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Rhino Season 2013
TIFF 2012
From the director of the fantastic A Time for Drunken Horses, Rhino Season is a complex look at the simple story of Sahel, a Kurdish-Iranian poet who is released from prison after having served 30 years during Iran's Islamic Revolution. While the film shows why he was jailed, its focus is on his search for his wife after he is released.
To love this film is to understand Sahel, and to understand Sahel requires imagination. 30 years of…
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Much Ado About Nothing 2013
Film 3 of TIFF 2012
We all bring our prejudices with us when we see a film. Mine is that I am a huge fan of Joss Whedon. It doesn't mean I am a fan of all his work, but I am always very eager to like whatever he does. I think most of the audience at the TIFF premiere on Saturday were in a similar situation. All to say that Much Ado About Nothing already had a good head…
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Pieta 2013
TIFF 2012
I've only seen one other Ki-duk Kim film, 3-Iron and I loved that one so I was looking forward to Pieta. It did not disappoint.
What I love most about this director is his compelling way of establishing the story with very little dialogue. There is more in this film than there was in 3-Iron, but very little of it is superfluous.
We follow a disenchanted young man who collects payments from poor workers who took out loans…
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To the Wonder 2013
Film 6 of TIFF 2012
Tree of Life took us on a deeply personal voyage through memories of childhood reminding us of that sense of wonderment we get when reflecting on our place in the universe. It provided us with an excuse to reflect more deeply on that sense of wonderment and to sustain it longer than we would otherwise.To the Wonder is more intimate and takes us on a voyage through romantic love, the anticipation, discovery and tenderness…
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Starbuck 2013
Immediate Impressions: I can't believe how much we all laughed. I was enjoying this way more than expected. Great great fun. 4 stars with some 5 star scenes.
Starbuck follows David Wozniak, a down-on-his-luck man in his 40s who wants to turn is life around just when he is delivered his biggest blow yet. A sperm bank he used quite a bit in this 20s made a huge mistake and now hundreds of children are looking for their daddy, known… -
My Favorite Picture of You 2013
We take pictures to prove that we are alive, that we have been there, that we saw and interacted. We take pictures to create our story, our history. We take pictures to record the details, the moments, the reminders of who we are. We take pictures for the day we no longer recognize them, in the hopes that someone else will.
My Favorite Picture of You is a lovely and moving tribute to that day.
Thanks to Adam for posting this. -
War Witch 2013
TIFF 2012
In Rebelle we are introduced to the lovely 14 year old Komona who is abducted by Rebel forces to become a child soldier. While the film looks at the conflicts and war, its main focus is Komona and her perspective on this new life she must now face. Her role as a soldier is interrupted when she meets The Magician and the lovely story of their relationship ensues.
This is not a film about a child soldier. It…
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Inescapable 2013
Film 9, TIFF 2012
It is with deep regret that I must announce to Ruba Nadda fans who loved Cairo Time that her follow-up film Inescapable is to be avoided.
The story isn't bad. A Toronto man who has a mysterious past in Syria discovers that his eldest daughter has gone to Syria without his knowledge and has gone missing. He must risk his life by returning to the country to find her before anyone discovers she is his daughter.…
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Les Misérables 2012
I've seen the play two or three times so that informs this review, for better or for worse.
I can't imagine what this film looks like to someone unfamiliar with the play. Part of my attention was already so focused because I knew the story, I knew the characters and I knew the songs.
Where the film worked, it worked very well indeed. Anne Hathaway's solo was outstanding. Hooper's decisions to fill the entire frame with only her face was…
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Amour 2012
Film 4 of TIFF 2012
Amour is very difficult to review. It is a near perfect film, but kind of boring. It is essential viewing but too slow and subtle to recommend to anyone.
Heneke's film is about an older couple who face illness, degeneration and death. Told with no sentimentality, it is the perfect look at the reality of living with someone who is ill and taking care of them. The scenes are slow paced and I mean slow…
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Rust and Bone 2012
Film 1 of TIFF 2012
I'm having a really hard time reviewing this film, and I don't think I will succeed until I've seen it again. In the meantime I can only give some impressions I had while viewing it.
I'm fairly certain that Rust and Bone will turn out to be one of my favourite films, but that was not obvious at all while watching it. It is a very slow-paced story about multiple characters and it isn't always…
