A new dose of JK Rowling’s magic lands in the third installment of the saga Fantastic Beasts, blending romance, fresh storytelling and a prison drama thread. Here are the week’s most notable films, featuring Toni Servillo in several standout roles.
Fantastic Beasts: Dumbledore’s Secrets
The chapter centers on the legendary wizarding world as Professor Albus Dumbledore, portrayed by Jude Law, faces the menacing Gellert Grindelwald, brought to life with menace by Mads Mikkelsen. Grindelwald’s plan to seize control prompts Newt Scamander to assemble a fearless team of witches and wizards determined to thwart the threat.
Paris, District 3
Jacques Audiard, known for gripping dramas like A Prophet, Rust and Bone, and The Sisters Brothers, returns with a romantic comedy that probes modern love, sexuality, and the quest for stability. Shot in black and white, Paris, 13th District adapts a trio of Adrian Tomine graphic novels. The film follows four characters navigating desire, distance, and the friction that arises when personal dreams collide with reality.
Crystal Girls
Jota Linares delivers a new Netflix release after premiering at the Malaga Film Festival. The psychological drama stars María Pedraza, a celebrated dancer who embodies a legendary ballet star facing loneliness, fear, and jealousy from peers. When a life-changing opportunity emerges, she discovers that friendship can offer both solace and strength.
No Love Letters
This French comedy-drama explores heartbreak and the reclamation of self-worth through humor and heart. Screenwriter-director Jérome Bonnell crafts a witty, grounded piece featuring a strong ensemble led by Grégory Montel, Anaïs Demoustier, and Grégory Gadebois, as lovers attempt to navigate separation and self-acceptance.
Ariaferma
Two acclaimed Italian actors, Toni Servillo and Silvio Orlando, star in a tense prison drama directed by Leonardo di Costanzo. An aging facility stands largely empty as bureaucratic snafus halt transfers. A small cadre of guards and a dozen inmates are left inside, awaiting new arrangements. Within this stalled system, rules and routines slowly lose their grip, revealing a quiet power struggle beneath the surface.
The Man Who Sells His Skin
Tunisian filmmaker Kaouther Ben Hania presents a provocative drama that questions freedom and the art market through the story of a Syrian refugee. Sam Ali leaves his homeland via Lebanon to escape war and becomes bound to a controversial act: tattooing one of the world’s most famous contemporary artists on his back so he can travel to Europe. The journey tests the true meaning of liberty.
Earth Orchestra
This animated feature, adapted from the Lurtarra Orchestra by Canoe Rock, with screenplay work by Eneko Olasagasti, blends contemporary energy with a touch of mischief. Directors Imanol Zinkunegi and composer Joseba Ponce weave music and humor to celebrate difference as a source of authenticity. The story suggests that success isn’t about reaching the top but about staying true to one’s dreams and the company kept along the way.
Prayer
A precarious con artist manipulates a family around a girl who claims to have witnessed a miracle. The scheme grows into a lucrative venture, spiraling beyond control. Ecuadorian director Tito Jara, known for Behind You, leads a co-production between Ecuador, Spain, and Colombia inspired by real events where a con priest exploited mourners for financial gain.
Cow
From the director of Fish Tank, Andrea Arnold invites viewers into the life of Luma through a documentary lens. The film follows a cow on a farm with a goal to illuminate ordinary life from a stark, realistic perspective. Cow earned a BAFTA nomination for Best Documentary and secured multiple nods at the British Independent Film Awards, while Arnold’s prior fiction work and Cannes recognition underscore her distinctive voice.
Armed Orchestra
Musicians from diverse backgrounds, including Tommy Stinson, Barbara Dane, Nina de Juan, and Peter of God, contribute to this documentary directed by Guadalupe Plata and narrated by Ivan Muniz. The film uses live performances, references, and animation fragments to explore the transformative power of music on people and communities.
This Rain Won’t Stop
A Syrian refugee finds himself in eastern Ukraine amid a new front of conflict. The 2018 documentary by Alina Gorlova takes on renewed resonance in light of recent events. The film was honored at the Las Palmas de Gran Canaria International Film Festival last year, highlighting its enduring relevance and emotional depth.