Dogleg

Directed by Al Warren| Comedy | 2024 | 82 Minutes I United States

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Dogleg is a hyper-realistic film that follows aspiring director Alan on one of his worst days. His fiancé is out-of-town and sends him to a baby shower for her friends, where he proceeds to lose her dog that he is dog-sitting for; he is distracted because of the lost dog at a film shoot for the final scene for a movie he has been trying to make for years. The film shines in its script: the dialogue is natural and smooth; it feels like the character of Alan is completely real. Recommended by Sean Baker himself  who describes Dogleg as an “extraordinary film.” With natural humor the film is an easy watch, despite following a man having a bad day.

No Right Way

Directed by Chelsea Bo | Drama | 2023 | 103 Minutes I United States

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When teenager Georgie(Ava Acres) is removed from her mother by Child Protective Service she is sent to live with her estranged half-sister Harper(Chelsea Bo) who is a career woman. As Harper watches her own life story play out fourteen years later, she tries to protect Georgie from her past traumas. The film is a charming yet heartbreaking story of two sisters struggling to connect with one another. The performances by stars Acres and Bo creates a beautiful and heart-wrenching dynamic. No Right Way is perfect for fans of The Florida Project– following imperfect characters doing their best in unideal situations. Ultimately both follow beautifully complex familial relationships

The Chicken Curry (Koli Taal)

Directed by  Abhilash Shetty I Comedy I 2021 I 83 Minutes I India

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This laugh-out-loud funny film follows two grandparents on their search for a lost chicken. When Mahabala visits his grandparents for the first time in years, they promise to make him his favorite chicken curry. With only one problem: the chicken goes missing. The Chicken Curry is a story of the comical extent we will go to to make our loved ones happy. The film features beautiful colors and cinematography. As well as the beautiful bickering dynamic of  Mahabala’s grandparents. The Chicken Curry carries the slice-of-life style that is reminiscent of Sean Baker; as well as the humor one finds in Baker's Anora.

Hedgehog

Directed by Lindsey Copeland| Comedy | 2018 | 114 Minutes I United States

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Hedgehog is a beautiful coming-of-age film that sparks an unlikely friendship between aspiring comedian Ali(Madeline Brewer) and recent divorcée Joan(Ann Dowd). Ali is a strapped-for-cash comedian scared to perform who gets a job helping Joan move out of her house. Joan is a former psychologist and writer, who made a career out of analyzing others– and yet never learned anything about herself. The film draws a beautiful parallel between two people at different stages in their lives, who are still struggling to figure out what makes them happy. The film has a beautiful balance of humor and heart that mimics the stylistic musings of Sean Baker. With stellar star-studded performances, this film is the perfect film to watch if you need a reminder it is okay to not have everything figured out.

John

Directed by Le Han I Drama I 2023 I 99 Minutes I United States

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John explores the life of the titular John– an 18-year-old gay sex worker in downtown LA. The film shies away from an overdramatized version of sex work and instead provides a complex portrayal of the John; taking the audience through a couple moments in his everyday life.  Similarly to Sean Baker’s Tangerine the film is shot on an iPhone. What really sets the film apart is its distinct nod to Italian neorealism; framing itself as a mockumentary rather than a typical narrative film. This allows the story to focus more on the everyday issues of John– borrowing money from his friend Peaches to buy groceries, stealing condoms from drugstores, and the unpredictability of the job. Those who appreciate the nuance in Tangerine and the humanistic portrayal of sex workers will easily find John to be their new favorite.