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Familiar Touch (2024)

Perfect pairing of director and lead actress

I had the pleasure of seeing this at the Venice Film Festival, where I could feel the audience's captivation with the film. I found the central concept of a "coming of (old) age" film to be compelling, new, and beautifully handled. Friedland's directing is subtle, precise. Kathleen Chalfant's performance is completely astonishing, and the pairing of director and actor felt really, really right: a scene where Chalfant simply walks down the hallway transforms (with a few key choices of lighting, editing) into something completely magical. The care and love with which the film handles even minor characters was moving. Friedland conveys so much, so deeply through quiet, deceptively simple moments. A new director to watch!