CCFF2023: 10th Chicago Critic’s Fest Weekend Films Preview

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CHICAGO – The 10th Chicago Critics Film Festival (CCFF) continues on May 6th, with a local filmmaker and her feature debut. “Waiting for the Light to Change,” directed by Lihn Tran, is Sunday’s featured film. Click on WAITING for tickets and more information.

Waiting for the Light to Change
Photo credit: ChicagoCriticsFilmFestival.com

Rating: 5.0/5.0

Best friends since high school, Kim and Amy haven’t seen each other since Amy moved to the west coast for grad school. Now the two are reunited as they join a group of friends for a trip to a lake house with Kim’s boyfriend, Jay. When Amy had left for the west coast, she was in love with Jay, though she never pursued it due to her insecurities thinking she was too fat and ugly. While she has changed physically, her feelings for Jay haven’t, and the reunion has brought them back to the surface. Lihn Tran will appear on behalf of the film and participate in a post-screening Q&A.

CAPSULE REVIEW: This is a delicate and beautiful film that drives its narrative through truthful dialogue and the motivated actions in the group of friends, who are transitioning away from each other. It’s an extraordinary moment about young adulthood, where “responsibilities” and “coupling” are rearing their two-headed monstrous presence. Lihn Tran is a director to watch, now and beyond. (7pm)

The 10th Chicago Critics Film Festival is the the only such festival in the country curated by film critics, and highlights the 2023 films from the early year festivals like Sundance and SXSW. Day Three will also feature “Passages,” directed by Ira Sachs and “Lakota Nation vs. the United States” (Jesse Short Bull and Laura Tomaselli). More film reviews of the Festival offerings will be published at HollywoodChicago.com at various times during the six day event.

By PATRICK McDONALD Editor and Film Critic/Writer HollywoodChicago.com pat@hollywoodchicago.com