The 44th Minneapolis St. Paul International Film Festival (MSPIFF) has come and gone!! The film festivities aren’t over yet, though, as a selection of the BEST OF FEST is screening this week. Wish I could see some of the films I had missed, but I have a pretty severe cold as I’m typing this, however, so no can do.

I’m grateful that we were blessed with such fine weather during the film festival, no weather-related issues at all this year, woo hoo! I had planned on seeing about 16 films, but I managed to see only 14 of them, eight of them directed by women. Happy to report that most of them range from good to exceptional; even the one that I didn’t rate highly is still a remarkable story that I’m glad I got to watch on the big screen.

Here they are in the order of viewings (the ones marked by * (asterisk) are films by women:

Bound in Heaven* – full review

LUZ* – full review

The Spies Among Us*

A striking depiction of the East German Stasi, known as one of the most dreaded police forces in history. The documentary follows Peter Kreup, a Stasi survivor whose past shapes his role as a historian as he faced off against the individuals who operated the system, revealing the intricate details of the surveillance state in the process. A chilling cautionary tale about the power of illusory truth and political propaganda that can drive friends, and even family members, to turn on each other.

Ai Weiwei’s Turandot – full review

The Legend of Ochi

Review Upcoming

Good Sport

Pat is really having a rough day. His ex-wife is getting married again, he’s nursing a hangover, and now he has to coach his 12-year-old son’s basketball team. On top of that, he’s dealing with overbearing parents, a crazy rival coach, and his own feelings of inadequacy. One thing that stands out to me is the heavy use of profanity, especially since this appears to be a family-friendly film. But perhaps that’s just how things go during school sports events that I’m not familiar with. Some of the parents’ behavior is highly exaggerated, which can be amusing at times but also a bit annoying.

Sam Landman is an MN-based actor with extensive theater experience. He’s terrific as the lead and so effortlessly funny! This movie wouldn’t have worked without a compelling lead who’s easy to root for, but thankfully, Landman skillfully sticks the landing!

DJ Ahmet

Review Upcoming

Meet The Barbarians*

Review Upcoming

The Swedish Torpedo*

In 1939, with the threat of WWII looming, Sally Bauer, a single mother from Sweden, was an accomplished long-distance swimmer who decided to tackle the incredible feat of swimming across the English Channel. Juggling sexism, raising her seven-year-old child, and securing funds proved to be even tougher than the swim itself.

Bauer’s story is incredible, and Josefin Neldén delivers a captivating performance as the lead. Unfortunately, Frida Kempff’s biopic is plagued by slow pacing and overly dark cinematography. Bauer may have been as fast as a torpedo, alas, the film progresses at a glacial pace.

Sima’s Song*

Review Upcoming

The Last Journey

Review Upcoming

Folktales*

Review Upcoming

Checkpoint Zoo

Review Upcoming

Greetings from Mars*

Review Upcoming

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FlixChatter Picks of 3 Favorite #MSPIFF2025 films

I just realized that two of my favorite films from the festival are all documentaries! Indeed, reality can often be more intriguing, surprising, and emotional than fiction. From a talented artist and activist diving into his first opera, to a dedicated group of animal lovers who put their lives on the line to rescue animals in war-torn Ukraine, Ai Weiwei Turandot and Checkpoint Zoo transcend beyond entertainment but are essential viewings.

Meanwhile, DJ Ahmet is a wondrous crowdpleaser set in North Macedonia, surely one of the funniest, most uplifting, and heartwarming films I saw this year! These films truly embody what makes a powerful and memorable cinematic experience.

Ai Weiwei’s Turandot | Checkpoint Zoo | DJ Ahmet

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

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Hope you enjoy my recap! Stay tuned for more MSPIFF reviews in the coming days!

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