The Wasteland List: 35th Annual Philadelphia Film Festival Day 8
How often do you sit there thinking about what to watch? You might have an endless watchlist that keeps piling up (I certainly have one myself). Sometimes you are just in the mood for a type of film or a certain filmmaker or actor and want to take yourself into a deep dive. As someone who watches so many movies, I have people asking me for recommendations all the time. One of the best feelings as a cinephile is recommending a film and that person loves it. Take this wealth of cinematic knowledge and experience and enjoy some recommendations on me. Genre. Subgenre. Filmmaker. Actor. Composer. Writer. Genre. Story. Trope. Cliché. Any other cinematic elements or them. Here is The Wasteland List:
35th Annual Philadelphia Film Festival Day 8
In Waves (2026)
What is the true power of surfing? This is an experience that connects deeply to Hawaiian culture, connects you to the ocean, and can bring people together in such a powerful way. The new animated film In Waves uses surfing as the foundation for the love and connection in the film’s central romance. This is a tragic love story (as seen many times before on screen) but the beauty of the love and animation lifts this film above. Gorgeous animation is so powerful in that it captures the ocean (where water is such a challenging element to visualize in animation). The love story is charming as it offers an equal amount of romance and tragedy. The romance is also bolstered by genuine friendship which makes for some truly moving and poignant scenes throughout the film. The film all leads to tidal waves of emotion and a beautifully rendered and cathartic finale. A strong voice performance by Lyna Khoudri is the cherry on top of this familiar yet powerful film.
A Talent for Murder (2026)
Who doesn’t enjoy a wicked bit of darkly twisted thrills? That is the best way to describe the new meta-thriller from director Anton Corbijn. A Talent for Murder takes real life writer Patricia Highsmith and her beloved Ripley anthology and crafts a darkly intriguing fictional thriller. The tale focuses on an ambitious young editor visiting Highsmith in Switzerland to convince her to write one last Ripley tale. Through an unexpected romantic connection, this editor finds himself crafting a cunning tale worthy of his beloved literary character. The film is sharp with plenty of texture that gives the film some solid and engaging tension. But the duo of Helen Mirren and Alden Ehrenreich elevated this muddled tale with their truly committed performances. Mirren is grouchy and prickly in the most effective ways. Ehrenreich balances an unassuming façade with a darkly charming and menacing persona worthy of Ripley. Olivia Cooke feels a tad wasted and the narrative becomes too convoluted for this film to truly soar. Flawed, yes but A Talent for Murder is an engaging genre flick to shake things up at the festival full of deeply emotional dramas.
Elsinore (2026)
What is the emotional powerhouse performance of 2026? You might have just found it in the new biographical drama, Elsinore. This new film by director Simon Stone follows actor Ian Charleson who wanted the opportunity to star in his swan song of Hamlet at the National Theater as he is dying of AIDS. Andrew Scott delivers an emotional powerhouse performance that is deeply affecting at every turn. You feel every bit of pain, joy, and sadness that fills Charleson’s everyday life in his current position. Scott delivers all the complex physicality of a dying man running himself ragged. His sharp wit is another wonderful addition to the performance and much needed in such a tragic story. The film balances that British wit with deeply emotional impact. This is a familiar tale, but you soon forget that when you are enveloped in such a compelling and inspiring journey filled with memorable characters and performances. The likes of Olivia Colman, Billie Piper, Peter Mullen, and Johnny Flynn fill out the cast with memorable turns. But the personal connections that Charleson has in his queer community are the heart of the film. Moving, inspiring, and meaningful, Elsinore is yet another powerful film in the wide Hamlet related canon.
Diary of a Chambermaid (2026)
What should you expect from a Radu Jude film? If anything, it is going to be weird and push boundaries. The Diary of a Chambermaid might honestly be his most accessible film to date. The core of the film is simple yet relevant. A Romanian immigrant tries to make a living in France as a housekeeper and au pair while leaving her daughter back home in Romania. This is true for many migrants who are just trying to make ends meet for their families. The film builds a powerful crescendo where the toll of this distance crashes down on mother and daughter. Jude delivers a moving and poignant experience…which was quite surprising. But our protagonist is also starring in a student play adaptation of the titular novel, which is completely obscene, absurd, and off the rails. That is what you expect from Jude. This film finds a wild sense of humor in those scenes that are honestly hard to believe are happening. Fun editing gags bring more laughs as well. But it is the strong central turn of Ana Dumitrascu that makes the experience. She balances the emotions of the situation with her work façade and her prickly personality when she lets that guard down. Young Sofia Dragoman steals the show as the daughter anytime she hops on video call or sends videos. This one might be a little undercooked at times and quite lean, but Jude delivers with a win on this new effort.
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