By John Corrado

New releases for the week of January 19th, 2024.

Theatrical Releases:

Origin (Limited Release): Ava DuVernay’s ambitious latest project aims to adapt Isabel Wilkerson’s non-fiction bestseller Caste: The Origins of Our Discontents, turning it into both an exploration of the ideas within Wilkerson’s book, and a dramatization of Isabel’s experiences while writing it. Aunjanue Ellis-Taylor stars as Wilkerson, and she does fine work in a film that is occasionally powerful but can also feel preachy and heavy-handed. At 140 minutes, this is a sprawling, at times overreaching work that nonetheless has some moments of impact. (Full Review)

Memory (Limited Release): This latest film from writer-director Michel Franco explores the bond that forms between a New York social worker (Jessica Chastain) and a man with early onset dementia (Peter Sarsgaard). The result is a tender, stripped down character drama, that is carried by a pair of incredibly powerful performances from Chastain and Sarsgaard. (Full Review)

Werner Herzog: Radical Dreamer (Hot Docs Ted Rogers Cinema): This documentary offers an overview of iconic German filmmaker Werner Herzog’s career. It explores his early films, his major risk-taking projects like Aguirre, the Wrath of God, and his later documentary works that redefined his career. It’s very much an overview, but an enjoyable one for fans. (Full Review)

More Releases: I.S.S. (Wide), The Teachers’ Lounge (TIFF Bell Lightbox)

Streaming Releases:

Fallen Leaves (MUBI): This latest from Finnish filmmaker Aki Kaurismäki is now streaming on MUBI. It unfolds like a classic screen romance, charting the relationship between working class heroes Ansa (Golden Globe-nominated Alma Pöysti) and Holappa (Jussi Vatanen), two lonely souls who meet and fall for each other. It’s one of the most wonderful things I saw at TIFF last year, and well worth watching at home. (TIFF 2023 Review)

More Releases: Love on the Spectrum U.S.: Season 2 (Netflix)