TIFF has come and gone. My time at this year’s festival was more relaxed than other years. Uncharacteristically for me, I did not see as many documentaries this year. And I also did not get to see as many Latin American films as I would have liked. And since I had limited time, as well as limited tickets, I was more selective in what screenings I chose to attend. I did, of course, add a few screeenings at the last minute… it would not feel like TIFF otherwise.

This year, my top five films include four European films, and a Canadian production. All five are definite stand outs for me. They all vary in their themes, yet they all proved to be outstanding for many reasons. Without further ado, here they are:

The Strange Colour Of Your Body’s Tears / L’Etrange Couleur Des Larmes De Ton Corps
Directors: Helene Cattet, Bruno Forzani
Principal Cast: Klaus Tange, Jean-Michel Vovk, Sylvia Camarda, Sam Louwyck, Anna D’Annunzio, Manon Beuchot, Ursula Bedena, Birgit Yew, Hans de Munter
Countries: Belgium / France / Luxembourg

Premise: A husband comes home to find that his wife is missing. A detective comes to investigate. Soon, the two are peeling back the layers of secrecy, deception, and sex in the apartment building where the couple lives.

Why I like: The film has been labelled new-Giallo for its style. Its use of lavish and at times violent visuals, along with the great sound editing plus soundtrack are a complete standout for me. Now, the film is not for everyone. It will test your patience, in that there is no real linearity in its plot, and the subplots may also appear tangential, non-cohesive. The sound design is also jarring at times, but it defintely adds to the twisted mood of the film. Then there is the interior spaces, enthralling in their maze-like architecture. Lastly, the score, which is a compilation of themes from some of the classic films from the 70’s. There are a couple of Ennio Morricone tracks, but you can read more about the soundtrack here.

I’ve actually read a negative review on this film… This review does not take away the merit I find in this film. I don’t believe the directors were aiming for it be like the Giallo films of the 70’s. For all of its sexual violence, Giallo-like imagery, Strange Colour… is something new to me. It was like I was transported into someone’s dream and became a spectator; a role I did not want yet I could not turn away from.

Concrete Night
Director: Pirjo Honkasalo
Principal Cast: Johannes Brotherus, Jari Virman, Juhan Ulfsak, Anneli Karppinen
Countries: Denmark / Finland / Sweden

Premise: A fourteen-year-old boy (Simo) in a stifling Helsinki slum takes some unwise life lessons from his soon-to-be-incarcerated older brother.
 
Why I like: Based on the book of the same title, written by Norwegian author Pirkko Saisio, the film is beautifully shot in black and white. This coming-of-age story introduces us to Simo, his older brother Ikko, and their hard-looking mother. Simo’s story unfolds in one day. He is an impressionable young man, who looks up to his brother, yet is mistrusting of others’ intentions… as well as his own.

In watching the film, I was drawn to all the characters in the film. The actors are not only believable but also look like everyday people. Simo, however, really drew me into his story. I felt sympathy for him… his naiveté, his doubts, his sentimentality, his concrete thinking, all of which made him a bit sad to me. The cinematography also adds more depth to the story, and the views of Helsinki add to the sense of heaviness and foreboding throughout the film. The film is a visual treat, well deserving of being part of the Masters Programme. This is a very memorable story with some serious implications; one that left me perplexed, contemplative, and reminded me that adolescence can be a difficult time.

**For more on the film and an interview with director Pirjo Honkasalo, I suggest reading Donna G’s blog.

Rhymes For Young Ghouls
Director: Jeff Barnaby
Principal Cast: Kawennahere Devery Jacobs, Glen Gould, Brandon Oakes, Mark Anthony Krupa, Roseanne Supernault
Country: Canada

Premise: Set in Red Crow Mi’gMaq reservation, 1976, fifteen year old Aila is the weed princess of this community. Guided by the spirits of her departed mother and brother, she plots revenge against a sadistic Indian Agent known as Popper. Her only options are to run or fight.

Why I like: It introduces a strong young woman, who is willing to do whatever it takes to survive given her conditions. It also places her story in a time when First Nations children were being sent to residential schools by order of the Queen. Aila’s back story is one filled with murder, violence, and poverty. Her character wins my respect, though, for wanting to fight for something more. For wanting to get out of these predetermined circumstances, and for not giving up on her family and friends.

The film is not always easy to watch but the violence and drug use seen on-screen give an important context to Aila’s story. It presents the reality of the time, but also a reality that is still true today for First Nations communities. The film stands out for me because stylistically it works on several levels. The lead actors embody their roles quite well. The vivid imagery complements the mix of culture, beliefs, not to mention the connection between the living and the dead. There is also some creative use of lighting and camera angles, and the music in the film definitely places us in the right time and frame of mind.  As a first feature, Barnaby and team create a story that is captivating, powerful, and most importantly a good reminder of the strength of all First Nations.

**The film will screen in Toronto again during imagiNATIVE film + media artsfestival. Stay tuned for an update in the upcoming days.

Pioneer
Director: Erik Skjoldbjærg
Principal Cast: Aksel Hennie, Wes Bentley, Stephen Lang, Stephanie Sigman, André Eriksen, Jonathan LaPaglia, Ane Dahl Torp, Jørgen Langhelle, Eirik Stubø, David Jørgensen, Endre Hellestveit
Countries: Norway / Germany / Sweden / France / Finland

Premise: Set in the early 80’s, at the beginning of the Norwegian Oil Boom. Enormous oil and gas deposits are discovered in the North Sea and the authorities aim to bring the oil ashore through a pipeline from depths of 500 meters. Petter is a bachelor whose sole passion is deep-sea diving. The film is a conspiracy thriller about the ethical pitfalls of high-stakes investment, acknowledging the financial boon created by the oil industry, which made Norway a very wealthy country.

Why I like: This film was not on any of my lists, and I decided to see it on the last day of the festival. It certainly proved to be a good choice. Hennie is intense in the role of Petter, whom we follow throughout the film. The story does unfold like a thriller in a way, especially when Petter realises that not all is what it seems, and he has to figure out who he’s actually working for.

I found myself growing angrier, and angrier alongside Petter as the film progressed. This is how the film works as a conspiracy story, I believe. In a sense, I was also interested in finding out just how corrupt the set up for the pipeline really was. As a whole, the film moves at a really good pace. The underwater shots are really great to look at, while at the same time, serving as reminders that danger lurks. The cast is a mix of European and American actors, which work quite well and give strong performances. The film’s original score is composed by none other than French band Air, and I have to say it fits the film perfectly. The music mirrors Petter’s emotions, yes, but it also adds a new dimension to the look and feel of the film. I enjoyed the film as a whole. I learned something I didn’t know much about, and it reminded me of my disdain for corporations and government ‘business’ practices.

**The film has a North American distributor, Magnolia Pictures, so it should return to Canada at a later date.

Cannibal / Caníbal
Director: Manuel Martín Cuenca
Principal Cast: Antonio de la Torre, Olimpia Melinte
Countries: Spain / Romania / Russia / France

Premise:  In the sleepy city of Granada, Carlos, a mild-mannered tailor and secret cannibal unexpectedly finds himself falling in love with his latest prospective victim, Nina.

Why I like: I will admit the synopsis of the film and the few images I saw of it were the reason for my picking it in the first place. There have been other films about cannibals as the central figure, like Hannibal. However, this one works on a different level. The religious and cultural nuances in the film are also important features. Carlos’ life is filled with rituals, including the way he chooses his next victim/prey, and even in his quotidian life. But his life and routine are turned upside down when Nina appears, the sister of one of his victims. She represents temptation; the forbidden fruit, staying with the religious undertones.

The film did not disappoint, but I will concede that it can feel slow moving in the first half. But the pacing actually works once the end is in sight. Visually, the film also stands out for me. The opening shot, a long take, sets the pacing. Granada plays an interesting role within the story with its cobbled stone streets, and old-city feel. The religious iconography, visible throughout the film, make it a bittersweet story for me. Guilt, sacrifice, forgiveness, main elements in Catholicism, are present in the story. As in other films, I somehow fall under the dark character’s spell. I like that Nina is no easy victim, but I also feel somewhat sad for Carlos. The fact he is a cannibal serves more as a metaphor to me. And like Strange Colour…, I will say I will not recomment this film to everyone. But it certainly is one that I will revisit at some later time.

Given I saw very few films, I think I did very well. And I’ll have to admit that I’m enamoured with European films all over again. But Barnaby’s Rhymes For… certainly made a very big impression. The common threads in these five films are definitely the music, the cinematography, and their respective takes on the human condition.

The rest of the films I saw included other foreign fims. In no particular order…

What Is Cinema?
The Green Inferno
Witching & Bitching / Las Brujas de Zugarramurdi
Blind Detective
Moebius
How Strange To Be Called Federico: Scola Narrates Fellini
Giraffada
Rock The Casbah

Some of these films came from My Wish List, which I shared with you a few weeks back. Overall, I can say that for me, it was a very good festival. For those of you who also attended TIFF, hope you enjoyed your time at the cinema as well. For those of you who reside out of Toronto, I hope this list gives you some titles to look out for at a city near you.