Ye Olde Film Fest

[przed]

The Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF hereafter) has started for another year. Neither the Sweetie or me (I? me? yeah, I've got baby brain) are doing a full fest this year, what with the baby and all, but we figured we could manage splitting a book of twenty. Mostly we're seeing a film or two a day.

Alas, we got another crappy box in the ticket lottery this year, so I didn't get the two films I most wanted to see: Eastern Promises, the new David Cronenberg film starring Viggo Mortensen, and Breakfast with Scott, the Canadian gay hockey player flick that looked to be too much fun.

As a consolation prize, here's a pic of Viggo and David being cute together. (I have to admit, since it opens here next week, half my reason for picking Eastern Promises was to see if the two of them would show up for the screening. And if they did, would they snog again like they did last year at the screening of Alatriste. I swear to god, these two could totally be my new RPS pairing. If I still did stuff like that. Ahem.)


I'm going to try and rush Eastern Promises on Sunday morning. Having to get up at 6 a.m. with the baby has it's advantages; getting downtown early for a 9:30 a.m. Sunday screening not only no longer seems insane, it seems downright civilized.

I saw my first film this afternoon, Hou Hsiao-Hsien's Le voyage de ballon rouge. I was keen on seeing it since I generally adore Hou's films and it's based on the classic short The Red Balloon which I saw a million times as a kid (our school librarian was a film nut) and was one of the many things that gave me an early push into cinephilia. As it turns out, I liked the film but didn't love it. While there were some lovely moments and the actors were very good, there didn't ultimately seem to be much there there. Here's hoping the rest of my picks are more inspiring.

Comments

[agentxpndble.livejournal.com]

I suppose I'll need to see Le voyage de ballon rouge... I love Juliette Binoche and the Red Balloon played a pretty big role in my childhood. Unfortunately, it was of a negative sort - That story terrified me. Literally gave me nightmares... I can only imagine what an adult, movie-length treatment would be like. Still, I have the instinctive feeling I must see it.

[przed.livejournal.com]

I daresay Hou's version won't give you nightmares. It's a quiet, gentle film and the balloon (if that's what originally freaked you out) is only an occasional presence. Binoche is good, but the kid and the girl who plays his Chinese nanny are better.

[nanner-buddy.livejournal.com]

I'm sorry you weren't happy with the box you got in the lottery but I hope you can enjoy those films you are able to attend and especially with your new appreciation for the morning hours!! Enjoy and see you soon!!!

[przed.livejournal.com]

We got the first box in the lottery a few years ago and we've been paying for it ever since. Oh well, maybe next year.

See ya in less than a week! Yay!

[phantomas.livejournal.com]

At least, you'll able to see some films (I have no idea how this lottery thing works) :D but damn for EP (Alatriste, has it been seen by anyone? I haven't seen any comments, anything, not being distributed because it's in in Spanish, is it?)

I haven't seen the Red Ballon short, shame on me.

*hugs to you and family*

[przed.livejournal.com]

I saw Alatriste (twice!) last year at the festival. I really, really liked it. But then, I'm a history geek and I like the novels.

I'm holding out for a subtitled DVD release, but who knows if that'll happen.

[kortirion.livejournal.com]

I think Alatriste is nominated for the European Film Awards, if it wins/gets placed that should gee up some interest in a wider distribution.

www.amazon.co.uk/Captain-Alatriste

...but even they only have it available via an outside seller - is it worth buying then?

[przed.livejournal.com]

Hmmm, shall have to research it, but it must be the Spanish release. If there are indeed English subs, I think it would be totally worth getting. (I've bought from a few Amazon marketplace sellers and have had only good experiences. So far.)

[sooguy.livejournal.com]

Hey, I was wondering how the fest was going for you and the hubby.

I sent email to both of you. Not sure if you got it. Sorry to hear you got screwed on the lottery again. Hope you have some luck rushing the other screening.

I am planning on seeing Breakfast with Scott at the Sudbury festival in two weeks time. I'll let you know what I think. BTW, there is also a Callum Keith Rennie film playing called NORMAL playing that I am going to try and see.

[przed.livejournal.com]

Hey. Did get your email but just haven't had time to answer it. (These days if I answer one email a day I consider myself lucky. Needless to say, I generally get way more than one email a day in need of answering. I'm so far in email debt I'm never getting out.)

You'll definitely have to let me know how Breakfast with Scot is. And the CKR movie. Me, I'll be getting up at 6 a.m. tomorrow to be out the door by 7 and in line by 7:30. Oy.

[(Anonymous)]

Everytime I read this Blog I wonder how we didn't find each other and become friends earlier in life... I'm thinkin' I remember and loved The Red Balloon as a kid too... Same deal, Librarian with great film taste!
Nads