VIFF ‘07: Canadian Images: Normal

I loved this film! Easily my favourite fiction flick of this year’s festival…

This is a multi-layered look at how families and relationships can be affected by an automobile “accident” in the white, western world. I’m sure it spoke to me because of the portrayal of so many men, but the lead, Carrie-Anne Moss is fabulous to the end.

Ironically, it is set in Oak Bay, home of the recent murder-suicide of rich folks and this film offers some insight into how things can get so messed up in that world. Carl Bessai and Travis McDonald (and let’s be fair, all their female assistants!) go so much deeper than the shallow portrayals of loneliness and dysfunction; the drunken driving death of a teenage basketball star is the vehicle and the actors really make it real. Although redemption is near, the ending is brutally honest and definitely not from Hollywood!

If I were making the decisions, this film would be mandatory viewing for all drivers…imagine an enjoyable experience that could educate on an emotional level! Let’s hope that after the theatrical release here, it ends up in every new driver’s package and anyone renewing gets a free ticket to a theatre near us…

No Remaining Screenings

Mr. Big gets exposed once more at the Film Fest

Mr. Big is a secretive, almost unknown “sting” type of operation carried out by the RCMP. Essentially, the police spend hundreds of thousands of our tax dollars to pose as organized crime, with the sole goal of videotaping confessions.

Not only are many crimes committed along the way (many of which are, or hint at, extreme violence), but this type of “police work” is simply not allowed in the USA and UK. Much research has been done to prove that coerced confessions are simply not useful in finding out the truth and laying the blame for crime.

Mr. Big, the movie, documents the ongoing case of Atif Rafay and Sebastian Burns and Patrick Fischer as well as two cases that have been closed: Clayton George Mentuck and Jason Dix.

The writer/director/producer, Tiffany Burns left her 10 year career as a TV News journalist to make this film. Given the content, she had no option but to make it independently: government funders don’t like to expose other government agencies and corporate funders need the police to keep us all good little workers and consumers.

Her background has obviously helped her produce a hard-hitting and insightful film that will literally shock and deeply disturb you. The trailer from the movie’s website was recently posted on YouTube and it has prompted many comments.

Another shocking piece of information not included in the movie is that in 1996, then Liberal Federal Justice Minister Alan Rock ordered that Rafay and Burns be extradited to Washington State to face the death penalty. After 5 years and a trip to the Supreme Court of Canada, it is now legally impossible to extradite people from Canada to face the death penalty.

In all of these cases and many more, the only evidence used to convict these people is the taped confession, shown without the context of many months of befriending – followed by coercion and threats, which are standard procedure in the Mr. Big operations.

At least 25 of these “sting” operations take place every year: even residing in West Vancouver does not protect oneself from these police operations, which should put everyone on high alert and hopefully prod us into action.

So check out the movie’s website , see the film on Wednesday, Oct 10th, and use the energy this film gives you to at least write a letter to your MP and Federal Justice Minister, demanding an end to these police actions (hey, why not demand civilian oversight of the police, too, and a ban on police carrying guns while you’re writing).

Remaining Screenings:
Wednesday, Oct 10th @ 11:00am: Pacific Cinematheque

VIFF ‘07: Climate for Change: Keepers of Eden

This film could also be titled Colonization 101: how indigenous people and their territory are destroyed by Western greed.

Pick any place on earth and the Huaorani people’s story could be told, from creation to today (or extinction). First, the creator creates all, people learn to live peacefully, then a resource is found (in this case oil) and contamination, disease, liquor, domestic violence, and both cultural and physical death follow.

The area in which the Huaorani live is the most bio-diverse region on the planet. There are more species living in each 2.5 hectare area than in the entire continent of North America. The photography is stunning: the birds, insects, jungle…check out the size of the tree near the end of the film!

Texaco and Shell have spilled more oil, which has not even been attempted to be cleaned up, than was spilled by the Exxon Valdez. And surprise, surprise, the constitution of Ecuador protects the right of oil and mineral exploration above all else.

But the people fight back and that is the inspiration of the film. Traditionally, the Huaorani fight to the death and those that haven’t died already from cancers (or haven’t sold out), are committed to end the exploitation. And, as usual, they are led by their women.

Remaining Screenings:
Sunday, Oct 7th @ 9:15pm: Empire Granville 7 Theatre 2

VIFF ‘07: Canadian Images: Toi

I’ve found Quebeçois film, especially in this festival, to be of a very high calibre in whatever genre it is. C.R.A.Z.Y. was one of the best films I’ve seen. Toi, doesn’t quite meet this challenge.

This distressingl tale shows the downward spiral of a woman who has simply lost the spark of life. She first tries to rekindle her spirit through sex but the shallowness of it all just doesn’t do it for her. Unfortunately, she has a son; her husband can’t deal with the shock and loss and the poor child is virtually left to fend for himself. Only her lover has the wherewithal to avoid going down with her.

It seems that there isn’t any blame to be laid, but the film shows just how fragile life can be and how unfair it is to children when the foundation of their life is taken out from under them. The acting was very convincing and left me with a hollow feeling walking out of the theatre…

No Remaining Screenings

VIFF ‘07: Cinema of our Time: The Missing Star

This drama offers a fascinating glimpse into modern day China. From a brief commentary on the Three Gorges Dam, to insights on being a single parent in today’s China, this Italian film ambles along despite its unlikely premise.

So what’s the premise? A technician follows a recently bought blast furnace from Italy to China. This man knows almost no Chinese, has no idea where the factory is that bought it, and knows no one in China. He happens upon the one woman he embarrassed back in Italy in a public library and the story takes off from there.

The film shows us that in an age of greedy globalization, compassion and desire to do the right thing can always succeed, even if in unexpected ways.

Remaining Screenings:
Monday, Oct 8th @ 6:40pm: Empire Granville 7 Theatre 3

VIFF ‘07: Dragons & Tigers: Gubra

This Malay film really shines…it’s fun and has something to say.

Many different types of heterosexual couples are almost compared, from the loving and playful to the oppressive and paid. It doesn’t do Hollywood, as you’ll see at the end. The gags run from silly to well setup, and it reflects my limited exposure to the Malay people: incredibly ethnically diverse, upbeat and easy to get along with. The film offers a glimpse into a society that folks living in Canada could learn a lot from generally, while the heterosexuals among us are offered further opportunities to learn and see our shortcomings and strengths.

Warning: don’t leave before the credits are done…there’s more to see (if the projectionist doesn’t get faked out first!).

No Remaining Screenings

VIFF ‘07: Canadian Images: Breakfast with Scot

I finished my breaky before I got to the theatre, but I could do Breakfast with Scot anytime!

This is a very funny film that reflects our society’s slow maturity around homosexuality. Scot is a young boy who is more gay than the two men who take him in until his legal guardian gets around to picking him up. One of the two believes his career depends on keeping the closet door firmly closed while Scot continually tries to open it wide! Meanwhile, Scot is slipping under their skin and the film really illustrates that unconditional love is the fundamental basis of any parent-child relationship.

The film flows very well until near the end when it still works, but awkwardly. Aside from that flaw, the actors give Michael Downing’s novel life and are wonderful in almost every role. The closing credits are creative as well, so stick around for those, too!

Remaining Screenings:
Thursday, Oct 4th @ 6:20pm: Empire Granville 7 Theatre 4
Thursday, Oct 11th @ 2:30pm: Empire Granville 7 Theatre 3

VIFF ‘07: Canadian Images: Elijah

If you are an Aboriginal person or a so-called Canadian, see this film!

History is often presented in a boring way: this film is fun, smart, funny and dramatic, even though we know the ending.

I love aboriginal humour and this film is full of it. It also exposes the racism rampant in Canadian society but never preaches.

The focus is on Elijah Harper, a hero to Aboriginal peoples everywhere and it seems, most people living in what is called Canada. The man is painfully humble and shy but determined to make a difference. He stood up to incredible pressure and not only defeated the Meech Lake Accord, he inspired the folks at Oka later that year and he helped reduce the seemingly unstoppable Mulroney-led conservative federal government to 2 seats in the subsequent election.

Phil Fontaine is a huge figure in this film as well and he is portrayed to be both a strong leader and a caring human being. Elijah’s wife, Elizabeth, is shown to be what most political men’s wives are: workhorses and the foundation upon which the men depend.

The film comes from an Aboriginal point-of-view but is imminently fair to the white folks that deserve it; that last statement clearly comes from a white man because the truth is simply the truth in the Aboriginal world.

Do yourself a huge favour: see this film and have a great laugh, maybe even a cry (I did the 2nd time) and understand a critical part of Canada’s history in the process.

Screenings:
Friday, Oct 5th @ 7:15pm: Empire Granville 7 Theatre 2
Monday, Oct 8th @ 1:30pm: Pacific Cinematheque

VIFF ‘07: Cinema of our Time: Beaufort

This so-called anti-war film helped me understand the difference between a peace film and an anti-war film and why any work one does needs to be carefully labeled. Using the word war is appropriate here because it is almost all about fighting, death, aggression and killing. It is bleak and not the world I want in my mind at all.

The remarkable thing this film achieves is that fear is shown and even embraced by the soldiers depicted. More than one man cries on camera. And this is the “invincible” Israeli army.

The soldiers themselves, through their humour, let us know how incredibly stupid the work they are doing is (we are guarding the mountain so it doesn’t run away).

But the gift, for me, was the parenting insight this film gave. When an explosives expert is ordered to go against his own best judgment and gets blown up, his father is interviewed on t.v. and takes all the blame for his death. His reason is simple: he failed to instill the sense in his son that his son was the most precious thing on the planet. I know of no other mission as a parent more important than this.

No Remaining Screenings

VIFF ‘07: Nonfiction Features: The War on Democracy

Did you know that…

…”housewives” are paid for their work in Venezuela?

…the first indigenous president was recently elected in Bolivia?

…the School of Americas trained the brutal generals and dictators of the recent past in South America?

…Chile’s Presidential Palace was bombed on September 11th, 1973 (and its democratically elected government was overthrown with direct US government support)?

If you don’t know all of the above, this movie will enlighten as it entertains. If you do know all of the above, the movie will reinforce and probably expand your knowledge: it is uncompromising and well-focussed. The interviews with the CIA’s agents are both hilarious and outrageous and worth the film on their own. It’s also refreshing to see Hugo Chavez up close and personal.

This kind of film making is bold and brash (kind of like advertising/political campaigning/corporate lobbying) but I couldn’t find any holes, exaggerations, or fallacies…can you?

Remaining Screenings:
Saturday, Oct 6th, @ 1:00pm: Empire Granville 7 Theatre7