Oscar Shortlist
Japan's Oscar entry Kokuho has become a surprise blockbuster, grossing over $120 million and revitalizing theater attendance post-Covid. Director Lee Sang-il and star Ken Watanabe discussed the film's resonance during a recent screening event. The story explores ambition in Kabuki theater through complex characters.
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Filmmaker Matt Nadel's documentary Cashing Out explores viatical settlements, a controversial financial tool from the AIDS epidemic era that provided cash to terminally ill patients but drew accusations of profiteering. Initially intending to critique his father's investments in these settlements, Nadel uncovered a more nuanced story of queer resilience and survival. The Oscar-shortlisted film is available for free on The New Yorker website.