The 50th Toronto International Festival (TIFF) certainly offers movies that will compete for Oscar gold in March 2026, but this fabulous cinematic lineup has countless other options for professionals and fans of all ages.
This proud Phoenix Film Festival critic has caught 46 films in total at the festival. On Sept. 12, the Phoenix Film Festival published five of my favorites. Here are five more: The Best of TIFF 2025 – Part Two.
Thank you for reading. See these movies!
“Calle Malaga” – Carmen Maura is fabulous as Maria, a senior determined to remain in her home and, more importantly, live her best life in director Maryam Touzani’s lovely drama set in Tangier. Maria’s daughter, Clara (Marta Etura), sells her mother’s possessions and plans to unload her home, but Maria intends to stay and buy back her things with a delightful and enterprising strategy. In addition to making new friends with her new venture, Maria leans into Abslam (Ahmed Boulane), the pawn shop owner who has her possessions, and Sister Josefa (Maria Alfonsa Rosso) for several touching and comical moments. Touzani and Maura remind us never to give up and to embrace the here and now.
“Good Boy” – Tommy (Anson Boon) is a menace. In an opening montage that seemingly extends forever, Tommy rampages across an unnamed UK city, drinks mass quantities of alcohol, uses drugs, curses, picks fights, and seemingly enacts every horrible behavior under the sun short of killing someone. Well, Chris (Stephen Graham), a husband and father who lives on a spacious country estate, steps in to “correct” Tommy’s atrocious conduct. Director Jan Komasa chronicles Tommy’s new living arrangements in a bizarre but engaging drama that poses several questions about Chris and his family’s backstory as well as this defiant young man’s future. Graham (“Adolescence” (2025)) delivers a fascinating performance, and Boon capably matches this on-screen surrogate dad’s drive and problematic discipline methods.
“Sound of Falling” – Director-co-writer Mascha Schilinski’s haunting epic captures everyday and disconcerting milestone events over multiple generations, for over 100 years, in Northern Germany. Schilinski frequently shifts back and forth between the periods at seemingly natural breaks but also without warning as connections between individual traumas of each era slowly materialize. With a sprawling 149-minute runtime, stunning imagery, an astonishing sound design, and no easy answers, “Sound of Falling” resonates as a tragic work of art and an emotional maze that needs multiple viewings to absorb, see, and hear all its intricate details and messages.
“Train Dreams” – Joel Edgerton is Robert Grainier, a lonely soul who sets roots in Idaho during the early 20th century, earns a living as a logger and railroad hand, and finds a new sense of purpose when he meets and falls in love with Gladys (Felicity Jones) in director Clint Bentley’s beautifully constructed, acted, and shot picture of an ordinary man’s journey. Since Robert is a man of few words, Bentley introduces key supporting characters – played by Clifton Collins Jr., Kerry Condon, William H. Macy, and more - throughout the picture who enter our reserved lead’s world and add contemplative words to enrich his perspective. Narrated by Will Patton – who also recites Denis Johnson’s audiobook – “Train Dreams” has some feels of Terrence Malick’s “A Hidden Life” (2019) and Robert Redford’s “A River Runs Through It” (1992).
“Whistle” – Eighty-eight years ago, Snow White encouraged us to whistle while we work, and the contestants of the Masters of Musical Whistling competition are following her lead! Director Christopher Nelius’ documentary seems like a Christopher Guest mockumentary as several creative, imaginative, and eccentric domestic and international personalities descend on Los Angeles to compete for the World Champion whistler title. Often stressed-out but capable taskmaster Carole Anne Kaufman runs the event like a third-world leader or a caring mom (depending on the moment) to support the whistlers and entertain the audience. Meanwhile, Nelius offers in-depth profiles of the contestants – like Yuki, Lauren, Jay, and Anya – both off-stage and on-stage during their biggest moments. Odd, funny, and charming, “Whistle” is a harmonious 84-minute doc.
