Every small town has its quirks, and The Amateur Circus is an exercise in showing the civic pride that one small town has in its long-standing tradition. That is, the titular circus, run exclusively by amateurs every year in Peru, Indiana. There’s nothing particularly special about the circus – there’s no death-defying stunts or animals or stage acts that couldn’t be seen in a professional circus all across the country. But first-time feature director Erik Thein goes out of his way to show just how dedicated the citizens of Peru are in putting out the best show possible.

From single digit-aged kids to grown adults, there’s an enthusiasm felt for the town circus, and we frequently hear, through Thein’s interviews, that families often pass down that enthusiasm from generation to generation. The Amateur Circus is a film of two halves: first, it depicts the town’s parade in anticipation of the opening night, and second, it shows the opening of the circus. Perhaps the film would be better served if it had touched on life in Peru outside of the circus, showing how dependent the town is on its financial windfall. Based on the film, you might walk away thinking anyone and everyone within Peru dedicated their entirely livelihoods to putting the show together. But at only 65 minutes, the film aims for positivity first and foremost, and if it enlightens even one person to what a dedicated group of individuals can do together, The Amateur Circus is a success.

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There’s an inherent messiness at the heart of Finger Laced Crown; some intentional by its writer-director Brandon C. Lay, and some unintentional. What is intentionally messy is the love life of our protagonist Lemon Drop (Torez Mosley), a proudly bisexual spray paint artist who has trouble staying committed to one romantic partner. Some of this is tied up in trauma from a recent ex, Nadine (Syd Stauffer), a married woman who didn’t reciprocate Lemon Drop’s feelings. It probably doesn’t help that Lemon Drop’s mother is an alcoholic who has to rely on her daughter to take care of her financially and physically.

Where the film gets unintentionally messy is in its overall structure and lack of thematic elements. A bizarre portion of the first act relies on Lemon Drop (yes, that’s her government name) explaining what an NFT is, and how she relies on them to sell her art. Never mind the fact that her spray paintings, mostly pseudo-abstract neon sunsets and moonscapes, look like something you’d see likely see on Pinterest or Etsy, not a high-end art gallery. If there is a connection to be made between Lemon Drop’s life as an artist and her love life, Finger Laced Crown struggles to make it. Mosley’s performance is admirable, especially in the flashback scenes showing how her tryst with Nadine began, but the film dries out when its occasionally meandering plot develops. There’s an interesting story to be found with these characters, but it’s currently more like a rough sketch than a finished masterwork.

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Midwinter presents a decidedly adult story of love and betrayal by inter-weaving characters with a shared past. Writer-director Ryan Andrew Balas focuses on parallel storylines between Nadine and Jack, a husband and wife (played by Marlowe Holden and Chadwick Sutton), and Mia (Julia D’Angelo), a musician, and Lena (Charlie Traisman), a songwriter hired to help Mia with her next hit. Relationships get more complex and complicated, and loyalties begin to blur – especially when Nadine gets sick and can no longer keep up with their young son.

Here is an independent film unafraid to discuss open relationships/polyamory, and queer love, without resorting to easy stereotypes or quick understandings of characters. Though the film sometimes leans a little too heavily into its indie trappings, including a mushroom trip between Mia and Lena, there are solid performances all around and Balas directs the film with visual flair. Midwinter offers a number of thoughtful conversations about heartbreak, love, and hope, and how those seemingly opposed ideas can often intersect, and it’s one of the best films of Indy Film Fest.

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