A GRAND MOCKERY (Australia, 2025)
Cowriters/codirectors Adam C. Briggs and Sam Dixon brought my university-days memories of reading literary works such as Louis-Ferdinand Céline’s Death on the Installment Plan and George Orwell’s Down and Out In Paris and London — and let’s throw in the Henry Miller novel of your choice for good measure — rushing back with their riveting 8mm underground feature A Grand Mockery. Dixon stars as Brisbanite cinema employee Josie, and to say the character is troubled is a gross misunderstatement. He unravels throughout the film on a dark downward spiral caused by mental health problems and addiction. We are taken aback yet we can’t look away thanks to Dixon’s bravura performance, the grainy visual palette created by the filmmakers, the characters who range from sympathetic to outré, the bizarre situations that range from a local graveyard to the Sunshine Coast — some of which may be only in Josie’s mind — and the unique sound design and score. Simultaneously grotesque and compelling, A Grand Mockery is a disturbing, mesmerizing work that I highly recommend.
LUCID (Canada, 2025)
Wild, unapologetic, and frenetic, Lucid from codirectors Ramsey Fendall and Deanna Milligan — the pair cowrote the screenplay with Claire E. Robertson — is an experimental feature with an undeniable commitment to seeing its unique aesthetic commitment through. It is fueled with punk energy as art student and part-time fast food employee Mia (Caitlin Acken Taylor in an all-in, sometimes jaw-dropping performance) tries to come up with an art project that is “something with heart” within a week in order to pass her class, but with all that goes on in her mind and with startling familial revelations suddenly surfacing, it won’t be an easy task. The titular candy elixir meant to help her has odd effects. Like its protagonist, Lucid is filled with ideas but doesn’t seem to settle on what it truly wants to express. The plot never focuses on one aspect very long, jumping from rock club to psychic’s business to art class to fast food establishment and elsewhere, not to mention Mia’s sometimes nightmarish thoughts. Quite honestly, Lucid didn’t fully work for me, and the 108 minutes running time asks a lot of viewers who find themselves not fully engaged with its vibe, but there is enough cinematic insanity and talent behind and in front of the cameras to recommend giving the film a shot — it will definitely click with those looking for loud, colorful, and brash energy.
You can view the trailer here.
LE TOUR DE CANADA (Canada, 2025)
Writer/director John Hollands’ short film Le Tour de Canada is a fast-paced, absurdist tour of that nation as an anglophone and a francophone cyclist battle to win a race from St. John’s to Vancouver. Hollands uses archival footage, animation, and rear projection for his manic slice of comedy. Although the short obviously has references unique to Canadians, there’s enough relatable craziness to enjoy for those of us who aren’t residents of the country, too.
A Grand Mockery, Lucid, and Le Tour de Canada screen as part of Fantasia 2025, which takes place from July 16–August 3 in Montreal, Quebec, Canada.
