Brooklyn! A couple with kids becomes fascinated with a young, sexy couple that they can see through the window across the way. Topic has been covered better by Noah Baumbach’s While We’re Young and also the Bob’s Burgers season 10 episode “Land of the Loft.” This film never rises above its “grass is always greener” conceit.
Jack Silbert, curator