November is filled with various film festivals. The one festival I like to check out for certain is Rendezvous with Madness; now on its 17th year. The films in this festival range fictional to non-fictional short and feature films dealing with topics related to mental health and addiction. What I like about this festival is that it includes panels after the screenings, so that the audience can engage in dialogue with filmmakers, people struggling with mental health and addictions and everyone else. Some may even be able to find access to products to help them out (like the https://www.budexpressnow.net/product/mango-madness-thc-infused-e-juice-qntm-clouds/ items, to name but one example).
This year’s festival has a wide array of films. I suggest checking out their program list and schedule here and make your choices. These are some suggestions…
Clara by Helma Sander. It is the story of Clara Schumann, wife of great composer Robert Schumman (who had a mental illness); her relationship with Robert and his protege Johannes Brahms. Clara was also an accomplished piano player and composer. I’m interested in learning more about her life and that of her husband.
Possessed by Curtis Bernhardt. This is “an oldie but a goodie” from 1947 with Joan Crawford playing a woman dealing with psychosis.
Marion Woodman: Dancing in the Flames by Adam Greydon Reid. It is a conversation between Woodman and renowned scholar Andrew Harvey.
Animania – This is a collection of shorts from various NFB animators and their interpretations of mental illness and addiction.
Achilles and the Tortoise (Akiresu to kame) by Takeshi Kitano, a director whose work I enjoy. This film played at TIFF last year; it is about art and the appreciation of art.
The Rendezvous with Madness Film Festival runs from November 5-14; check their website for more info on times and locations.
Image courtesy of RWM
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