A scene from 'The Cost of Heaven'

The Cost of Heaven review: TIFF 2025

‘The Cost of Heaven’ follows one man’s attempts to achieve his dreams of a better a life, even though the one he has is already envious.

Nacer (Samir Guesmi) has a corporate job, a loving wife, and three wonderful children. They live in a nice house, and the kids attend a private school. They want for nothing, but it’s not enough for Nacer. He wants more money, a nicer car and prestige.

The film opens in a Lexus dealership, where a salesperson walks Nacer through the latest model’s luxury features. He doesn’t need a new car – and certainly can’t afford one – but the allure is undeniable. Private school tuition for three children already stretches the family’s finances, yet Nacer craves the prestige it brings and the circles it connects them to. High-risk stock market plays are hardly suited for someone in his position, but because that’s how Novak built his wealth, Nacer is convinced it’s the path to his own fortune.

Read the full review of The Cost of Heaven at thatshelf.com

Similar Posts

  • Review: ‘Mistress America’ wears its crown proudly (Includes first-hand account)

    Divorce is a recurring subject in fiction. Even though it’s no longer true that 50 per cent of marriages fail, it was at some point. However re-marriage and the blending of families is portrayed less often, unless in the form of a family-friendly comedy. Being an adult suddenly connected to another adult because of a choice made by your parents is a strange proposition; though it could also be an exciting opportunity to bond with someone who you otherwise would never have met. Both are true in Mistress America, which features a whirlwind sisterhood.

  • Flana review: TIFF 2025

    ‘Flana’ explores the disproportionate disappearance of women and girls in Iraq through the lens of personal experiences.

  • Review: ‘The Hate U Give’ is a vital picture in the cultural zeitgeist (Includes first-hand account)

    Stories about inner city life are often about gangs or rising above one’s class to be better; but it’s not often a narrative finds a way to combine these aspects and portray a more realistic depiction of people from these neighbourhoods where those things are not necessarily mutually exclusive. Everyone is a product of their environment, but that doesn’t mean they have to accept, abide by or sink down to its lowest expectations. The Hate U Give creates the acronym “THUG” and is about “thug life,” but not the derogatory definition that’s pervaded and is most often associated with these tales.