At New Directors/New Films, the Faces Tell the Story

At New Directors/New Films, the Faces Tell the Story

In “Familiar Touch,” Kathleen Chalfant plays a woman whose inner life alternately burns bright and suddenly dims. Her character, Ruth, has an inviting smile and natural physical grace, though at times she falters midstep. A former cook and a cookbook author now in her 80s, she lives alone in a pleasant modern home cluttered with … Read more

At New Directors/New Films, the Kids Are Not All Right (Nobody Really Is)

At New Directors/New Films, the Kids Are Not All Right (Nobody Really Is)

The terrific Ukrainian documentary “Intercepted” — screening in this year’s New Directors/New Films festival — is an austere and harrowing chronicle of life, death and indifference. For roughly 90 minutes, it juxtaposes images from everyday life in Ukraine with audio gleaned from phone calls between Russian soldiers and their families. As the camera steadily focuses … Read more