Spilling the Tea
Updated: 1 day ago
By Julie Sisk | September 23, 2026
We took a group to Venice this year and it was everything I hoped it would be—a fantastic festival, a lovely group of cinephiles, an amazing cultural experience, great food and, most importantly, really fun conversations about the films!
Because, of course — rarely does everyone agree.
One person's masterpiece is another person's two hours they'll never get back.
So, with that in mind, here are my one-second reviews of what I saw in Venice and Toronto.
I should explain my sophisticated rating system:
MCT = My Cup of Tea.
VENICE
Deadly Sweet — Not MCT. An erotic pop thriller from the 1960s. Too loud for me!
Ink — Well done. I learned a lot about Murdoch and Lamb. Not as emotionally engaging as I would have liked.
Eklipse — Walked out. Lots of bubbling brooks and scenery—and some dairy-farming techniques I didn't need to see. Not MCT.
The Catch — A 1983 Japanese film about tuna fishing. Before the screening they gave a talk and mentioned that many of the shots were more than five minutes long, so I was predisposed to be bored. And I was.
Wild Horse Nine — LOVED IT. Best film I've seen in years. It made me laugh and cry simultaneously.
Furies — One of my top films. A fast-paced thriller/comedy based on the real-life banking liquidity crisis in Lebanon, when banks wouldn't release their clients' money. The two female leads are excellent.
La Ragazza con Leica — A quiet film about the first female war photographer. Interesting, good-looking — a solid film.
The Basics of Philosophy — Not MCT.
Primetime — Not at all MCT.
It Will Happen Tonight — Loved it. A sweet, romantic, Nanni Moretti comedy.
The Other Side of Everest — Amazing footage, horrific story. A documentary about climbing the north side of Everest and skiing down. Fascinating, but definitely not my idea of a family vacation.
TORONTO
Then, on to TIFF...
Onwards and Sideways — My favorite film at TIFF. I didn't think I wanted to see a film about Parkinson's, but I loved every minute of it. Laura Linney and Rhys Ifans were perfect.
Elephants in the Fog — Hated it. I know it was popular at Cannes, but I don't understand why. Definitely not MCT.
The Julia Set — A very nice independent film with an outstanding performance by Chase Infiniti.
Tender Loving Care — Not my favorite Mike Leigh film, but still—it's Mike Leigh. So, it’s good!
Elsinore — Heartbreaking, with a tour-de-force performance by Andrew Scott.
Musk — Frightening.
Gary Oldman — I heard Gary Oldman interviewed and, as always, he was enormously entertaining. And since I love Slow Horses, I particularly enjoyed hearing him talk about it.
Alex Gibney — I also heard Alex Gibney speak, and that was almost as frightening as the film. Everyone should see Musk.
I Play Rocky — I didn't see it, but my daughter did and she loved it.
All About Corinne — A sweet, comic reflection on the decidedly harsh realities of trying to make it in the film business. And Isabelle Huppert, of course, was great.
SO, WHAT DID I LEARN?
Looking back at everything I saw, the interesting thing is that some of the films I loved most were films I might never have chosen to see at home.
And that's one of the reasons I will always love film festivals.
At home, we tend to choose what we already think we'll like. At a festival, things happen. The screening you wanted is sold out. Someone talks you into seeing something. You have two hours to fill. A title intrigues you. Your daughter wants to see something you don't. You take a chance.
Sometimes you walk out.
Sometimes you spend an awfully long-time watching tuna fishing.
And every once in a while, you walk into a theater knowing almost nothing about a film and walk out having seen something you'll remember for years.
That's the gamble.
And it is just my cup of tea.
– Julie
