I love movies with a huge amount of heart.
They can live in any genre and plots outlandish or sweetly nuanced but they must have some real humanity front and centre, something to stir the soul and make you feel something.
These three films well and and truly fit the bill, and while some might say they are cheesy or overdone, they are real and heartfelt to me, a way to explore what it means to be alive and to be human and to maybe laugh or swoon or be dramatically enthralled while you’re at it.
Enjoy … and don’t forget your heart, along with the popcorn!
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Aware that her time is running short, irascible Wu family matriarch Lily (Lisa Lu) is eager to repair the relationship with her adult daughter Mary (Michelle Krusiec) and help her shy 18-year-old granddaughter Emma (Rochelle Ying) find her voice. As her final wish, she persuades longtime friend Charlotte (Joely Fisher), Emma and Emma’s best friend Karen (Tiffany Wu) to spring her from her L.A. nursing home and take a wild road trip up the California coast to a special place. Along the way, secrets are revealed and Mary & Emma each come to understand the painful choices their mothers made in this funny, touching multi-generational story about family, forgiveness and being true to oneself. The Disappearance of Mrs. Wu is directed by Chinese filmmaker Anna Chi, of the films Blindness, Dim Sum Funeral, Lost Summer, The Boxcar Children – Surprise Island previously. The screenplay and story are by Donald Martin and Anna Chi. (courtesy First Showing)
The Disappearance of Mrs. Wu premiers on VOD on 21 March in USA with a one week theatrical run in LA.
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With androids (SIMS) & humans coexisting, it centers around Faye (Jordana Brewster) who has already pulled the plug on her late husband, now she can’t bring herself to do the same to Evan (Robbie Amell), his android counterpart. Instead of deactivating Evan, Faye sets him up to live illegally on his own. While there he meets Casey (Simu Liu), a brilliant programmer who helps him become more human in order to win Faye back. Unbeknownst to Evan, his new friend is wanted for questioning by a determined Artificial Intelligence Compliance Enforcement (AICE) agent (Sam Worthington). Evan has to win over Faye’s heart before they are discovered and he loses everything. Simulant is directed by Canadian actress / filmmaker April Mullen, of the films 88, Dead Before Dawn 3D, GravyTrain, Below Her Mouth, Badsville, and Wander previously. The screenplay is written by Ryan Christopher Churchill. Produced by Tim Doiron and James van der Woerd. (courtesy First Showing)
Simulant opens in US cinemas and via VOD on 2 June 2023.
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If we knew how much longer we had to live, what would we choose to do with the time we have left? Set in a British hospital, My Happy Ending follows poised and put-together Hollywood star Julia Roth (Andie MacDowell), who seems to be in the sunset of her career, as she begins her journey with a critical medical issue. Preferring to be incognito, Julia is instead thrust into a room with three remarkable women who, with much humor & camaraderie, help Julia take on the most important and challenging role she has ever played: herself. My Happy Ending is co-directed by Israeli filmmakers Tal Granit & Sharon Maymon, of both directors of the films The Farewell Party and Flawless previously. The screenplay is written by Rona Tamir, based on play by Anat Gov. (courtesy First Showing)
My Happy Ending premieres on VOD on 25 April 2023.