In Encounter, a former marine suspects an alien invasion is at hand. But when he can’t get anyone to believe him, he decides to risk it all to save his sons from the impending threat.
TIFF 2021 REVIEW: Wildhood is a Multi-Genre Voyage Through Self-Discovery
In Wildhood, a teenage boy sets out on a search for his mother. On this journey, he will find a way to trust again, learn more about himself, and connect with his people.
TIFF 2021 REVIEW: Night Raiders Expertly Uses the Future to Examine the Past
Set in a dystopian 2043, Night Raiders follows a Cree woman as she attempts to rescue her daughter. But there may be more at stake here than the life of just one child. Night Raiders Danis Goulet (director and writer), Daniel Grant (cinematographer), Jorge Weisz (editor) Elle-Máijá Tailfeathers, Brooklyn Letexier-Hart, Alex Tarrant, Shaun Sipos, Amanda…
TIFF 2021 REVIEW: Aloners Spotlights Isolation in a Crowded World
Aloners follows a call centre employee who would rather prefer the company of the digital world than that of people. But when she is tasked with training a new employee, her entire world turns upside down. Aloners Hong Sung-eun (director, writer, and editor), Choi Young-ki (cinematographer) Gong Seung-yeon, Jung Da-eun, Seo Hyun-woo, Park Jeong-hak (cast)…
TIFF 2021 REVIEW: Violet Equips You to Fight Your Inner Demons
A film executive struggles with constant intrusive thoughts in Violet. For every action she takes, there’s a voice telling her what’s going to go wrong. But is there any truth to it? Violet Justine Bateman (director, writer, and producer), Mark Williams (cinematographer), Jay Friedkin (editor) Olivia Munn, Justin Theroux, Luke Bracey (cast) September 10, 2021…
TIFF 2021 REVIEW: Mothering Sunday Examines the After Effects of Grief
Mothering Sunday follows Jane Fairchild (Odessa Young), a maid on her day off. It’s the perfect time for her to meet up with her secret partner. But this day isn’t going to turn out the way Jane expects it to. Mothering Sunday Eva Husson (director), Alice Birch (screenplay writer), Jamie Ramsay (cinematographer), Emilie Orsini (editor)…
Mudbound: A Gorgeously Shot Drama About Southern Racism
Mudbound Dee Rees (director), Rachel Morrison (cinematographer), Mako Kamitsuna (editor) Adapted from the Hillary Jordan novel by Dee Rees and Virgil Williams Carey Mulligan, Garrett Hedlund, Jason Clarke, Jason Mitchell, Mary J. Blige (cast) January 21, 2017 (Sundance), September 10, 2017 (TIFF), November 17, 2017 (USA) Mudbound is a raw, historical family drama with a…
Reel Resistance: TIFF’s Newest Programme Explores Filipino Cinema
After 400 years of colonization, dictatorship, and rebellion, resistance has been written into every page of Filipino history. Spanish/American/Japanese occupations have had an impact in ways still being unpacked today, ways that have manifested in the Filipino people’s own governance of the country. This fall, the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) Bell Lightbox is bringing…
The Shape of Water Is a Fairy Tale That’s As Steadfast as It is Strange
The Shape of Water Guillermo del Toro (director and writer), Vanessa Taylor (writer), Dan Laustsen (cinematographer), Sidney Wolinsky (editor) Sally Hawkins, Doug Jones, Octavia Spencer, Michael Shannon, Richard Jenkins (cast) September 1, 2017 (Toronto International Film Festival 2017), August 31, 2017 (Venice International Film Festival) An invitation lies at the heart of Guillermo del Toro’s newest…
Disobedience Is A Slow-Burning Portrait of Grief, Love and Community
Disobedience Sebastián Lelio (director), Danny Cohen (cinematographer), Nathan Nugent (editor) Rachel Weisz, Rachel McAdams, Alessandro Nivola (cast) Adapted from the Naomi Alderman novel Disobedence by Sebastián Lelio and Rebecca Lenkiewicz September 10, 2017 (TIFF) Sebastián Lelio made two films this year about women being denied access to the formal grieving process of their society. In…
Black Cop Engages Canadian Audiences on Police Brutality & Black Lives
Black Cop Cory Bowles (director and writer), Jeffery Wheaton (cinematographer), Jeremy Harty (editor) Ronnie Rowe, Sophia Walker, Simon Paul Mutuyimana (cast) Released September 11, 2017 (Toronto International Film Festival 2017) It seems like the best was left for last because I thoroughly enjoyed watching Black Cop on the final day of the Toronto International Film Festival. In…
Marlina the Murderer: Questioning Choices in the Indonesian Feminist Western
Marlina the Murderer in Four Acts Mouly Surya (director and writer), Rama Adi and Garin Nugroho (writers), Yunus Pasolang (cinematographer), Kelvin Nugroho (editor) Marsha Timothy, Dea Panendra, Egy Fedly, Yoga Pratama (cast) September 7, 2017 (Toronto International Film Festival 2017), May 24, 2017 (Cannes Film Festival) Warning: Spoilers Marlina the Murderer in Four Acts is described as an Indonesian contemporary feminist…