TIFF 2009, Day Two (Day One for me)

[przed]

The Toronto International Film Festival started yesterday, but I saw my first film tonight. I've somehow managed to pack 18 films in this year, in spite of having only two vacation days to use and trading off alternate evenings with the Sweetie.

The Sweetie started last night, and he's already managed to see one of my all-time favourite actors, the genius and beautiful Willem Dafoe (he is *so* beautiful; stop looking at me like that) not once but twice. Ah well, I'm seeing him in two films: one of the two Herzog's at the fest and what looks like a trippy fun vampire flick, Daybreakers. With any luck he'll hang around and be at one of those screenings. At least Don informs me that he was smart and funny at the Q&As.

Tonight's choice was, I think, my only Chinese film of the fest, a beautifully shot and horrifically disturbing story of the Nanking massacre. Not the cheeriest film to start the fest, but I don't regret having seen it.

Title: City of Life and Death
Director: Li Chuan
Country: China
P's Rating: Highly Recommended
Director Li Chuan chose to shoot this story of the Japanese siege, occupation and massacre of the Chinese capital of Nanking in black and white, and it was the perfect choice. It lends the film a starkness and beauty and truth that colour would distract from. Li follows a number of characters--Chinese soldiers caught in the city; a man working for the German legation; a teacher who becomes a spokeswoman for the Chinese; a Japanese soldier--to get a multitude of perspectives on an event that is almost beyond comprehension. It can be difficult watching the film, knowing ahead of time that almost every character you end up caring about is going to end up dead or severely damaged, but it's an important film and worth the viewing.

Comments

[kiwisue.livejournal.com]

(he is *so* beautiful; stop looking at me like that)

Weell... brilliantly expressive & talented, maybe *g*. I get the vibe, but not quite the way you do. Maybe I should go see "Mississippi Burning" again.

[heliophile-oxon.livejournal.com]

May I just say that I agree - he is both beautiful and very sexy, imo(as well as brilliantly expressive & talented too *g*). Also has a very sexy voice.

[msmoat.livejournal.com]

Oh, gosh, is it this time of year again? I so look forward to your commentaries on the films. This first one...yeah, it sounds like I might do better with it watching on the small screen rather than the large, but definitely worth seeing. Thanks! Looking forward to the rest! (Go on, be our eyes....*g*)

[przed.livejournal.com]

Exhibit A:



C'mon, look at those cheek bones. *g* (Of course, I've always liked interesting over classically handsome. Hence why I'm more a Doyle girl.)

Dafoe is good in Mississippi Burning (he's good in everything) but my faves are Platoon (which I've seen an indecent number of times) and Off Limits, which ain't a good film, but is slashy as all get out. He also kick Harrison Ford's ass in A Clear and Present Danger.

[przed.livejournal.com]

You are clearly a woman of rare taste. *g*

[przed.livejournal.com]

I can't quite believe it's that time of the year myself. So far, it's been a pretty good fest, but then I've only seen three films. There's still plenty of time to see an utter dog.