Chic Speaks!

Prom Night in Mississippi

About a week and a half ago I saw my first Hot Docs film. Hot Docs is a Toronto film festival that showcases nothing but documentaries. I am a big fan of docs and bios but for some reason I've never remembered when it was happening until it was already almost done. This year the same thing happened but a friend of mine had an extra ticket and gave me a call. The film I saw was called Prom Night in Mississippi,and happily enough it is exactly the sort of film I would have picked myself.

The film follows senior students at a Charleston High School. Even thought the schools were integrated in 1970, up until 2007 they were still having segregated proms, one for the black students, another for the white students, organized privately by black parents and white ones. The main reason for this was the demands of many white parents and the school board. About 10 or so years ago actor Morgan Freeman, who is from Charleston, came to speak to the students and first learned from those seniors that they held segregated proms. Freeman so aghast that this was happening in 1997, offered to pay for a prom if they made it integrated. For whatever reason his offer was ignored. Now ten years later, Filmmaker and Activist, Paul Saltzman and his film crew were in that part of town taping a separate doc, when they came across this story. They called Freeman and asked if his offer was still on the table, Freeman said yes and the documentary, Prom Night in Mississippi, was born.

The doc did a great job exploring the lives of both white and black students. Though the weakness lied in the fact that not many black parents were interviewed yet you hear a great deal from the white parents. Thankfully, the students were very articulate and very honest about the race dynamics in the school and community. It was quite a dramatic film at times, especially when a group of white parents and students refused to take part in the mixed prom and began actively planning a very hush hush white prom. One of the students behind a lot of the drama is a girl who at first agrees to take part in the board to create the prom. During the meeting she is seen saying, in the most innocent voice, "People can bring in pills and stuff.." referring to the possibility of black students (probably male) drugging the girls at the prom. When Chasidy Buckley, a popular stellar student and athlete who is black, shakes her head in clear shock at what the white student is saying, the girl turns to Chasidy and says, "What?" as if she could not understand why someone would be offended by her insinuation. Gathering that this student may not have the best intentions towards this prom the principle tells the students that if they feel they do not want to be part of the board they are free to drop out. The girl drops out and that's when the white prom initiative begins with a fury. Later a white girl, I believe the same one, speaks up in class that she believes integrating the prom is wrong. When a black student, also girl, speaks up against her she later accuses the girl of threatening her with a gun. The teacher and students who witnessed the dispute supported the black student, and spoke on camera, all stating that the black student never threatened the white student. But the teacher confesses that the principle clearly sympathized with the white student and she found it difficult to encourage her black students to speak up when their views are consistently negated and not supported by the principle and board.

It was funny seeing some parts, like when a teacher requests that everyone attending the integrated prom write their names and the names of their date down and submit it to the principle. The audience chuckled because it was very clear that many of the white parents and board members were afraid of their children bringing black dates. Someinteresting moments takes place with the board members and teachers and the strong ambivalence and awkwardness they feel towards this huge change. They too are battling with personal feelings about integrating this teenage rite of passage. One white male student, who didn't feel comfortable showing his face, spoke eloquently about the struggle the older generation and some of the younger ones are having with the changes in the town. He admits that he has dated both white and black girls but his parents are racist so he has hidden the fact that he is not only not racist but interested in girl's outside of his race. He says, "They're not going to change the way they are but they're not going to let the whole world know how they are either," referring to the fact that many of these parents refused to be taped, hired a lawyer to prevent any information about the white prom from leaking out to the film crew, and also held meetings where they used the "N" word like it was hello.

T.J. and Jessica, a young gorgeous couple who were engaged, (I called them the Pam Anderson and Tommy Lee of the movie) discussed the harassment they have gotten because T.J.'s best friend,Calvin,  is black. Jessica takes care of her mother and sister and hopes to get out of Mississippi one day and become a star. She shared how her stepfather threatened to beat her if she continued to hang around her black friends (her step-dads in jail so she no longer has to worry about that). She even had trouble getting jobs in the neighborhood because of this. The one thing I found odd, so did my friend, was that Calvin sat there barely speaking, he looked almost like he had no voice or self-esteem. The camera kept including him in the shot, which only further highlighted that he was not contributing anything and his two white friends were doing all the talking on his behalf. It upset me because it seemed to be showing the stereotype of the inarticulate black person who relies on whites for a voice. Finally towards the end he talks briefly about police officers strip searching him on the side of the road, a humiliating experience clearly done because of his race. My friend and I were so relieved when he finally spoke up.

In the end the white prom went on, some students felt pressure to attend because some of their friends were taking part in it. But what was wonderful many of these students attended both proms. One white student said she was wearing her old dress to the white prom and her really special new dress to the integrated prom. The entire audience laughed at that one. So in 2008 the first united prom went off wonderfully and what is great is that the filmmakers said that this year they again had a mixed prom and the board actually paid for it. Morgan Freeman contributed a little but he was very happy that the board was now taking ownership of this themselves. A white prom also continued in 2009 but apparently it was much smaller, one day it will be nonexistent. It still shocks me to know that this kind of separatism still exist in North America and I am soooooooo grateful I was raised in a very multicultural world, school, friends, boyfriends. But I must say I am so proud that these students had the guts to make a change, a change that is most definitely having a trickle down effect in the community.

My picks for Oscar Night 2009 - 81st Academy Awards

Oscar Night Predictions

I spent the last three days seeing Oscar nominated films. I haven't done this in a few years but this year had so many great films that I just had to be in the loop. I saw Slumdog, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, The Reader, The Wrestler, Changeling, Revolutionary Road, Batman .  I unfortunately missed Doubt, Milk and Frost/Nixon. It will be a tight race this year but I do have my favorites.

Best Film

Milk (Did not see)

Frost/Nixon (Did not see)

The Curious Case of Benjamin Button

Yesterday I saw the Curious Case of Benjamin Button about a baby born old who is reversing in age (back to youth) while the love of his life gets older. It was a great film, though it could have been cut down a bit. The acting was wonderful on all sides. My highlights were Taraji P. Henson. She gave a heartwarming performance without the gush and cheese. Cate Blanchett looked gorgeous as a dancer. There is a beautiful scene where she tries to seduce Benjamin (Pitt) by dancing in the moonlight while discussing the dance word in a very sensual manner. Great scene. I love my Brad and he acted wonderfully but in the end this was not my favorite film.

The Reader

I loved this film! The characters, the subject matter, and pace was fascinating. The relationship between Hanna and Michael pushed boundaries. In my newest novel  I am pushing relationship boundaries so this encourages me. I think Winslet (who I also saw in Revolutionary Road) is stunning, physically and acting wise. I could watch her for hours. During one of the final scenes with her and the young Michael she is holding him and says, "Now you must go back to your friends." Such a simple line coming from her was so powerful and poignantly spoken. I cried. It was one of the most passionate emotional movies I've seen in years. I would love this film to win but my vote goes to Slumdog.

Slumdog Millionaire

The little boys in the film, especially Jamal, were too cute. I would've stolen Jamal if I could. Some of the cutest kids I've seen in recent cinema. I think attaching each Millionaire question to a dramatic, poignant, funny or horrific event in Jamal's life was brilliant. I thought the soundtrack was amazing. M.I.A's work in it including Paper Planes was exciting and moving. I thought that it really showed the not so pretty India in a captivating way. The acting was strong throughout. And the Bollywood closing credits theme was so fun and really helped relieve some of the darkness that was shown in the film.  I have seen many films from India (especially during The Toronto International Film fest) so I am picky and assumed this one would be very commerical but it was not. It would mean a lot to the actors and the country to win so my vote goes for Slumdog.

Best Actress

Kate Winslet for The Reader

  

She's just stunning on all levels. A fabulous actress.

Best Supporting Actress

Marisa Tomei for The Wrestler

 

Boy Marisa put it all on the line. Her body is hotter than 19 yearolds and I've worked in a pricey swimsuit store where people can pay for hot bodies. Were the nipple rings real? I thought she was daring and raw and spot-on. She played a flirty distant put-upon stripper with great complexity. She is complacent, reluctant and distrustful. It is a dissolute world her and the Randy "the Ram" live in and her and Rourke captured it pitch-perfectly. Big comeback!

I liked Taraji P. Henson in the Curious Case of Benjamin Button a lot. So I would also be happy to see her walk away with the trophy.

Best Actor

Mickey Rourke for The Wrestler

 

Rourke can say a line so causally and naturally it sounds improvised. Both the Ram and Cassidy are like meat, exploited, abused, past its prime. But they are such rich characters and exude so much that I could have seen another hour of that film. Rourke was able to show kindness, longing, rage, shame so beautifully. And though it contained some of the most violent scenes, the staple gun scene was like watching someone being raped almost, the film was able to capture friendships, camaraderie, and humanity. I loved how it ended too. It's not a pretty hopeful world but it is a world with value.

Best Supporting Actor

Heath Ledger for The Joker in Batman II

  

Regarding the Joker role, there is a petition being circulated by fans who are hoping  that the Joker role be retired so that no other artist can play the joker again in film. While I agree that Ledger's performance was brilliant and legendary (It will be hard for another actor to ever live up to it) I still believe other actors and other generations deserve a chance to try.

Best Director

My vote goes to Danny Boyle for Slumdog Millionaire, though my heart says the Reader.

Best Song goes to M.I.A for O Saya for Slumdog Millionaire

 

I'm Not There: Artsy film worth seeing

Tonight I saw I' m not there-the biographical film about the legendary Bob Dylan. It was an incredible film with some of the best acting, and actors, I have seen all year. I must warn you, it is an artsy type film, with an unusual way of unfolding the story, but if you have patience with it, you will be rewarded.

I must start with Cate Blanchett who was amazing. She embodied the androgynous, and fidgety persona of Jude Quinn (during Dylan' s height of fame in the late 60' s), perfectly. Her performance was so believable and absorbing that you fell in love with the character and her. She is a brilliant actress and I don' t think I' ve given her credit for that until now. She gave an Oscar winning performance. I sometimes find that when male actors play women or a female actors play men, you can sense the ambivalence, and this subtle need to show some of their gender but not Cate, she really surrendered to the role, and appeared to enjoy playing a man, without over "playing a man" (if you know what I mean).

I also really loved the performances of Christian Bale, who added both a seriousness and humor to the film, and Marcus Carl Franklin, who played a young black Bob Dylan, in such a sincere, amusing, and natural way that you believed this impossibility.

But the part that weighed it down and made it last a little too long was Richard Gere' s role as the elderly Dylan, Billy the Kid. By the time he appears in the film, I felt that what had to be said, had been, very well in fact, and that this role just seemed unnecessary.

But I save my last comment for the actor I really went to see the film for, Heath Ledger. Since his death I have felt a deep lingering sadness and loss as if I knew him. This has even influenced the novel I am working on, so I found it fitting to go and watch this fabulous film he stars in, exactly a week after his death, and I' m glad I did because it helped to wipe some of the sadness away. That being said, for anyone who is a Ledger fan, go see the film. Ledger is in two of my favorite films, Monster' s Ball, and Brokeback Mountain (who knew two gay men could turn a straight girl on), and now I can say he is in a third favorite. His role in this film, as Robbie Clark, an actor who plays Dylan in a film, is wonderful. Though eerie at times, like one of the first scenes where he comes out fully naked (frontal nudity too) or the separation of Clark with his wife and daughters, now takes on a new significance. Note: His ex, and mother of his daughter Michelle Williams also plays a small part in the film and she looks goregous in it (I barely recognized her at first). But I didn’t cry because looking at his beautiful image, captivating performance, and presence was enough to make me wish he was alive for purely selfish reasons, he was really one of the few really sexy and talented male actors around. That will be sorely missed. His love scenes with French actress Charlotte Gainsbourg were beautiful. There is energy in all of his acting that makes you realize he will be alive every time you watch his films, that is the gift of being an artist. For fans of  Ledger you can also Youtube the beautiful Ben Harper video that Heath Ledger directed, called Morning Yearning, (stunning song, beautiful video).

I’m Not There leaves you appreciating the power of acting and wanting to know more about Bob Dylan. Check it out!

Next Films: There will be Blood, La Vie en Rose, and Juno

Brick Lane

Brick Lane

The film Brick Lane is based on the novel by the same title, written by Monica Ali. Brick Lane has become one of the most celebrated British novels in the past few years. However, filming met with some protest amongst a segment of the Bangladeshi community (particularly men) who believe the book casts negative images (http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/5229872.stm).  From what I saw in the film this is not true.

My mother and I saw this film on the fourth day of the festival, and from the first scene I was drawn in. The viewer is taken into this lush land, Bangladesh, where two beautiful sisters play freely, while there mother sits alone, seemingly isolated and detached from her surroundings. Though the mother is only in the film for a brief few moments, her hopelessness is felt immediately. Nazneen (Tannishtha Chatterjee), who narrates the film, says that her mother once said, "If Allah wanted us to ask questions he would have made us men." The only power her mother feels she has to escape this hopelessness and powerlessness, is to take her own life. She drowns herself in the river and the girls destiny's are forever changed. Fast forward to a few years later the eldest sister, Nazneen is married off to an older man now living in London. The narrator says her mother always said, "We must not run from our fate." As she was being sent off to be with her new husband tears came to my eyes. I could feel the pain of leaving behind your sister, the one person you love most in the world, and the land you were born in (that your mother is buried in). It was a powerful moment.

When we see Nazneen again she is now in her thirties, she has two teenage daughters,and her very fat, know-it all husband, Chanu (Satish Kaushik), has big dreams and is constantly discussing "the foundation of modern philosophy." They live in a grungy apartment complex, called Brick Lane. Brick lane really does exist and houses a large Bangladeshi community, this is part of the controversy around the novel. As Nazneen watches her husbands dreams spiral away she makes a grab to save her family financially and gain some independence by starting her own sewing business from home. Her husband is insulted by this decision but allows it. Nazneen also longs to move back to her homeland and reunite with her sister, whose letters she reads constantly. In a letter to her sister she writes, "I sew, and every hem brings me close to you." The sister appears to be living a life of freedom and romance but she is also hiding secrets that are later revealed. In many ways the film/book is a love letter to a sister, and an adult coming of age film about a grown woman, who has never had the chance to grow an explore herself emotionally.

As her little business opens her to an entire new world the story begins to heat up. The sexy, young Karim (Christopher Simpson), nephew of the fabric plant owner, begins delivering fabric to her home each Thursday. Right when she opened the door and I saw his face peaking between the crack, I was like, "let the games begin!"

The chemistry between these two is intense, hesitant, mysterious and very very sensual. There is just something about the way Karim carries himself, his voice (that roguish accent that was a sexy mixture of Brit and urban) that had me smiling all the way through the film. Nazneen's sister's letters, filled with its wonderful tales about her romantic new husband further kindles Nazeen's growing infatuation with Karim. Eventually this infatuation on both their parts leads to an affair. The fear of them being caught only intensifies the passion of it all. I sensed how incredible it must feel to go from being a woman so deprived from her own sexuality to having a first romantic kiss at 33. It would leave you mind boggled. This sensual affair is contrasted well with her dreary marital duties such as cleaning her husbands disgusting toe nails.

We watch her growing awakening. She begins to walk with confidence. For the first time she is looking at herself with new eyes, voicing her desires, questioning what she wants from her life and for her children. Yet all of a sudden her husband wants the family to move back home and there is no changing his mind. As the affair continues, her husband eventually suspects, and in a moving scene he unexpectedly comes home to find Karim at the computer and Nazneen sewing. Though nothing is happening between them at the moment it is clear something has. After some chit chat loaded with hidden messages, Chanu says, "When you are a young man you think everything is possible.... As you get older you don't need everything to be possible anymore. You just need some things to be certain." We realize that Chanu has also carried his own secret pain, buried underneath his his big dreams and obesity. In the meantime 9/11 terrorist attacks have occurred and the world around them has suddenly changed for the worse. There community is being harassed and the racism they have always tolerated has now hit a peaked level. Karim slowly becomes more of a radical and Nazneen must begin to choose sides.

Eventually all her relationships change and she realizes truths about her sister, her children, her husband that changes the way she once viewed the world, and her idea about love. This is a fabulous film. Moving story. It also presents the immigrant story with greater depth then I have possibly ever seen.

During the Q & A the actress that played Nazneen discussed the challenge of having very few words in the film though she was in ever frame. She said she found it challenging expressing all the complexities of this characters thoughts and emotions without words. The actor who plays her husband did an incredible job conveying a man dealing with his own pain and disillusions masked underneath arrogance and weight. He is also a well known comedic actor who found this, "chance to  do a movie so complex and inflated a great challenge."

Now to Christopher Simpson. This man is sexy. Not because he's some perfect looking hunk (which isn't always sexy), but because he was able to exhibit this raw masculine sensuality with a curious, kind and gentle maturity. An interesting note about Simpson is that he is not of East Indian/Asian Descent, his father is Irish, his mother is Greek-Rwandan.

I found the film so beautiful, compelling and sensual that I plan to buy the book this week. It is a great film! I will see it again and I highly recommend it.

CCCC

Juliette Binoche, the bobbing head, and damn camera phones!

Le Voyage du ballon rouge

It's a sweltering hot day in Toronto, a mixture of gross sweaty heat with wind, which is the most annoying mixture of mother nature, other then wind with rain of course. But I braved it order to see my first film of the fest, Le Voyage du ballon rouge, directed by Hou Hsiao-hsien.

Once I got there the line was already moving inside of the theater. I found myself a great seat, 6th row center. Within minutes the theater was packed, and I was sitting next to a man who had a slight sweaty odour that persisted throughout the film but as I said to myself, it could have been worse, way worse.

As the film was being introduced it began to dawn on me that Juliette Binoche was in the theater! Then, as this thought came into my head, she was introduced. I was so excited! Binoche is one of, if not my favourite, actress today. A few months ago I went to see Paris, Je t'aime, by myself (as with this film), and her performance moved me so deeply, that I cried (not discreetly I musts say). Binoche is such a powerful and natural actress. She has an expansive emotional range, subtle and mysterious at times, very passionate and bold at others, yet always expressive and absorbing. I left Paris, Je T'aime feeling like I had finally found a modern day actress that interests and captivates me.

When Binoche came out on stage, I was ecstatic. She looked stunning wearing a flowing sexy halter dress, with sheets of petal like cream layers, and gold cut out star in the front of the skirt. She was just as natural, glamorous and "french", as she is in her films. The audience gasped as she walked out since many of us didn't realize she would be attending the North American debut. Camera's started flashing and I couldn't resist trying to get a picture of her. But, of course, my damn camera phone let me down, taking such a pathetic photo that though I was practically right in front of her, the photo looks like I had taken it from the balcony. I gave up after two shots.

After the five minute frenzy, she excited the stage, promising to return for questions, and the film began. What I like about film fest movies is that there are no 20 minute long trailers, and no popcorn or food allowed in the theater. Perfectomondo!

Le Voyage du ballon rouge, was inspired, and is a tribute to Albert Lamorisse's famous film, Le Ballon Rouge. This french film, was a quite, visually fascinating look at Suzanne (Juliette Binoche), an artist who works with puppets, her son Simon (Simon Iteanu), and Song (Song Fang) a film student who is hired to watch Simon. Simon and Song were both non-actors, which surprised me because they were so natural in front of the camera. Binoche character was a tornado of passion, charm and emotion (without being over dramatic).

The film starts off with little Simon trying to seduce his Rouge Ballon from the sky, promising a hundred bon bons and caramel. His little voice is adorable, especially when he realizes that the ballon refuses to come home, and he says, "I guess that is a no". Then we watch a long sequence of the lone Rouge Ballon's flight through the city (at times following Simon). I don't know how the director did it but the ballon seem to take on a haunting and animated personality of its own. The Film Fest book states that the Red Balloon is a "harbinger for inter-cultural discourse-a symbol for the moments when East meets West." I don't quite get what that means but it didn't stop me from enjoying the film.

As I sit and write this I realize that it is impossible for me to describe the story of the film because it is a film that simply looks at a short span (weeks) in this threesomes life. It shows the ups and downs of Binoche dealing with her estranged husband who has deserted her, and moved to Montreal. Her daughter who may move back to Paris, her husbands friend, who lives in the house and hasn't paid rent for months. Nothing devastating or climatic happens yet the film drew me in as if it had been filled with twists and turns. I was in their world for a while and I enjoyed peeking in and seeing how they bond and interact with each other.

During the film I did have some difficulty reading the subtitles because of this man sitting in front of me, whose head kept bobbing up and down the entire time, making me want to strangle him. I kept hoping that he would either fall asleep of get out. Of course, he did neither.

I only had two issues with the film, the music at times was redundant other then the final song a great tune, called Chin-chin, and one hilarious song earlier in the film, with a line that said, "My misery would be more bearable in the sunshine". (I second that). My second issue was that there was not enough Binoche for me. The film followed Song and Simon around quite a bit, which was beautiful, but I really wished there was more Binoche.

During the Q & A, Binoche explained that the film was completely improvised. The director provided the cast a synopsis of 25 scenes, with just a few lines describing the idea of each scene. There was no rehearsals, and no second takes. All the takes were filmed once, in 10 minute shots. She said she found this process wonderful, "The Rhythm of true life comes from this. It was just wonderful. Trusting the moment." She also said, "the film changed me completely. Not needing the approval of someone else at the end of each take was freedom." The depth of her talent is evident because though the film did feel natural to me, it did not seem improvised. They were all wonderful. Real people were also used, such as the blind piano tuner, and piano moving guys, who actually showed up late because they had another moving gig.

Binoche is someone I hope to meet and interview one day, and I am so happy to have seen this film and the actress. Wonderful afternoon, wind, sweat and all!

Next Film: A Thousand Years of Good Prayers/The Princess of Nebraska. See you soon folks.

C

p.s. I won't be rating the films because unlike typical Hollywood films many of these films push the art of film making and storytelling into areas that it is difficult for me to critique, I simply experience it, and the experience is worth more then whether I loved it or not.

The Toronto International Film Festival

My Favorite Time of the year is here!!!

The Toronto International Film Festival begins tomorrow!!!

I have been attending the film fest for about five years now and I love it! The city changes for me during this time, it's alive, and vibrant, and full of journalists from all over the world, visitors, and yes, celebrities. Adventures await around every corner, and in every movie theater!

This year I am seeing 11 films!! I always stay away from US films, because this is an opportunity to get lost in many other worlds, and most often US films no longer impress me. But I have made a rare exception this year, and will be seeing a new film called White Lies, Black Sheep, written and directed by, James Spooner, the director of one of my favorite films, Afro Punk. The rest of my films are from around the world!  I'll be seeing films from France, South Africa, India, Belgium, and even Macedonia.

So, over the next week and a half I will be posting a review of each film. My first movie, Le Voyage du ballon rouge (from France), coming soon!

   C

Toronto International Film Festival...review

2006 Film Festival: A tad uninspiring....

So the film fest came and the film fest went and I'm left feeling oddly uninspired by the whole thing. I've been going to the film festival for 4 years now ever since my friend Isabelle brought my sister and I to our first film. The first three years felt like pure magic. One year I even worked for the film fest and felt really disappointed that I was too busy to enjoy the spectacular and moving films that were playing (though the three I did see have remained some of my favorites). The film festival felt like being home away from home. That 10 day period was a vacation in my own city, you could go from China to India, Italy to Spain simply by entering a new cinema. My sister and I would buy coupon booklets and pick our films ahead of the thousands of people who come down to be taken away and transformed by beautiful films from all over the world. One year we saw four powerfully moving films in one day (one was Frida with Salma Hayek). We cried through each film and by the time we got home (late that night), our eyes were swollen and we were beyond exhausted (our mom thought something must have happen to us). I slept like a baby that night (completely knocked out by emotion) only to get up early the next morning to watch 4 other equally wonderful films.

Well, this year was my the first year I viewed the festival as not only a time to enjoy films but also a time to meet people and network with others in my field. Maybe I went with big expectations, looking for exotic men from other countries, fabulous parties that go on till dawn and fascinating films that took me into worlds I had never imagined, what I got was not quite that. The first thing I realized was that all the fun and glamour that you see on television, as you watch celebs walk the red carpet and sip champagne in stunning venues, does not feel quite as perfect when you're actually there. Many of the parties were filled with industry types who seem resistant to letting loose and having some fun (where is Paris Hilton when you need her). Women were pretty pushy in the washrooms, eying each other up and volumnizing bleached hair that was already a little too volumnized if you know what I'm saying. Stuffy men in suits stood around staring blankly until someone they recognized came up, exchanging loud vigorous handshakes. Though I went with friends, my restless nature raised its ugly head and I felt trapped and uninspired, looking for action, fun, excitement (not even free drinks helped dull the disappointment) though flirting with the buff and handsome guards helped distract me from party to party.

Then came the films. Unfortunately this year did not stand out as one of the greatest film years of the film fest. The media here is so obsessed with what Hollywood stars were in town that they lost the essence of the festival, which is the actual films. It was impossible to read reviews on any film that did not have a big Hollywood name in it, though I would love to attend Cannes, TIFF is not Cannes, it's TIFF and its special because people from all walks of life, incomes, and ages feel part of this normally glamorous and private world. You feel so lucky to have an opportunity to enter worlds and lives that you may never have an opportunity to be part of again. Toronto has to really be aware of backing away from this over hyped Hollywood angle and let the films shine (especially those who may not have a big named Western Celebrity in it but is a jewel that people must see).

Vanaja- From India-Screenwriter and Director Rajnesh Domalpalli

I've always loved Indian Films (and I don't just mean Bollywood films), yet while the script was great I was not crazy about the main Character Vanaja (Mamatha Bukhya), a young feisty Indian girl who develops a caring relationship with one of the richest women in the town, Mrs. Rama Devi (Urmila Dammannagari), only to be ultimately impregnated by the Land Lord's handsome but power hungry son. Bukhya did a great job, acting wise, especially considering that she was only 15 at the time and had no acting experience before this film but I was not drawn in by her as an actor. I did love Dammannagari, she had a dry wit to her acting and her facial expressions that made her standout the most to me. I was very impressed that the screenwriter made her more likable and real then Indian films often do regarding powerful Indian women (often times powerful Indian Women are presented as cranky Madam's, repressed housewives, or damsels in distress, at least in many of the films I've seen). But I must say other then the well written script the most remarkable moment in the film was the beautiful shower scene where the gorgeous, tall, stunningly built son, Shekhar (Karan Singh) allows the young curious Vanaja to watch him bath (Yum). The beauty of this man drew a well noticed gasp from the audience (closely followed by pleasurable giggles).

As the Shadows (Come L'ombra)-Italy- Directed and written by Marina Spada

This film tested me on many levels, it was a film that literally took you through the daily hum drum routine of Claudia (Anita Kravos) who works at a travel agency and takes classes to learn Russian. She ends up developing feelings for her Russian teacher Boris (Paolo Pierobon) and they enter into a flirtation that goes far enough for him to feel comfortable asking her to allow his cousin to spend a week at Claudia's apartment until he returns from a business trip. Claudia reluctantly agrees and the beautiful cousin Olga (Karolina Dafne Porcari) arrives to stay for the week. The film was fabulous at taking you through this brief friendship, that at first starts of suspiciously, Claudia wonders if Olga really is Boris's cousin or his lover. Eventually the women become friends (in the short time period) as we get comfortable with this new friendship, the films takes an abrupt turn, ending in a mysterious and slightly disturbing (yet thought provoking and unforgettable) manner. For a film that seem to be going nowhere it went everywhere, love, friendship, new beginning, longings, loneliness, death. The director explained the movie was about the way that Claudia is waiting, waiting for her life to change, like so many of us do. I was left feeling sad and empowered, to stop waiting and live...

The Banquet (Yeyan)-China-Directed by Feng Xiaogang

I love the actress Ziyi Zhang (I think I have seen most of her films). The film will most likely enter theaters and I would recommend people to see it. It takes place during tenth-century China and chronicles a Dynasty in the midst of murder, intrigue, lust and betrayal. The film was beautiful looking and sexy. One of the most powerful scenes for me is when these masked Japanese dancers (dressed in white) enter into a battle with sword carrying assassins. The choreographed fight scene between the weaponless dancers and the assassins is moving and beautiful.

Fallen (Falling)-Austria-Barbara Albert

I thought this film was from Australia so I was surprised when it began and there were subtitles. I don't mind subtitles but it was the third film my mom was seeing with subtitles and I was worried she would fall asleep. But she didn't and we both really enjoyed the film. It started off slow, threateningly melodramatic at first, but eventually it grew into this very entertaining, well-throughout, interesting film. Five high school friends re-unite for the funeral of one of their favorite teachers. They all have drastically different lives, one is coming from prison, another is a big movie star etc. As the film grows we develop a deeper and natural understanding of each character, their lives and their secrets. Though most of the film takes place in that one day of the funeral the director and writer really gives you all the worlds of these five women in an hour and half. I really really enjoyed this film!

Gathering the Scattered Cousins-South Africa-Writer/Director Akin Omotoso

This was a short film exploring the directors family history, his father was from Nigeria and mother from Barbados. It was fascinating seeing the different beliefs and stereotypes the Caribbean and African cultures have towards each other and how confusing that can be when the world sees you simply as Black, while your own family is divided by two very different cultures. Omotoso also humorously but movingly reveals the secrets that one inevitably unearth while on a journey to better understanding where one comes from.

So these are the four films that stood out to me the most during this festival. I still plan on buying lots of tickets next year and further exploring the world in my own backyard. Before I forget I did see one celeb Liam Neeson (at the Four Seasons having drinks) though I was on the hunt for Brad and missed him by a just a few minutes when he was at the Hyatt and I was there to pick up party tickets... oh well I 'll just have to interview him one of these days.

BTW: Check out my little bio on Jimi Hendrix on Simply Chic.

Bye for now....

Silent Hill...don't waste your money!

Silent Hill: Should have stayed a video game...

As the credits rolled in the movie theater my friend Liz looked over at me and said, "I have just wasted two hours of my life". I had to agree. Liz and myself are horror movie fans. And though Thrillers (a personal favorite) is often better written and scarier then horror flicks, a well done horror movie can make you feel like a kid again watching a scary film, peeking from under the covers, to scared to look away, to afraid to keep both eyes open. But in the case of Silent Hill I actually got more chuckles, and time to plan my week, then any thrills or chills.

The scariest thing about Silent Hill was the poster. From the opening scene I knew there would be problems. Right off the bat the mother (Rose) is seen chasing after her daughter (Sharon) who has slept walked all the way out of the house, through a busy highway, onto some doom filled cliff where she stood frozen and hypnotized. The mother finally finds her and rescues her from the ledge, a few moments later the father (who appears to have went back home to put clothes on rather then find his daughter. Note: the mother ran after who in a little tank top and shorts) appears, the daughter kicks at them furious and fake. The film hinted at a "mysterious" illness the daughter supposedly had but of course never had time to get into (even though the film was two hours long). There was no chemistry between the parents or the child and the script (though based on a video game so you can't completely expect Shakespeare there) left a lot to be desired.

The acting on all sides was bad (even the extras!). The little girl, while beautiful, was one of the worse child actors I have seen in many many years. She behaved like a little princess who knows that she is beautiful and is constantly aware of being watched with an awareness that she must look pretty and perfect at all times. The father (Sean Bean) was an embarrassing cheesy impotent man who did absolutely nothing but stand around looking frustrated and worried. The only credible redeeming person is the film in the mother, Rose, (Radha Mitchell),  who does a good job at making this ridiculous boring film at least a tad bit scary.

Then there is the strange women hating/woman fantasy stereotypes riddled through the movie like a bad boring joke. Joke one: The sexy/butch police officer (Laurie Holden). I originally thought this character was a skinny young male cop when she rode up on her bike and strutted over to the Mothers car. But the big boobs, tight pants and great make-up changed that. This character was ridiculous. In her attempt to play the tough weary cop she came across very comically. Then there was the pseudo lesbian relationship between her and the mother which just made the movie even more cheesy. At least the cop had bigger balls then the husband.

Joke Two: Police officer (Kim Coates). This actor has seen to many cops and robber films and the God Father one too many times. He recited each line as if this was his one shot to make his mark in the film (to dazzle the viewers with his characters toughness). I can't blame it all on him, most of the lines he had to say was very badly written and extremely over dramatic. Of course the cop did shit all, just marched around like he had a big **** and raised his voice in a boring threatening manner once and awhile.

Other Jokes: The busty, young dead nurses (with killer legs) doing a thriller dance in one of the dungeons. The dramatic scene where the big bad busty cop sacrifices herself so that Rose can save Sharon. Or the disturbing scene where the monster kills one of the women by grabbing her by the breast and ripping her skin off. Or the strange pedophilia vibe (washroom scene for example) in the final scenes of the film (of course this is masked over by making the real bad guy (witch hunter a woman).

And then came the ending. How bad! How uneventful! How boring! and How unimaginative! They owe me 12 bucks.

Walk the Line

Some Damn good Acting: Reese Witherspoon steals the Show

While I disagree with Richard Roeper (of Ebert and Roeper) that Walk the Line is a stronger film then last years hugely successful biopic Ray, based on legendary singer Ray Charles. Walk the line is definitely an excellent film.

Walk the Line based on the early years of country music legend Johnny Cash is a film worth seeing for anyone who enjoys a fascinating life story and some real good acting. I'm not a listener of Johnny Cash music but I've always been intrigued with the man behind the music. The Man in Black (as he was known) was a complicated man who endured a difficult childhood, drug addiction and romantic and emotional strife. Through it all he managed to survive, succeed and leave his indelible mark on the world of country music. The film had many poignant moments but what left the strongest impression on me was his enduring love affair and friendship with country singer June Carter (his second wife of 35 years). 

The film directed by James Mangold, unfolds in the standard biopic format, i.e taking us from Johnny Cash's childhood, with a cruel emotionally withholding father, into his life as a young aimless husband, and finally into the days that made Johnny Cash not only famous but a legend including his romance with June Carter. Though it provides no cinematic surprises the performances draw the viewer in and we become invested in Cash's life.

It is interesting to note that both Ray Charles and Johnny Cash lost siblings (brothers) in childhood, both blamed themselves and neither ever really got past it. Both legends also suffered from serious drug addictions and run ins with the law. Most importantly both Cash and Charles redefined music during their times and still influence musicians today.

Though the incredible actor Joaquin Phoenix gave a strong, nuanced and moving performance it was Reese Witherspoon who really stole the show. Witherspoon's performance left the viewer understanding why Johnny Cash fell so in love with June Carter. Witherspoon played Carter as a woman not easily intimidated or swayed. She walked a fine line, being both charming and entertaining while remaining consistently strong and honest. Witherspoon owned the screen in every scene she was in, she looked gorgeous and managed to maintain her southern twang all the way through.

The weakest performance in my opinion was that of Ginnifer Goodwin, who plays Vivian Cash (Johnny Cash first wife). Though my friend who watched the film disagreed with me, I really felt like the role was over her head. At times she did not seem capable of evoking the pain Vivian Cash must have felt as she watched her husband devote more time to his career then their family and eventually fall in love with Carter. Goodwin did succeed at a showing the resentment Carter grew to feel towards her husband.

Note: For anyone interested in seeing two actresses who really grasped the emotional turbulence and desperation of wives who helplessly watch as their lives crumble around them, check out Kerry Washington's performance as Della Bea Robinson in RAY and Michelle Williams performance as Alma Del Mar in Brokeback Mountain.

Walk the Line deserves to be recognized at this year's Golden Globes and Academy Awards. I think Heath Ledger will probably beat out Joaquin Phoenix for the Oscar. But I think this will be Witherspoon's year to go home with the highly coveted man of gold.

Brokeback Mountain: A Gay western and so much more

A MUST SEE!

Brokeback Mountain directed by Ang Lee is based on E. Annie Pollux's  short story of the same name from her novel Close Range, Wyoming Stories. The film which stars Heath Ledger as Ennis Del Mar and Jake Gyllenhaal as Jack Twist begins in 1963.  Ennis is a loner, so guarded that he barely speaks, when he does it's an almost inaudible mumble. He is a stark contrast to Jack Twist, a confident aspiring bull rider. The two young men become partners when they arrive in Wyoming and get a summer job watching sheep on Brokeback Mountain. They become lovers one cold night when Jack invites a freezing Ennis to sleep in the tent. The first sexual moments between the two men are resistant and violent (on the part of the normally reserved Ennis), and forceful longing (on Jack's part). It is clear that Jack has desired Ennis from the beginning (and has experience with men), while Ennis struggles at first he quickly obliges. Whether Ennis is truly a gay man who has repressed his sexual desire towards men until this point or is simply a horny guy caught up in the heat of the moment is not initially clear.  But after that first night (and denials of not being gay the next morning) the men quickly fall into a passionate sexual relationship that turns into a 20 year love affair.

I caught the matinee screening of the film. Once I got over the novelty, and my curiosity about seeing two Hollywood hunks playing gay cowboys, I was completely sucked into the film. The performances were moving and fearless including that of Michelle William's who plays Alma Del Mar.  I've always believed that what makes a film powerful is when the combination of script, acting and landscape conspire to create a story that we can feel and understand even if it is a world apart from our daily realities. I am a total city girl, not a fan of cowboys and not gay but I related to the longing on many levels. Especially the way that we are often forced (or choose) to compromise our happiness out of fear of living our dream.

The cinematography was beautiful. You feel the movie sweep you in and take you into their world and their hearts. I found myself imagining how lovely it would feel to have my own secret enduring love affair on this breathtaking mountain. I wanted to take my shoes off and run in the grass, smell the sheep, listen to the water running over the stones and make love.

Unfortunately many others are not able to accept this film and therefore many more will not have the opportunity to get past the controversy and make up their own minds. In Salt Lake City Utah the film was abruptly canceled. Many Utah residents support the move as a good example for Utah youth (but now thinking about it its only reasonable. It is only 2006 and there are no gays in Utah so the film really doesn't have much relevance there).

Brokeback Mountain will likely sweep the Oscars this year (though films like Walk the Line and Crash will give it a run for its money). So for those who haven't seen it yet, my only question to you is, what are you waiting for?

For those who have seen the film let me know what you thought of it.

C