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Banner: the 60th Chicago International Film Festival

Genre: Biopic


A man and woman stand together looking down at a piece of paper she holds.

The Ballad of Suzanne Césaire

Madeleine Hunt-Ehrlich  |   United States
English, French  
Biopic, Film on Film, Literary Adaptation, Women Centered

An actress delves into the life of Suzanne Césaire, merging reality and memory to reveal the complexities of the pioneering writer and activist.

Better Man

Michael Gracey  |   Australia
English  
Biopic, Drama, Music

Based on the true story of the meteoric rise, dramatic fall, and remarkable resurgence of British pop superstar Robbie Williams.

Two black and white split screen images of different angles of the same man playing a guitar solo.

Hazel (dual) [short film]

Kevin Jerome Everson  |   United States
No Dialogue  
Biopic, Historical, Music

A dual-screen, fictionalized recreation of Eddie Hazel’s famous 10-minute guitar solo on the Funkadelic song “Maggot Brain.” According to a much-shared anecdote, George Clinton elicited an especially soulful performance by telling Hazel to imagine his mother’s passing as he recorded the track.

Maria

Pablo Larraín  |   Italy, Germany, United States
English, Greek  
Biopic, Music, Women Centered

Maria tells the tumultuous, beautiful and tragic story of the life of the world’s greatest female opera singer, reimagined during her final days in 1970s Paris.

Black and white image of the band 'Pavement' posing.

Pavements

Alex Ross Perry  |   United States
English  
Biopic, Comedy, Music

Iconic, ironic ‘90s slacker-rock band Pavement gets an appropriately wry and subversive doc, both heartfelt tribute and absurdist deconstruction.

A close up of a man and woman, their faces barely making it entierly into the frame.

The Time It Takes (Il tempo che ci vuole)

Francesca Comencini  |   Italy, France
French, Italian  
Biopic, Coming of Age, Film on Film, Women Centered

A filmmaker immerses his daughter in the magic of cinema, where chaos meets fantasy. This creates a deep bond that will sustain them through good and bad.

A man, illuminated by soft orange light, in a push up position.

Unstoppable

William Goldenberg  |   United States
English  
Biopic, Drama, Sports

This inspiring drama follows Anthony Robles, who was born with one leg but whose unbreakable resolve empowered him to defy the odds and pursue his dreams.

Wellness Warrior

Chaz Ebert  |   United States
English  
Biopic, Women Centered

This documentary explores the incredible life of “Godmother of Fitness” Deborah Szekely, and the trials and triumphs of being a woman entrepreneur.