For Luchino Visconti’s cinematic adaptation of Thomas Mann’s “Death in Venice,” the filmmaker sought otherworldly beauty in whichever actor he chose to play Tadzio, the young teenager who is the subject of the main character Gustav’s infatuation.

Fifteen-year-old Björn Andrésen was chosen, as his entire persona captivated the filmmaker. As Visconti’s casting director

Actress Rebecca Hall adapts and directs the intoxicating and intricately-designed “Passing,” a new film (Hall’s fist as a director) based on the 1929 novella from author Nella Larson.

This is a story that confronts the realities of the act of “passing,” which refers to members of minority communities (blacks, Jews, etc) who were forced to pass as white to sidestep societal prejudices.

“We’re not just fancy little things. We are human beings and we come in all forms.”

From the world of jazz and dance to an historical television series to leading the effort to get more people of color in the space program, actress Nichelle Nichols has had a full life on and off screen. It is a life of dotted with history-making accomplishments though one that, frankly, I was not familiar with beyond Nichelle’s work in “Star Trek.”

(this film premiered at the recent Sundance Film Festival)

“Time it was And what a time it was It was . . . A time of innocence A time of confidences

Long ago . . . it must be . . . I have a photograph

(this film appeared as part of the recent Sundance Film Festival’s selection) Martyrdom. Not everyone deserves it but when someone truly earns the moniker, their life can (or should) change the world.

Director Shaka King’s “Judas and the Black Messiah” is confirmation that Fred Hampton was a true witness to his cause and his community. A man of passion

Robin Wright has long been one of our best actresses. Her work in much of her filmography over the decades has shown an intensity and depth, making her one of the most dedicated thespians of her time.

To her impressive resume Robin Wright now adds the title of director with her debut film “Land.”

Wright stars as Edee Mathis

The life of a teenager is so many things. It is a time of growth and independence, a time of friendship and self-discovery.

But life as a teenager is also hard. You want to be independent and be your own person. You feel grown up and are beginning to make future life decisions while on the books, the law still considers you a child. In writer/director Sian Heder’s