Top Cast
Synopsis
In downtown Toronto, a loose collective of residents — dancers, musicians, dreamers — drift through public spaces transforming them into stages for spontaneous expression. A fire escape becomes a concert hall; a vacant lot, a ballroom. No dialogue, no exposition, just the city's rhythm and the people who bend it to their will.
As day slips toward dusk, their individual movements converge toward an impromptu gathering on the waterfront, where the line between performer and witness dissolves. The film asks what freedom looks like when it's not purchased or permitted, but simply taken.
new folk song Review: A Fleeting Poem on Urban Freedom
At just nine minutes, new folk song barely qualifies as a theatrical feature — it's a short film masquerading as a movie, and that tension defines the viewing experience. Writer-director Luke Donovan crafts a wordless "journey poem" following Toronto residents as they reclaim parks, alleys, and waterfronts for spontaneous dance, music, and quiet rebellion. The concept is lovely; the execution feels like a promising sketch stretched thin.
Direction and Visual Language
Donovan's camera drifts through the city with a documentarian's patience, catching Francesca Bertoglio and Emmanuel Szeptycki in unguarded moments of play. Natural light does heavy lifting — golden-hour sequences along the lakeshore genuinely sing. But the film's adventure genre label promises momentum it never delivers. Scenes repeat the same observational rhythm: arrive, observe, linger, leave. By minute six, the poetry curdles into repetition. A tighter five-minute cut might have landed harder.
Performances and Ensemble Chemistry
The non-professional cast (Natasha Ellis, Demetrius Panagiotopoulos, Zoe Zhou among them) brings authentic ease — no one "acts" so much as exists. Luke Donovan himself appears onscreen, a meta touch that blurs author and subject. George Tang and Lucia Fella Pellegrino share a wordless duet on a rusted fire escape that's the film's emotional peak. The Van Asten brothers (Ian and Jack) bookend the piece with a cyclical joke about a lost frisbee that almost justifies the runtime. Almost.
Who Should Watch
Urbanists, flâneurs, and fans of city symphonies like Manhatta or Berlin: Symphony of a Great City will recognize the lineage. Anyone expecting narrative adventure — stakes, arcs, payoff — will check their watch. new folk song is a mood piece, not a story, and its value hinges entirely on whether Toronto's particular light moves you.
Pros
- Stunning natural-light cinematography captures Toronto's overlooked corners
- Non-professional cast brings unforced authenticity to wordless performances
- Fire-escape duet sequence achieves genuine poetic resonance
- Refreshing rejection of narrative convention in favor of pure observation
Cons
- Nine-minute runtime feels both too long for its concept and too short for theatrical release
- Repetitive observational rhythm lacks momentum or escalation
- Adventure genre labeling misrepresents the film's meditative, static nature
- No narrative hooks or character depth to sustain engagement beyond visuals
Verdict
A beautiful, slight urban tone poem that overstays its welcome by about three minutes. Worth catching on a festival shorts program; thin as a standalone theatrical ticket.
Reader Rating
Be the first to rate this movie
Write a Review
Sign in to share what you thought — star ratings above need no account.
Frequently Asked
Is new folk song worth watching?
If you enjoy experimental city symphonies and have 9 minutes to spare, yes. If you want a story with characters and stakes, no.
What is new folk song about?
Toronto residents reclaiming public spaces for dance, music, and quiet rebellion — a wordless portrait of urban freedom.
Is new folk song suitable for kids?
Yes — no objectionable content, but the slow pace and lack of dialogue may bore younger viewers.
How long is new folk song?
9 minutes — it's a short film released theatrically.
Who directed new folk song?
Luke Donovan, who also wrote and appears in the film.
If you liked this, watch
Movie data provided by TMDB. This product uses the TMDB API but is not endorsed or certified by TMDB.