Sundance Film Festival 2023: SQUARING THE CIRCLE, SHAYDA & THE STARLING GIRL

It’s been three long years since I last stepped foot in Park City and it was well worth the wait. This marks film lovers’ first year back in person, and the lineup is incredible. It was a whirlwind of an experience to be back with familiar faces and locations that made me feel like a kid in a candy store. Sundance is most definitely my candy store.

With my first report, I’ve got a documentary that goes behind the scenes on some of the most iconic rock album covers, and two dramas with powerful female performances. Shall we?

Squaring the Circle (Anton Corbijn)

Pink Floyd, Led Zeppelin, Wings, Peter Gabriel… sound familiar? A lot of their famous albums will not only get a tune to start playing in your head, but they’ll often conjure an image. The incredible artistry behind those is from a company called Hipgnosis, and this documentary tells us the story behind the creators and the creations themselves. With each new unveiling of an album cover, I felt compelled.

Storm Thorgerson and Aubrey ‘Po’ Powell are the visionaries behind these projects, and we learn of their relationship and those with the artists, along with the collaboration. Whenever you are diving into someone’s history it’s an enlightening experience, but with Squaring the Circle, I really found myself floating away (much like the pig in Led Zeppelin‘s album) and I was happy to be taken for the ride.

The film is full of incredible talking head interviews with talented musicians and loads of tales about how these intriguing images were conjured. So much goes into making something memorable, and if you’re like me and hadn’t heard of Hipgnosis before, you won’t forget them now.

I won’t dive into the experiences shared because it should be done so in an explanatory fashion. As someone who loves music, art, and stories, this does not let me down.

This was a treat, a fun dive into the origins behind some of the most iconic rock album covers. Great stories and interviews, a music lovers delight. It makes me want to sink into some vinyls for a while. Join me?

Shayda (Zar Amir-Ebrahimi)

Shayda is a Sundance standout for sure. It is made with love and delivered with precision and heart.

Shayda (Noora Niasari) and her six-year-old daughter Mona (Selina Zahednia) are trying to escape the abuse of the husband she divorced Hossein (Osamah Sami). They come to a community in search of hope amidst the turmoil, and here they find independence despite the challenges that come from breaking away from a toxic situation.

The resiliency on display is empowering through Ebrahimi‘s latest impressive performance (she was amazing at TIFF as well with Holy Spider) and with such a confident first feature Noora Niasari captures the struggle through a feminine eye. What a duo.

Zar Amir Ebrahimi embodies Shayda with a gentle restraint that exudes a mother being strong for her daughter while she is close to breaking inside. It is a touching portrayal that feels grounded and soulful.

With a script (also written by Noora Niasari) each scene is executed with a sort of continued persistence that really emphasizes the strife and determination of women in this situation.

There is also a wonderful performance by Leah Purcell as Joyce, who looks over the woman and the children seeking shelter. The bond Shayda has with Selina Zahednia‘s character is one that feels genuine and makes Shayda seems like a real experience. Emotional and tactful, Shayda feels personal and universal. This is just one story of many out there, and while the script is merely a drop in a deep well of hardships, this is conveyed in a way that is respectful and riveting.

A powerful debut with an especially striking performance from Zar Amir Ebrahimi that stands as one of my favorites from the fest so far. A harmonious balance of somberness and tenderness that resonates. I found it impactful and intrinsically important. Final thought: Zar Amir Ebrahimi is one to look out for. She has a presence onscreen that completely engulfs the audience. A star.

The Starling Girl (Laurel Parmet)

In the opening scene, we see Jem (Eliza Scanlen) dancing for her church congregation. She appears spirited and content, but at the end in a similarly matched scene, paints a stark contrast. We see the difference from start to finish in a way that’s marked by Jem’s internal growth. While a lot happens in The Starling Girl, the girl at the center is really the one we are watching. Her journey is what makes this feature gripping. Eliza Scanlen is fantastic, exhibiting a vulnerability that allows us to empathize and connect as a young woman navigating new, thrilling, and risky directions.

Jem comes from a religious southern family and is very devoted to her faith. When a young pastor returns (Lewis Pullman), his presence sparks something in Jem, who feels drawn to him. As a young woman who is navigating her relationship with herself, her faith, and her sexuality, it’s a pointed and sensitive look that is matched by excellent performances from Scanlen and Pullman.

As their relationship becomes more involved, there is also more pressure and danger. This is very much Jem’s story and there’s never a moment in the film’s direction that doesn’t make that clear. I found the film to be incredibly organic as if we are set in this world with no predispositions, just a clear eye.

Eliza Scanlen drives this compelling coming-of-age story that is a heartbreakingly earnest look at religion, desire, and connection to oneself. A festival standout with a perfect final shot.

Keep a look out for more coverage from Sundance Film Festival from my coworkers and me!