The 32nd annual Philadelphia Film Festival runs October 19-29, 2023 and features over 80 feature films (and numerous shorts!) from over 25 countries. Most films play twice and our own Justin Nordell will be sharing “Philly Film Fest Fast Reviews” to give you a taste of the festival so you can pick and choose which films to make for the second screenings!
If there’s anything that four seasons (and counting) of Stranger Things has taught us, it’s that nostalgia sells. Riddle of Fire was described to the audience of its Philadelphia premiere by Philadelphia Film Festival Artistic Director Michael Lerman as “What if the kids from The Florida Project went on a Goonies-like adventure,” and I have to admit that’s an apt description for what an utterly delightful nostalgiabomb of childhood adventures it truly is.
Meet Alice, her best friend Hazel, and his brother Jodie, three fantasy loving kids in small town Wyoming who are quick to hatch a scheme and work together to get whatever they want. When Hazel and Jodie’s mom gets sick (and won’t give them the TV passcode to play video games), they embark on a quest to get her the one thing that will make her feel better: blueberry pie! Armed with nothing more than their wits and paintball guns, these kids take to their dirt bikes to get their mother her dream pie, only to encounter challenges and side quests galore that make such a seemingly innocuous journey become a literal life and death expedition into the wilderness.
I’ll excuse the pacing problems midway as there was a smile plastered across my face for most of Riddle of Fire‘s runtime. First time feature Director Weston Razooli perfectly captures the magic of childhood with a number of wonderful choices (subtitling Jodie because of his speech impediment was a nice touch!) that make Riddle of Fire feel wholly unique and special. You won’t see anything like this and you won’t be disappointed. This is the film I wish I had to watch growing up.
In English with English Subtitles
Grade: B+
Catch it at PFF23: Thursday, October 26th at 6:00pm at the PFS East
Tickets are available here.
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