CIFF 29, Chapter 5
Comments on the middle of the Festival (2 days, 9 films, much more to come from last weekend & this weekend):
Call Me Malcolm
Great documentary about a transsexual (F to M) on the path to ordination in the United Church of Christ. The director & writer made some interesting choices (like only telling the story in a forward direction--no "before" photos or other items from Malcolm's past), and it worked well. Highly recommended for anyone who knows a TG individual, and more than recommended for anyone who actually has TG issues.
Relevant quote: this may not have even been in the movie--it may have come up in the panel discussion afterward--but one of the UCC ministers involved described the common conservative Christian interpretation of the Bible (the whole homosexuals-are-evil thing) as "a reading of fear." I think that hits the nail right on the head--and may be related to the whole Bush II administration fear tactics in the last 3 1/2 years since 9/11. That thought is worth a couple more pages of exposition, but it'll have to wait for later (or for a more prolific blogger like Mano Singham)
Champions
"The Rocking Horse Winner" meets Czech filmmaking. No cute kid factor at all, a typically dreary setting, and pleasant absence of Hollywood endings.
Revolution of Pigs
I liked this one; it's not terribly deep, but then the subject matter (the old Soviet Union, teenagers, a war to protest, hormones, stupid adults trying to be in charge) is pretty common stuff. It's not all "Porkys"-style commedy, but there's plenty of humor mixed in with the angst (or vice versa). I rated it a 2 on the CIFF scale.
Bolero
Great Czech murder-mystery-type thing. The murder isn't actually a mystery for a large part of the movie, but good-guys (cops) vs. bad guys (playboy 20-somethings and their rich/connected parents) game is the focal point, not the actual whodunnit. Good stuff, very much recommended. Will not put the audience to sleep like "After the Day Before" (or other Tarkovsky-esque "fil-ums").
Zafir
In a nuthshell, Zafir is The Black Stallion in Danish. Which is not a bad thing at all for those of us who remember being 10 years old when TBS came out, and don't mind slipping back into that mindset for an hour and a half. A solidly good movie, and a great choice for the kids.
Innocent Voices
A powerful argument against war in general, and the particularly insidious modern variety that involves the "recruitment" of 12-year old children. In fact, it underscored my own theory that "based on a true story"-type pictures can be a more convincing statement than actual documentaries; I don't think a single member of the audience walked out without a sense of revulsion for the senseless and brutality of the war shown (El Slavador, but the message applies to conflicts going on today as well).
Highly recommended, but be careful if you are sensitive to violence--I know people who would not be able to sit through this movie without getting up and leaving the theatre. No Hollywood blood-and-guts-spurting effects, but quite horrific anyway.
Trivia note from the Q & A afterward (with Oscar Torres, screenwriter): The lead actor (Carlos Padilla, playing "Chava", a just-turning-twelve boy who is basically Torres as a child) was one of the last parts cast; they had not been able to find a suitable actor until someone (the director?) spotted a boy helping his father in a street mime performance.
This one has a good chance at the Roxanne T. Mueller Award (the CIFF audience choice award); I hope it gets it.
Boxers and Ballerinas
Another documentary, this time a compare & contrast-type essay looking a the subjects in Cuba, and across the water in Miami. The obvious comparisons are made between fully state-supported programs, and programs limited to sales & sponsorship (phrased as "begging" in the CIFF program guide, but I never heard that term in the movie), but the most interesting questions raised are first, why do people in the most elite part of Cuban society still want to leave; and secondly, since each of their defections makes it harder for other Cubans to travel, is their personal gain worth the cost to their (potentially ex-) colleagues?
Good film. Doesn't have the "hot-button" cachet of "Seeds" or "The Color of Love", but provides an interesting look at a nearly half-century old issue that will be coming to a boil again in a few years when Fidel finally kicks the bucket.
The Boys and Girl from County Clare
Do not miss an opportunity to see this one. Especially if you have any in traditional Irish music. Colm Meaney as "Jimmy" is in one of the comically surly roles that fit him so well, but his brother "John" gives him a run for his money (both in competition, and the attempts to avoid it).
Filmic Achievement
A good comedy, with some bits of outrageous hilarity mixed in. "This is Spinal Tap" is in no danger of losing its status as supreme mockumentary of all time, but this isn't a bad attempt at the genre. Audience warning: if you leave during the credits, you miss the best line of the whole movie. Definitely recommended for prospective filmmakers.
Illusive Tracks
More comedy; this time a Swedish entry that makes "Throw Mama From The Train" look a bit dull in comparison. Then again, THMFTT didn't have nearly as high a body count. Recommended.
Comments