Sophie Monks Kaufman

All articles by Sophie Monks Kaufman

Discoveries

11 discoveries from Cannes 2026

Back from Cannes, a selection of our critics pick the first, second or breakthrough feature that bowled them over during this year’s festival.

By John Bleasdale, Rory Doherty and others

11 discoveries from Cannes 2026

Festivals

Fjord: curiously underdeveloped addition to Cristian Mungiu’s body of work explores religious persecution in a small Scandinavian town

By Sophie Monks Kaufman

Fjord: curiously underdeveloped addition to Cristian Mungiu’s body of work explores religious persecution in a small Scandinavian town

Discoveries

13 discoveries from Cannes 2025

By John Bleasdale, Thomas Flew and others

13 discoveries from Cannes 2025

Festivals

Sentimental Value: an egotistical director tries to reconnect with his family through cinema in Joachim Trier’s gorgeous drama

By Sophie Monks Kaufman

Sentimental Value: an egotistical director tries to reconnect with his family through cinema in Joachim Trier’s gorgeous drama

Reviews

The Stimming Pool: a truly radical cinematic exploration of neurodiversity

By Sophie Monks Kaufman

The Stimming Pool: a truly radical cinematic exploration of neurodiversity

Lists

Meryl Streep: 10 essential films

By Sophie Monks Kaufman

Meryl Streep: 10 essential films

Reviews

Saltburn: an ostentatious black comedy designed to shock

By Sophie Monks Kaufman

Saltburn: an ostentatious black comedy designed to shock

Festivals

Dreamin’ Wild: a smart, sensitively structured musical biopic

By Sophie Monks Kaufman

Dreamin’ Wild: a smart, sensitively structured musical biopic

Festivals

The Eternal Daughter: a smart, spooky mother-daughter double act

By Sophie Monks Kaufman

The Eternal Daughter: a smart, spooky mother-daughter double act

Festivals

White Noise: a deliriously maximalist vision

By Sophie Monks Kaufman

White Noise: a deliriously maximalist vision

Festivals

Broker: baby traffickers build blissful families in Kore-eda’s Korean crime caper

By Sophie Monks Kaufman

Broker: baby traffickers build blissful families in Kore-eda’s Korean crime caper

Festivals

One Fine Morning: Léa Seydoux steps out as a Mia Hansen-Løve life-pilgrim

By Sophie Monks Kaufman

One Fine Morning: Léa Seydoux steps out as a Mia Hansen-Løve life-pilgrim

10 great

10 great films that make striking use of the colour red

By Sophie Monks Kaufman

10 great films that make striking use of the colour red

Festivals

Ali & Ava serenades its Bradfordian sweethearts

By Sophie Monks Kaufman

Ali & Ava serenades its Bradfordian sweethearts

Festivals

The Souvenir Part II follows its budding filmmaker through the throes of grief and beyond

By Sophie Monks Kaufman

The Souvenir Part II follows its budding filmmaker through the throes of grief and beyond

Interviews

“I take pride in my millennial audience”: Emma Seligman on Shiva Baby and sugar daddies

By Sophie Monks Kaufman

“I take pride in my millennial audience”: Emma Seligman on Shiva Baby and sugar daddies

Features

Crip Camp: where disabled teenagers found freedom and a voice

By Sophie Monks Kaufman

Crip Camp: where disabled teenagers found freedom and a voice

One per year

A great musical for every year – from the dawn of sound to the rise of the jukebox musical

By Grace Barber-Plentie, Kambole Campbell and others

A great musical for every year – from the dawn of sound to the rise of the jukebox musical

Reviews

Isadora’s Children review: dancing on to a higher emotional plane

By Sophie Monks Kaufman

Isadora’s Children review: dancing on to a higher emotional plane

Features

Why literary lesbians are having a moment on screen

By Sophie Monks Kaufman

Why literary lesbians are having a moment on screen

10 great

10 great films about non-romantic love

By Sophie Monks Kaufman

10 great films about non-romantic love

Reviews

BlacKkKlansman first look: Spike Lee uncloaks America’s heart of darkness

By Sophie Monks Kaufman

BlacKkKlansman first look: Spike Lee uncloaks America’s heart of darkness

Reviews

If Beale Street Could Talk first look: Barry Jenkins consecrates James Baldwin’s race-crossed lovers

By Sophie Monks Kaufman

If Beale Street Could Talk first look: Barry Jenkins consecrates James Baldwin’s race-crossed lovers

Reviews

Diamantino first look: a sweetly bizarre fantasy mocking the cult of fame

By Sophie Monks Kaufman

Diamantino first look: a sweetly bizarre fantasy mocking the cult of fame

Reviews

Maya first look: Mia Hansen-Løve watches a man in flight find a reason to stand

By Sophie Monks Kaufman

Maya first look: Mia Hansen-Løve watches a man in flight find a reason to stand

Reviews

Out of Blue first look: a cosmic film noir that fades to black

By Sophie Monks Kaufman

Out of Blue first look: a cosmic film noir that fades to black

Reviews

Gräns (Border) first look: Ali Abassi unleashes a dark Scandinavian folk fantasy

By Sophie Monks Kaufman

Gräns (Border) first look: Ali Abassi unleashes a dark Scandinavian folk fantasy

The weight of death in documentary

By Sophie Monks Kaufman

The weight of death in documentary

Features

The breezy depths of Agnès Varda – in two magical moments

By Sophie Monks Kaufman

The breezy depths of Agnès Varda – in two magical moments

10 great

10 great films about female desire

By Sophie Monks Kaufman

10 great films about female desire