MVFF43 OPENING NIGHT

Judi Dench ascends to the astral plane as the impeccably inept spiritualist Madame Arcati in this spectacular Noël Coward adaptation. Alongside a stellar cast including Dan Stevens, Leslie Mann, and Isla Fisher, Dame Judi truly breaks through to the other side as Arcati, whose attempts to follow The Art of the Séance (wink-wink nudge-nudge) spin an endlessly entertaining yarn. Director: Edward Hall (UK 2020) 95 min.

Buckle up for this wildly entertaining ride through the thrilling execution of one of the greatest bank heists in Argentinian history. This sly and mesmerizing tale is amplified by droll humor and its magnetic leading man duo of Guillermo Francella (The Secret in Their Eyes) and Diego Peretti (The German Doctor, MVFF36). In Spanish with English Subtitles. Director Ariel Winograd (Argentina 2020) 114 min.

A beautiful lo-fi black-and-white ode to the magical resilience of childhood, Alexandre Rockwell’s stunningly rendered film centers on a tightly-bonded sibling duo who try to break free from their dysfunctional home life. Liberating themselves from neglectful, self-absorbed parents, Billie and Nico reclaim their own wild and windswept world of music, poetry, adventure, and freedom. Director Alexandre Rockwell (US 2020) 91 min.

In Byambasuren Davaa’s beautifully shot child’s-eye view of nomadic life on the Mongolian steppe, young Amra daydreams of appearing on Mongolia’s Got Talent. But after a sudden, tragic accident, he must grow up quickly to protect his family and carry on a legacy of defending his people and lands from threats posed by avaricious mining interests. Director Byambasuren Davaa (US 2020) 97 min

Oscar®-nominated director Judith Ehrlich combines breathtaking news footage and moving testimonials to offer a snapshot of America at a historical turning point. Ehrlich points her camera toward the nonviolent warriors who actively opposed the military draft during the Vietnam War, eventually leading to the end of both the draft and the war. Director Judith Erlich (US 2020) 96 min

One of the most important documentaries of the year, Public Trust is a film that needs to be seen by everyone who enjoys getting out in nature. By focusing on the eminent destruction of the Boundary Waters Wilderness in Minnesota, the downsizing of Bears Ears National Monument in Utah, and the wholesale appropriation of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, director David Garrett Byars presents a highly persuasive argument that is impossible to ignore and vital to hear. Director David Garrett Byars (US 2020) 96 min