Nordic Films at TIFF KIDS International Film Festival2013



Me with Fridrik Fridriksson TIFF10

DID YOU KNOW my love of Nordic films was born out of attending Sprockets: The Toronto International Film Festival for Children? Well, Sprockets has morphed into TIFF KIDS International Film Festival, and Nordic flms continue to play a part in the festival's screening schedule. I attended the festival as an adult, but there is no reason why the children in your life can't get started on international films. Who knows, they may end of covering them at TIFF when they grow up. As for me, I continue to focus on Nordic films, and at TIFF10, I met and interviewed director, Fridrik Thór Fridriksson  who produced of one of my favourite films from Sprockets, Ikingut (2000).

Ella and Friends

When their beloved school is shut down by the schemes of a fame-hungry race-car driver, Ella and her friends must band together to take on their nemesis in the race of a lifetime!

Wednesday April 17

12:15 PM

Director: Taneli Mustonen
Country: Finland Year: 2012
Language: Finnish
Runtime: 81 minutes, Rating: G Ages 7,8,9,10

Will-Bot-Friend or Foe

Will-Bot, an anxious outer-space patrol robot, learns that sometimes a stranger is just a friend you haven’t met yet.

Saturday April 20 (Screening as part of Loot Bag: Destination Imaginiation)

12:45 PM

Director: Kim Hagen Jensen

Country: Denmark
Year: 2012

Language: No dialogue, 6 minutes, Rating: PG



Eskil and Trinidad

Arriving in his eleventh new home in as many years, young boating enthusiast Eskil befriends the town eccentric, whose exciting secret project might just hold the key to a new life.

 Saturday April 20

3:15 PM

Director: Stephan Apelgren
Country: Sweden
Year: 2013
Language: Swedish, 98 minutes, Rating: Ages 9-13

Note: this film stars on of my favourite actor, Torkel Petersson, who I was first introduced to at TIFF '08 in Patrick Age 1.5.

Casper and Emma 
 The first feature film based on the bestselling Norwegian children’s novels, this unique live action/ animation hybrid introduces us to best friends Casper and Emma and their favourite stuffed animals, Miss Rabbit and Lion Cub.

Sunday April 21

2:30 PM

Director: Arne Lindtner Næss

Country: Norway

Year: 2012

Language: Norwegian

Runtime: 74 minutes

Cast: Nora Amundsen, Elias Søvold Simonsen, Janne Formoe, Hilde Lyrån, Markus Tønseth

Rating: G Ages: 6, 7, 8

TIFF KIDS

April 9 - 21, 2013

http://tiff.net/tiffkids/festival

Get Tickets: 416.599.TIFF | 1.888.599.8433 or http://tiff.net/tiffkids/festival/ticketinfo

Credits: film descriptions, stills courtesy of http://tiff.net/tiffkids/festival





TANGO LIBRE: Are You Man Enough For This Chick Flick?...

TANGO LIBRE
SUNDAY, APRIL 14, 6:30 PM
Director: Frédéric Fonteyne
Country: France, Luxembourg, Belgium
Cast: François Damiens, Sergi López, Jan Hammenecker, Anne Paulicevich
Language: French, Spanish, subtitled in English
Runtime: 105mn
Year: 2012
Awards: Mostra de Venise 2012 : Prix spécial du Jury Orizzonti ; Festival International du Film Francophone de Namur 2012 ; Festival BFI du Film de Londres 2012 ; Festival du Film de Varsovie 2012 : Grand Prix
Rating: 14A

The provocative title of this post is meant to lure men who have never been to a film festival, or seen a foreign film, to go and see TANGO LIBRE at Cinéfranco. Along with this invitation, is a challenge to see how they would react to the given set up of a woman being the Queen Bee to not two, but three men and a teenage boy. Alice (Anne Paulicevich) is the woman around whom, the plot and the love, hinges. Alice loves to tango, but her husband, Fernand (Sergi López, whom I loved in Partir) is not into it, and neither is her lover, Antonio (Jan Hammenecker), who also happens to be Fernand's friend, failed partner in crime, and current cell mate. When Alice and her son go to visit both men in jail, Alice is surprised to learn her new tango partner is none other than prison guard, J.C (François Damiens), who is also captivated by her. Director, Frédéric Fonteyne, and his very talented cast, turn a plot that could have descended into a soap opera, into a tender, yet macho drama whose comedic moments manage to maintain the script's anchor to reality; not an easy feat in a film where steel-eyed inmates dance the tango! The film succeeds because no one is playing it for laughs, especially in scenes where Alice has to deal with raising her teenage son on her own.

CINEFRANCO: FRANCOPHONE INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL
APRIL 5 - 14, 2013

THE ROYAL CINEMA (all screening)
608 COLLEGE STREET
TICKETS: http://2013.cinefranco.com/index.php/en/tickets
Cash Sales only at the door

Cinefranco Mixes It Up

COMME UN CHEF/THE CHEF
APRIL 11, 8:40 PM, ROYAL CINEMA, 608 Carlton
Director: Daniel Cohen
Country: France
Cast: Michaël Youn, Jean Reno, Raphaëlle Agogué, Julien Boisselier
Language: French, subtitled in english
Runtime: 85mn
Year: 2012
Awards: Festival International du Film de Comédie de l’Alpe d’Huez 2012 ; Festival du Film francophone à Vienne 2012 ; Berlinale 2012 : Culinary Cinema
Rating: G



An amuse-bouche of a film starring, Jean Reno as a famous chef, being challenged to create gastronomic cuisine based on molecular technology (taken to extremes here!) and Michael Youn as a cook whose sensitive palate is offended by the pedestrian demands of diners. A formula film that succeeds based on the adage that if "it ain't broke, why fix it?" You know exactly where this film is taking you, and menues are a feast for the eyes, so relax follow where its lead. A perfect film for those who want to step into the waters of viewing foreign films.





THE QUEEN OF MONTREUIL
FRIDAY, APRIL 12, 9:00 PM, ROYAL CINEMA, 608 Carlton
Director: Solveig Anspach
Country: France
Cast: Florence Loiret-Caille, Didda Jonsdottir, Samir Guesmi
Language: French, subtitled in english
Runtime: 87mn
Year: 2011
Awards: Mostra de Venise 2012 : Prix Lina Mangicapre ; Golden Horse Film Festival de Taïpei 2012 ; Reykjavik International Film Festival 2011: RIFF Audience Award
Rating: 14A



Those who know of my love of Nordic films, will understand why the word "Icelanders" jumped out at me when I read the description of this film. Quirky, with a soupcon of melancholia, this film about a widow who takes in two Icelanders in economic distress, draws you in with its unpretentious performances, and fascinating contrasts. The injection of Jamaican references, was an unexpected twist that, although somewhat stereotypical, nevertheless points to France as an increasingly multi-cultural country, where immigrants connect with others within and beyond the French borders.






FEMME ECRITE/WRITTEN WOMAN
SATURDAY, APRIL 13, 1:30 PM, ROYAL CINEMA, 608 Carlton
Director: Lahcen Zinoun* director in attendance
Country: Morocco
Cast: Fatym Layachi, Isma El Kanatir, Abdelkrim Cheddati
Language: Arabic, subtitled in english
Runtime: 87mn
Year: 2012
Awards: Festival national du film marocain de Tanger 2012 : Meilleur scénario/ Meilleur son
Rating: R


For those who enjoy poetic films that play with the imagination, then this is the film for you. It's the story of an anthropologist and his fascination for a Berber poet, Mririda, and Adjou, a prostitute whose intriguing tattoos further enraptures his senses and need to understand the secrets of woman. Lillia Sellami's beautiful cinematography and Wolfgang Funk's original score, perfectly captures the elusive eroticism and strength of the feminine mystique.







CINEFRANCO: FRANCOPHONE INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL
APRIL 5 - 14
THE ROYAL CINEMA
608 COLLEGE STREET
TICKETS: http://2013.cinefranco.com/index.php/en/tickets
Cash Sales only at the door

Soup Can Theatre Presents A Special Double Bill

A Hand of Bridge by Samuel Barber (libretto, Gian Carlo Menotti)

&

No Exit by Jean Paul Sartre (translated by Stuart Gilbert)

March 27 - 30

Tapestry New Opera Studio

$16 - $25 (student/senior/arts worker)

www.soupcantheatre.com

The Interview:
Soup Can Theatre, founding member and Artisitic Director, Sarah Thorpe on  and the company's new teaming of Barber and Sartre. I want to thank Sarah for doing this interview during the short run of this production, when time was very precious to her as well as the company.

Sarah Thorpe, dir. No Exit
 

donna g: Why is your company called “Soup Can” theatre?

Sarah Thorpe: The name comes from a paper I wrote during my undergrad in the theatre program at York University, about a post-modern/Andy Warhol-esque production of The Threepenny Opera. I think it's safe to say that the soup can paintings Warhol did are one of the most recognizable symbols of post-modernism, so the name of the company comes from the combination of that with theatre.

donna g: Besides the thematic connection of “hell being other people”, what made Soup Can decide to mount these works together?

Sarah Thorpe: It was mainly due to the thematic connection. We were looking for a one act piece to do, and our musical director Pratik Gandhi (director/musical director of A Hand of Bridge) had expressed interest in doing an operatic piece and brought A Hand of Bridge to our attention. I had just finished reading No Exit, and thought it would be interesting to do the two pieces together as a double bill production, attracting both the opera go-ers and the indie theatre crowd. It gave us an opportunity to showcase our work to a new audience, as we had never done an opera before, and it was exciting for us to take a risk and try something new.

donna g: Can you speak to the challenges of doing a double bill? I mean, you have two directors, two casts, two sets, and one space…it must have meant some very long strategy sessions.

Sarah Thorpe: The main challenge of doing these pieces together was coordinating the technical and logistical aspects. For example, the lighting designs had to be very similar as there obviously wouldn't be time to do any lighting changes in between pieces. Once we were in the space (the wonderful Tapestry New Opera Studio) it was a matter of figuring out where to store each piece's set and how to do the set changes smoothly and with as few obstacles as possible. Other than that, we rehearsed separately and had our own schedules.

donna g: You have a very short run for this production. Do you think Soup Can will remount it at some point, with a longer run, or is this just a one of before working on your upcoming 2013 Fringe production of Love is a Poverty You Can Sell 2?

Sarah Thorpe: We would have loved to have had a longer run if possible, but the main reason we didn't was because of the financial commitment. It's very expensive to rent a performance space and pay for the royalties of two pieces for a two week run, so we did the shorter run because it was more affordable for us. I don't know if we'll remount it one day, but we kept all the set pieces, props, etc. so if we want to, we'll have everything we'll need (funding pending, of course!)

Sarah Thorpe – Artistic Director:  Sarah is a Toronto based theatre practitioner. She holds an Honours – Bachelor of Arts degree in Theatre from York University, and received York’s Mira Friedlander Award for her achievements in theatre writing, criticism, world and Canadian theatre studies. Film/Voice credits include shorts with the Canadian Film Centre, Ryerson University, and video game voice-overs.  (bio courtesy of Soup Can Theatre.)  For more information about Sarah, please visit her website:  http://www.sarahthorpe.net/

City Voices:A Book of Monologues By Toronto Artists

City Voices:

A Book of Monologues By Toronto Artists

Book Launch

Dec. 19, 2012

Buddies in Bad Times Theatre



 

DANIEL PADGETT "Help Yourself"

MC JAZZ





JEAN KALMAYER  "Relections"





Devin Upham proxy for JORDAN HALL "Alex"











Proxy for JORDAN TANNAHILL "Fire Alarm"

Evan Vipond "PERIOD"

all photos property of donna g

Novel Suprises

Graphic novels are a great way to diversify your reading habits, and you don't even have to venture too far from your comfort zone. As with attempting anything new try reading a book that's similar to what you normally read. So, if you like biographies  then stick to those; if you like detective fiction, then don't try a romance as your first venture. You might find that you like the freedom in which the writers and illustrators are able to communicate ideas in a way that text alone cannot do.

Alan and Heidy at CIUT 89.5 FM 

Alan Harnum, from the Toronto Public Library and blogger HeidyMo (http://hyemusings.blogspot.ca/) joined me to discuss TMTM's latest Book Club selection, LUCHADORAS by Peggy Adam. Alan has an extensive knowledge of graphic books and he was happy to share a short list o books with us, and with you. As with all TMTM Book Club selection, these books are available in the Toronto Public Library System, and Alan has provided the corresponding links, so happy reading!

Alan suggests:

Fun Home

Alison Bechdel

http://www.torontopubliclibrary.ca/detail.jsp?Entt=RDM174132&R=174132

American Born Chinese

Gene Luen Yang

http://www.torontopubliclibrary.ca/detail.jsp?Entt=RDM171425&R=171425

Vietnamerica

G.B. Tran

http://www.torontopubliclibrary.ca/detail.jsp?Entt=RDM2748392&R=2748392

Adventures of Hergé

Michael Farr

http://www.torontopubliclibrary.ca/detail.jsp?Entt=RDM2466040&R=2466040

Persepolis (1 & 2)

Marjane Satrapi

http://www.torontopubliclibrary.ca/detail.jsp?Entt=RDM175177&R=175177

http://www.torontopubliclibrary.ca/detail.jsp?Entt=RDM188988&R=188988

Paul Has a Summer Job

Michel Rabagliati

http://www.torontopubliclibrary.ca/detail.jsp?Entt=RDM228785&R=228785

Louis Riel

Chester Brown

http://www.torontopubliclibrary.ca/detail.jsp?Entt=RDM928096&R=928096

Two Generals

Schott Chantler

http://www.torontopubliclibrary.ca/detail.jsp?Entt=RDM2731695&R=2731695

Stagger Lee

Derek McCulloch

http://www.torontopubliclibrary.ca/detail.jsp?Entt=RDM306265&R=306265

HeidyMo suggests: 

• Noche Roja by Simon Oliver and Jason Latour. 

http://www.torontopubliclibrary.ca/detail.jsp?Entt=RDM2747180&R=2747180

• Recidivist by Zak Sally. You can find Recidivist 1 & 2 in the TPL copy of Sally's Like a Dog

http://www.torontopubliclibrary.ca/detail.jsp?Entt=RDM2587439&R=2587439

• A Nail in the Heart by Ian Daffern. 

A Nail in the Heart (a horror collection of 3 short stories) can be purchased through Ian Daffern's website http://iandaffern.ca/ for the very reasonable price of $5 plus S&H).

donna g suggests:

• A Dangerous woman: the graphic biography of Emma Goldman by Sharon Rudahl

http://www.torontopubliclibrary.ca/detail.jsp?Entt=RDM2124450&R=2124450

I second Alan's recommendation of the Paul series by Michel Rabagliati (mentioned above), and we also connected on a very twisted, dark horror, romance, action series, 

• Preacher by Garth Ennis. Not for the faint of heart or easily offended!

http://www.torontopubliclibrary.ca/detail.jsp?Entt=RDM2560487&R=2560487

All three of us recommed checking out the indie  publisher Koyama Press and their variety of books and comic:  I'm adding Julia Wertz's The Infinite Wait and Other Stories (http://koyamapress.com/projects/the-infinite-wait-and-other-stories/) to my list.

Have your own favourites? Why not share them by posting a comment.

Speaking in Tongues

It was a pleasure to talk to award-winning actress, Yanna McIntosh about her roles in Speaking in Tongues.

Berkely Street Theatre
26 Berkely Street
Oct. 29 - Nov. 24, 2012