At the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) 2025, one notable attraction was the Criterion Closet, an unusual setup housed in a van rather than a traditional storefront. This innovative design allowed filmmakers and attendees, including prominent figures like Michael Cera and Hideo Kojima, to explore a selection of Blu-Rays in a confined space.
On the second day of the festival, the line for the Criterion Closet was extensive enough to discourage attempts to enter, particularly as the abundance of films to view made time a precious commodity. The movies screened that day shared a common theme of characters on the fringes facing extreme circumstances. This was exemplified by Nadia Latif’s film, The Man in My Basement, and Park Chan-wook’s latest work, No Other Choice, both delving into societal issues from distinct angles.
The day also included a contemporary retelling of Hamlet and a charming animated film notable for its lack of dialogue. The animated feature follows a young girl and her robot caregiver as they navigate the complexities of their relationship over time, particularly as the girl embarks on her journey as an astronaut.
In The Man in My Basement, the character Charles, played by Corey Hawkins, finds himself on the brink of losing his family home due to financial struggles. An unexpected offer from a businessman named Anniston (Willem Dafoe) to rent out the basement for two months complicates his situation. Anniston’s motives, linked to a personal “spiritual journey,” introduce additional layers to the narrative.
Another film, featuring You Man-soo (Lee Byung-hun), presents a darkly comedic take on job competition after downsizing at a paper company, showcasing the lengths to which characters will go in dire circumstances.
Although the details about wider release dates for some films remain unclear, the festival continues to draw interest for its diverse range of cinematic offerings.
Source: https://www.theverge.com/movie-reviews/773376/tiff-2025-no-other-choice-man-in-my-basement-reviews