Why you can trust 12DOVE
A moving documentary about the plight of Ugandan children orphaned by the twin scourges of AIDS and civil war, ABC Africa is the first film from acclaimed director Abbas Kiarostami to venture outside his native Iran. But despite the change of scene, it's in line with his body of work, examining the strength of human resilience while cleverly blurring the distinctions between reality and fiction.
Those expecting a conventionally earnest account of suffering and deprivation, though will be taken aback. Instead, Kiarostami fills the screen with bright colours and images of smiling kids as they sing and dance in front of the digital cameras.
Standout moments include the crew's conversation about the mysteries of existence during a blackout; the creation of a child's makeshift coffin from a cardboard box, and the heavenly perspective of the closing shot from a departing airplane. Intelligent, emotional, but never self-consciously grim film-making.
The Total Film team are made up of the finest minds in all of film journalism. They are: Editor Jane Crowther, Deputy Editor Matt Maytum, Reviews Ed Matthew Leyland, News Editor Jordan Farley, and Online Editor Emily Murray. Expect exclusive news, reviews, features, and more from the team behind the smarter movie magazine.
After 25 years, one of the OG anime visual novels has finally hit Steam with its first official English translation
As it teases Destiny 2 Year 11 with the codename Frontiers, Bungie talks what's next for its MMO: "We want to get back to expanding our worlds and world-building"
Elden Ring legend Let Me Solo Her is also getting their butt whooped by Shadow of the Erdtree's Rellana, Dancing Lion, and final boss, so they "got some help from summons"