TIFF Review: AVALON

AVALON
I always try and see at least one film in the DISCOVERY programme at TIFF. This section is reserved for "up-and-coming directors from around the world". AVALON was born out of writer/director, Alex Petersén's familiarity with the world of aging boomers and the city of Båstad, which used to be a place where Swedish tennis legends like Bjorn Borg once played. Infused with the language and tone of his Aunt, Leonore Ekstrand (who plays Jackie in the film) and the adults around him while he was growing up, Petersén's has created a world in which his characters live without regard for others around them. Petersén's understated script successfully reveals the disconnect between lead character, Janne (Johannes Brost), a promoter whose heyday seems to be on the brink of returning with the opening of his nightclub (Avalon) and his best mate, Klas (Peter Carlberg) and the much younger workers whom they have hired to launch the club. At one point, one of the workers admits confusion about Janne's role in the nightclub! This selfish, insular nature of Janne, Klas and their friend, Jackie, (who constantly has a drink in her hand) manifests itself in a variety of ways that lead to a reckless moment that causes Janne a day or two of guilt before he reverts to his old familiar habits thanks to an equally bad solution by Klas and foggy complicity by Jackie.

AVALON is a compact 76 minutes, in which Alex Petersén demonstrates that he has an ear for dialogue and an eye for recording behaviour that in perfectly in tone with real life. I look forward to seeing where his film and screenwriting career will take him, especially with a film with a larger cast and a longer run time. My grade rating for this first timer, is a solid B+.

SCREENS
Saturday September 17, AMC 10, 6:00pm

Toronto International Film Festival

Sept. 8-18, 2011

Info: http://tiff.net/thefestival
416-599-8433 or 1-800-599-8433

TIFF 11: My I Recommend...Death of a Superhero

Why should you see a film about a teenage boy with cancer? Because it's not all gloom and doom! Without making light of the serious topic of disease, director, Ian FitzGibbon (A Film With Me In It) has managed to create a film that is neither depressing nor condescending. I haven't read Anthony McCarten's book, but his adaptation of his work for the screen will have me hunting it down after the festival. Whatever the collaboration between, FitzGibbon and McCarten, the end result is a movie that has all the usual elements of a teen flick (insecurities, school, parents, love, alcohol) with great comic book style animation, humour and most importantly, a fantastic cast.

Thomas Brodie-Sangster, the kid from Love, Actually, has grown into a skinny teen, and he still has the same screen chemistry that makes you fall in love with him and protect him from the world. His acting range is incredible, which is mandatory in a film that demands a chiaroscuro of emotions from his character, Donald. Andy Serkis, who plays Donald's shrink in the film, needs to do more roles as a human. His understated acting style turns this stock character into a believable individual. The remaining cast members are equally impressive in their respective roles, resulting in an ensemble piece that all should be proud to add to their acting credits. It's not often that a film can capture both the teen viewer as well as the adult viewer, but this one does so very successfully.

SCREENS
Saturday September 17, AMC 7, 1:00pm

Toronto International Film Festival

Sept. 8-18, 2011

Info: http://tiff.net/thefestival
416-599-8433 or 1-800-599-8433

TIFF 11: Shoes, Dogs and Polar Bears, Oh My! (Beloved, The Last Dogs of Winter)

Is it only Tuesday? Seems like I have been in festival heaven for much longer:-) As usual I always have great plans to keep in touch with you all on this blog, but films and life interrupt. Yep, I have to give in to sleep sometimes when I am loathe to do so, but gotta fuel the body to keep going during these 10 days in September.

Since my last posting, I have seen BELOVED, the Catherine Deneuve film which also stars her daughter, Chiara Mastoianni. Deneuve's character Madeleine was lured into a life of part-time prostitution by a pair of delectable shoes. Madeleine the elder as played by Deneuve is a little selfish, a little bawdy, and very pragmatic; Madeleine the younger is devilishly played by Ludivigne Sagnier. Like her mother, Vera (Deneuve's real life daughter, Chiara) is also very laissez-faire about sex and life, and her love life is just as complicated--neither mother nor daughter have been able to have successful relationships. To paraphrase a few words of one of the songs in this musical, they can live without the man they love, but they can't live without that love. Froth meets French attitudes towards l'amour in this funny and poignant mother-daughter vehicle. This was my first time seeing Chiara in a film and I definitely appreciated her ability to do drama and comedy, just like her mother--and father Marcello Mastroanni.

SCREENS
Saturday September 17, Scotiabank Theatre 2, 9:30pm

THE LAST DOGS OF WINTER
Yes, the scenes of dogs playing with polar bears are cute and have the "awwww" factor, but there is so much more to this documentary than this picture tells. The irony in watching the film is seeing two endangered species playing together, but only one is recognized as being in danger of disappearing. It's equally about the rebel with a cause, Brian Ladoon, an ex-sailor and frontier man (he lives in Churchill, Manitoba) and his determination and passion to save the Canadian Eskimo Dog, the Qimmiq. Once numbering in the hundreds of thousands these dogs that were part of Inuit culure for centuries, were deliberately culled by the Canadian government in order to stop the nomadic patterns of the Inuit, and coral them in northern towns. Without Landoon, and the priest that got him interested in the dogs, the number of this artic canine, whose ancestor lead explorers to Canada's north, would have be extinct. As it is now, Landoon, with the assistance of Caleb Ross, a young New Zealander, Jeremy, an even younger man of Inuit heritage young and a handful of volunteers, Ladoon's breeding program is keeping the breed's genetic pool alive.

Landoon is an outsider, even in Churchill, where he was born and raised, and where other talk about it being a place full of "characters." The townspeople judge him without really understanding the importance and significance of his work, and Landoon could give a hoot about what people think about him; he just cares about his dogs. And care, he does. From the outside, the chaining of the dogs in his breeding program looks horrific, however, once you realize that these dogs are not like any other canines in terms of their needs and habits, then you will begin to understand the significance of his work. The Last Dogs of Winter received a standing ovation at it's first screening, with director, Costa Botes, Caleb Ross (who suggested the idea of the film), and Brian Landoon, noticeably surprised at the response. They were even unprepared for questions about donations to keep the program going (Brian and his team are in dire need of funds). The Canadian Dog Foundation is the best place to find out more, but start by seeing this informative and delightful documentary. You won't be disappointed.

SCREENS

Saturday September 17, AMC 6, 10:30am

Toronto International Film Festival

Sept. 8-18, 2011

Info: http://tiff.net/thefestival
416-599-8433 or 1-800-599-8433

TIFF 11: Yo! Bro! (Doppelgänger Paul)

Doppelgänger Paul
Co-directors Dylan Akio Smith and Kris Elgstrand

This film is part of the VANGUARD programme at TIFF which is made up of "films that defy convention; twisting genres, styles and narrative structures to tell fresh and provocative stories that challenge our social and cultural assumptions" I couldn't think of a better place for Doppelgänger Paul. It's a buddy comedy in the sense that the two men, Karl (Tygh Runyan) and Paul (Brad Dryborough) have formed a relationship of sorts. Their bond is tentatively based on things they have in common such as writing and gazing at women they are interested in but are too socially inhibited to approach. Their alliance is the equivalent of wearing a new dress shirt and feeling an elusive pin pricking your skin continually. When they discover that the book that Karl gave to Paul to read has been published by two other buddies, Karl and Paul go on a road trip to investigate. You can watch this comedy for its surface delights and/or you can indulge in the philosophical observations about the nature of duality, the ambiguity of male friendship, and even the social commentary on the publishing industry. However you approach Doppelgänger Paul, you will be taken in by its absurdist charm, especially if you have enjoyed the film versions of works by Charlie Kauffman (Adaptation).

SCREENS
Monday September 12, AMC 2, 9:15pm
Wednesday September 14, AMC 9, 3:00pm
Saturday September 17, AMC 2, 7:00pm

Upcoming Reviews

Beloved (Catherine Deneuve and real-life daughter, Chiara Mastroianni)

The Good Son

Avalon

The Education of Auma Obama

Toronto International Film Festival

Sept. 8-18, 2011

Info: http://tiff.net/thefestival
416-599-8433 or 1-800-599-8433

TIFF 11: Rum Zombies and Wine (Juan of the Dead and Superclasio)

Juan of the Dead (Juan de los Muertos)
Alejandro Brugués's take on the zombie genre is made fresh through Caribbean eyes and a distinct Cuban flavour. Much like the British, Shaun of the Dead with its British cultural references, Juan of the Dead is a distinctly Cuban film set in Havana and reflective of Cuban customs and sensibilities. In Cuba you make the most of your chances, so when zombies start popping up (there is a reference to bad drugs from a public clinic) in his neighbourhood, Juan (Alexis Días de Villegas), his best friend Lazaro (Jorge Molina) and an assortment of family and neighbours become entrepreneurs in the zombie extermination business: "Juan of the Dead, we kill your beloved ones, how can I help you?" Only in socialist Cuba would zombies be referred to as "dissidents" with the media blaming their rise on US machinations! Economic and social conditions, rum and socialism pepper Brugués' script grounding this horror comedy in an ersatz reality without sacrificing the belly laughs. The only thing that would make a screening of this film better would be the provision of some Cuban food; the film already has the music.

SCREENS
Monday September 12, AMC 3, 8:45pm
Saturday September 17, Scotiabank Theatre 3, 12:45pm

Superclásico
My love affair with Nordic Cinema continues to grow after seeing Ole Christian Madsen's wonderfully lit, intelligent comedy. I was drawn to this film because of Paprika Steen, a Danish actor who has a phenomenal range (The Substitute, Applause). She is also has a couple of directing credits (With Your Permission, Aftermath). Steen plays Anna, a want-to-be divorced wife of Christian (Anders W. Berthelsen) and mother of Oscar (Jamie Morton) and lover of soccer superstar and much younger man, Juan (Sebastian Estevanez). The story is told mainly from the point of view of Christian, who goes after Anna, who now lives in Buenos Aires. With Oscar in tow, he barges into Anna's life, hoping for a reconciliation, and a life change (his wine shop is going bankrupt due to his depression). What is doesn't expect is the openness with which he is greeted by Juan, played with charming abandon by Estevanez, and the frank practicality of the Anna's maid Fernanda (Adriana Mascialino). Oscar's constant companions are his iPod and his philosophy books until he finds himself under the spell of a young guide. Divorce, love, futbol, wine and philosophy float through this movie with bubbly depth and spirit. A pleasure to watch. I hardily recommend it!

SCREENS
Tuesday September 13, Scotiabank Theatre 1, 7:00pm
Thursday September 15, Scotiabank Theatre 4, 12:30pm
Saturday September 17, Scotiabank Theatre 3, 5:45pm

Toronto International Film Festival

Sept. 8-18, 2011

Info: http://tiff.net/thefestival
416-599-8433 or 1-800-599-8433

TIFF 11: The Flying Machine and Miss Bala

THE FLYING MACHINE
I usually loathe 3-D films, but I was lured into seeing this one by the mix of live action and animation. Even with glasses on top of glasses, I managed to appreciate the animated effects, however, I did find some of the details superfluous--do I really need flower petals floating toward my eyes?

Directors Martin Clapp, Geoff Lindsey and Dorota Kobiela and their vast team have put a lot of work into this feature, and it shows. Like any film, it's the story that matters and this film within a film is a good one for children. Set in London, the live action part of the film involves a workaholic single mom (Heather Graham) and her two children, Jane (Kizzy Mee) and Fred (Jamie Munns). The trio attend a Chopin recital by pianist Lang Lang (who plays himself) where they view a stop motion animated short about a young girl, her separation from her father, and a magical flying machine made up of a grand piano, a harp and other spare parts. This part of the film is free of dialogue, but accompanied by Lang Lang playing several works by Chopin. Live action and and animation are then combined when the the family as well as Lang Lang go on a flying journey to various cities visited by Chopin.

Younger children will not notice how miscast Heather Graham is in the role of the mother, which is to their advantage. Lucky for them the rest of the cast do a good job of it, especially Kizzy Mee, who has a career ahead of her if she can get through the awkward teenage years that kill many a child actor. I adore Chopin, so it was lovely to have a pianist the stature of Lang Lang performing his music throughout the entire film. With this being a 3-D film, I'm not sure where it will play to mass audiences. Will North American theatres run a film like this? I think not. Which leaves children's festivals and perhaps art galleries. It will be interesting to see just where this film ends up.

SCREENS
Sunday September 11, TIFF Bell Lightbox 2, 12:30pm
Sunday September 18, TIFF Bell Lightbox 2, 12:45pm

MISS BALA
I chose this shot of actress Stephanie Sigman because she spends an awful lot of screen time in bra and panties. She has a great figure but there seemed a bit of the prurient about the numerous scenes of her dressed in this manner. She plays a young woman who witnesses a gang-related shoot out at a night club. When she snitches to the wrong police officer (most of Latin friends would laugh at her naivete, but I chose to let this plot point go) she ends up having to deal with the leader of the gang (Noe Hernandez). We know she is going to end up at some point having sex with him to save her family, and that she will also be forced to do drops for the gang, but it's the cinematic choices made by director Gerardo Naranjo (who wrote the script with Mauricio Katz) that doesn't deliver the message about the huge impact that drugs and drug-related crimes have had on Mexico. Hernandez is wonderful in his role as the ruthless gang leader who takes a liking to the Miss Baja beauty contestant, but Sigman doesn't match his acting prowess and doesn't quite know how to show understated emotion. I was never bored watching this film but I definitely left the theatre dissatisfied.

SCREENS
Sunday September 11, Scotiabank Theatre 4, 9:15pm
Monday September 12, AMC 3, 2:45pm

Toronto International Film Festival

Sept. 8-18, 2011

Info: http://tiff.net/thefestival
416-599-8433 or 1-800-599-8433

TIFF 11: I Triple Dog Dare You!

Up for a challenge? Then I triple dog dare you to go and see these two films: Julia Loktev's The Loneliest Planet and Béla Tarr's The Turin Horse. As I always say, you take yourself to the movies, so how you react to any film will be coloured by your experiences and your personality. If you think you can handle two very beautiful films that are not fast-paced, where you have to fill in the silences yourself, and where you have to watch how the director stages scenes and positions the actors within those frames, then take a chance on these.

THE LONELIEST PLANET
A couple (Gael García Bernal and Hani Furstenberg) take a tour of Georgia with their guide (Bidzina Gujabidze). There is a lot of walking and talking, a lot of greenery (breathtaking mountains and valleys) and minimal action. The sound design and music captivates as well as it enhances the vistas, filling silences with emotions that complement the unfolding story. Along the journey, we get to know more about the lives of the trio and we are lulled into thinking we know them until a pivotal moment in the film where something occurs in the blink of an eye--no, no one has to hack their leg off with a pocket knife! The moment will make you question your own response to the situation that occurs. Director, Loktev gives you plenty of time to ponder what happens, as there is no quick escape out of the mountains, there is no taxi to call, no door to slam while you contemplate. I hate seeing actors "act", but I do enjoy watching characters think, and that is exactly what you see when you look at each person on screen. Intrigued? I certainly hope so!

SCREENS
Monday September 12, TIFF Bell Lightbox 2, 8:00pm
Tuesday September 13, TIFF Bell Lightbox 1, 9:00am
Sunday September 18, Isabel Bader Theatre,10:00am

THE TURIN HORSE
Béla Tarr and Ágnes Hranitzky, I bow to you! You will too, if you give yourself a chance to watch and listen to this movie. A father and daughter (Erika Bók, János Derzsi), a stubborn horse, and the wind (yes, the wind) are the central characters in this film. The daily rituals of life are played out mostly in silence except for the almost human wailing of the blowing wind, a constant companion that envelops and covers everything around it in a shroud of dust and leaves. So, why do I love this film? Because of where the co-directors choose place the camera; the silvery hue of the black and white they have chosen to use; the way Fred Kelemen's camera moves slowly in on faces, and out on landscapes and interiors; the manner in which corners of the house and barn are revealed to us, adding interest to repeated scenes by showing us a new way to view them, and... multiple other reasons that I want you to experience. This plays in the Master's programme at TIFF giving you another reason besides my own for seeing this film.

SCREENS
Thursday September 15, TIFF Bell Lightbox 1, 9:30pm
Friday September 16, Scotiabank Theatre 4, 6:15pm
Sunday September 18,TIFF Bell Lightbox 3, 12:30pm

If you choose to accept my dare, then please leave a comment letting me know about your reaction--good or bad. THANKS--dg

Toronto International Film Festival

Sept. 8-18, 2011

Info: http://tiff.net/thefestival
416-599-8433 or 1-800-599-8433