Matt and Mara

Last updated
Matt and Mara
Directed by Kazik Radwanski
Written byKazik Radwanski
Produced byDaniel Montgomery
Candice Napoleone
Starring Deragh Campbell
Matt Johnson
CinematographyNikolay Michaylov
Edited byAjla Odobašić
Production
company
MDFF Films
Release date
  • February 20, 2024 (2024-02-20)(Berlin)
Running time
80 minutes
CountryCanada
LanguageEnglish

Matt and Mara is a 2024 Canadian drama film, written and directed by Kazik Radwanski. [1] The film stars Deragh Campbell as Mara, a university professor in a troubled marriage to Samir (Mounir Al Shami), who unexpectedly reconnects with Matt (Matt Johnson), a man from her past. [2]

Contents

The cast also includes Simon Reynolds, Kinshuk Dhingra, Georgia Tannis, Jack Nguyen, Frances Howlett, and Linda Theresa Young.

The casting for the film was announced in fall 2020, [3] and the film went into production in 2022. [4]

It premiered in the Encounters program at the 74th Berlin International Film Festival. [5]

Cast

Critical response

Wendy Ide of Screen Daily wrote that "Matt and Mara is one of those films in which very little concrete happens, but the tingling possibility that something might makes it compelling. The appeal is largely due to the casting – Cambell [sic] and Johnson have an undeniable chemistry that is magnified by the improvisational freedom of the picture’s approach. And the agile camerawork deftly captures not just the finely-honed details of both performances, but also the increasingly charged space between the characters." [2]

In a negative review, Sarah Manvel of Critic's Notebook noted, "[the film] could have been delicious. But in this form we are not even being served the cookie dough. All that's here is some raw ingredients with the hope we'll mix them ourselves." [6]

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References

  1. Kelly Townsend, "Meryam Joobeur, Kazik Radwanski films set for Berlinale". Playback , January 22, 2024.
  2. 1 2 Wendy Ide, "‘Matt And Mara’: Berlin Review". Screen Daily , February 23, 2024.
  3. Etan Vlessing, "‘Anne at 13,000 Ft.’ Star Deragh Campbell Reteams With Matt Johnson for ‘Matt and Mara’". The Hollywood Reporter , September 10, 2020.
  4. Barry Hertz, "After TIFF 2022, the future of Canadian cinema rests in MDFF’s hands". The Globe and Mail , September 15, 2022.
  5. Roxborough, Scott (2024-01-22). "Rooney Mara, Isabelle Huppert, Gael Garcia Bernal Films Set for 2024 Berlinale". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 2024-01-22.
  6. https://www.criticsnotebook.com/2024/02/matt-and-mara-movie-review-deragh-campbell-matt-johnson-kazik-radwanski-berlinale.html#more