Entertainment, Manchester, Review

Manchester International Film Festival: Josephine Doe

0 324

Humanity Hallows Issue 5 Out Now
Pick up your copy on campus or read online


By Alice Denison

Image: MANIFF


Ryan Michael’s film Josephine Doe premiered at Manchester International Film Festival (MANIFF) this weekend. The black-and-white film stars Erin Cipolletti, who also wrote it.

Josephine Doe follows Claire, played by Cipolletti, and her relationship with the mysterious Josephine. Struggling with the death of her father, Claire welcomes free spirit Josephine into her life. When they both get in trouble with the authorities, however, she discovers that her friend is not exactly what she seems. By having the film in black and white, Ryan Michael shows how Claire only sees what she wants to see and that her vision is limited to her own mind.

Overall, this film portrays an underlying fear of mental illness, shown in Claire’s sister Angie, played by Elisabeth Bennett. Angie struggles to understand Claire’s state of mind but still cares about her and wants to help. In contrast Lily, Claire’s niece, sees Claire as she is and doesn’t judge or question her relationship with Josephine.

Josephine Doe is a beautifully acted film and extremely well written. It explores the limitless nature of the mind and how everyone’s own mind functions differently.


We teamed up with Intertainment Magazine to bring you complete coverage of the Manchester International Film Festival. You can view the full list of reviews which is being updated as we post new content here. For more information about Manchester International Film Festival, visit the MANIFF website.

About the author / 

Alice Denison

Leave a reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

More News Stories:

  • Kaytranada @ Co-Op Live review – a timeless performance

    Featured image and gallery: Jack Oliver After eight packed out performances across Europe Kaytranada arrives at Co-Op Live for his largest show on the European leg of his ‘Timeless Tour’. The 23,000 capacity venue is filled with excited fans who eagerly anticipate the start of the show after energetic performances from Pomo, Lou Phelps and…

  • From Feed to Feet: How gorpcore fashion has boosted communities of young men to walk and talk

    Featured image: Olivia Taberner and Adomas Lukas Petrauskas From Arc’teryx raincoats to mud-clogged Salomons, we explore how outdoor garments have evolved from fashion trends to functional wear – bringing together communities of young men in the process. What began as a Patagonia jacket and a sunrise ambition soon turned into getting “battered at 3am by…

  • The Success of Moss Side filmmaker Baka Bah: “Whenever I do say where I’m from, I automatically see labels pinging over my head”

    Featured image: Yas Lucia Mascarenhas and Adomas Lukas Petrauskas Manchester’s inner-city neighbourhood of Moss Side is often portrayed in the media as a dangerous area, plagued by knife crime and shootings. However, one resident and Manchester Met student – Baka Bah – believes this one-sided story doesn’t reflect the true spirit of his community. While…

  • Queer Lit: Europe’s largest LGBTQ+ bookstore on building a legacy in Manchester

    Featured image: Molly Goble and Nicola Henry In the last five years, hate crimes against LGBTQ+ people have risen by 112%, underscoring the critical need for safe, inclusive spaces where queer individuals can find a sense of belonging. Amid this crisis, Queer Lit has emerged as a sanctuary in the form of a literary refuge…