Star Tribune names VIRGINIA MINNESOTA among “buzzworthy movies” at MSPIFF

Star Tribune Staff – April 13th, 2018

Sometimes film lovers have to work to locate worthwhile movies. But during the Minneapolis St. Paul International Film Festival, they come to find you. For its 37th installment, the sometimes sprawling conglomeration of world cinema returns in trimmer shape. This year’s MSPIFF will unspool 150 feature films and 100 smaller works. Here is a look at noteworthy films from the fest’s opening week. (Unless otherwise noted, all these films are showing at St. Anthony Main, Minneapolis.)

THURSDAY

Virginia Minnesota
★★★
7 p.m. April 19; 4:45 p.m. April 21 at Uptown (U.S.)

Aurora Perrineau and Rachel Hendrix shine in Daniel Stine’s charming comic take on difficult friendships. They play long-separated ex-besties at a home for girls from troubled families. Brought together by a death, the good girl and the wild child trade taunts like tennis pros fighting a championship match. Largely shot around Grand Marais, Minn., the film adds tourist kitsch to keep the laughs coming, but not too much. Stine’s first feature is the work of someone testing his craft, but it’s so cleverly written and agreeable in its character-focused design that it’s Minnesota Nice incarnate. Only funnier. (97 min.)
C.C.

Minneapolis St. Paul International Film Festival
When: April 12-28.
Where: St. Anthony Main, 115 SE. Main St., Mpls.; Capri Theater, 2027 W. Broadway, Mpls.; Uptown Theater, 2906 Hennepin Av. S., Mpls.; Minneapolis Institute of Art, 2400 3rd Av. S., Mpls.; Metro State University Film Space, 400 Maria Av., St. Paul; Rochester Marcus 14, 4340 Maine Av. SE., Rochester.
Tickets: $14; discounts and packages available.
More information: mspfilm.org.

http://www.startribune.com/ranking-21-buzzworthy-movies-at-the-minneapolis-st-paul-international-film-festival/479532493/