caughlan_anne

An art student comes home from studies in Europe to Quito and seeks out the company of other young thinkers and artists. Very trendy and modern with a nod to the new era of poetry readings and independent gallery shows. The narrative involves our young heroine entering into relationships with two men, both handsome and talented...the program at Vancouver suggested a menage a trois, but it is more about love than sex and there are some delightfully humorous scenes I will not soon forget.

Saw this in Toronto and felt privileged to be in a world where a movie like this is made and a story like this is told. Based on letters written between a husband and wife while he is in jail for being a conscientious objector in Hitler's Austria. So heartbreaking to see how the village where he lived, all friends and neighbours for decades - all become his enemies as he is the only one willing to say No. And yet he is strong in his convictions and sustained by love.

Felt in the hands of a master storyteller from the opening scenes shot through an opaque film, that we soon learn is a balloon. The narrative and cinematography are so captivating we forgot we were in a theatre. We are in rural Tibet, yet the family lives in a very modern world, albeit controlled by what is considered modern for Chinese society. Yet the characters are as sophisticated as any one in Paris or Melbourne. A joy to watch.

We are at the front with Marie Colvin, a celebrated war correspondent for the Sunday Times in London. Colvin, played by Rosamund Pike, was an intense journalist who went to Iraq, Sri Lanka, Syria and was driven to bring the story of real people home to her readers. She stood toe-to-toe with Gaddafi and others in her search for the truth. The movie cinematographer Robert Richardson (Inglourious Basterds) creates an environment both real and overwhelming. Many of us felt shell-shocked after the ending.

Audience choice for best International Feature at Vancouver, this is a tale of love, poverty and crime that turns all of these elements upside-down as these people win our hearts. Sensitive and generous with domestic scenes of love and kindness. What could go wrong? Not a comedy but your heart will be light.

A masterpiece by one of the best (Pawel Pawlikowski's won Oscar for Ida in 2013).Although full of local 'colour', this movie is shot in black and white with a square frame. The story follows a patriotic tour of children who have been recruited to sing folk ballads to shore up the communist party agenda for public enthusiasm. A love story ensues but it is more of an anti-romantic, devastating account of love in wartime.

Too many cooks? So many countries involved and still a lame and stupid story about two women who go broke ad start selling off their furniture. To stoke her ego one of the women tries an adulterous fling while her wife is serving time in jail for fraud. Who cares? I see this movie got an award in Berlin, but there were better actors this year.

This movie won audience choice in Calgary, but it is no walk in the park. Brutal and searing tragedy of poverty and life on the street. The children are more foul-mouthed than you will have ever heard ....and yet we are full of compassion and concern for these children. Drawn in to the world of young Zain we hope ....we hope....

Julianne Moore did a decent job trying to bring Ann Patchett's story heroine to life, and there is probably an Oscar nomination in store. However, Ken Watanabe as the Japanese opera lover was a stand-out. Voice-overs by Renee Fleming were stupendous. The story is a heart stopper and we are in shock throughout.

A young man fleeing the camps in Nazi Germany finds himself in possession of papers that will allow him to go to Mexico. All he needs is to impersonate the dead man. His efforts take him to Marseille where he meets the man's wife and a convoluted tale unfolds. Intense and engaging, we are hooked form the beginning. Excellent acting. The director weaves his old war-time story with modern cars and buildings in a subtle expression of how the past overlays the present.

Based on a true story of a teacher who arrives in Kugluktuk determined to get a year in to pay off his student loan and also inspire the students to study. He learns quickly that the kids need more than books and he needs them. Gritty realism and exceptional acting from local casting. Be warned, harsh depictions of suicide.

Very engaging romantic story set in Mumbai, India where the class/caste system is very real and a definite obstacle to love. The storyline is subtle and sweet, no clichés and some real education for us westerners about how people live in modern India.

Spanning era of tribal trade in Colombia from coffee to cannabis, with first opulence and soon decadence in the lives of the Waayu families. Very real depiction of customs and traditions becoming squashed by greed and corruption.

We brought this movie in to our annual festival in Salmon Arm, British Columbia. We chose it as our opening night movie gala and our audience was invited to dress in pink. Our audience enjoyed the movie on every level, with so much laughter we could hardly expect it would continue to the last frame, which it did! The subtle nuances of character, the conceit that it is a documentary, the entire cast...it was delightful in every way. Intelligent, full of humour, and thought-provoking.....the setting was coastal Vancouver with gorgeous shots of beautiful homes and gardens as well as the rain-forest. Our lead male actor was perfectly cast as were all of the family...note perfect right down to the youngest child.

I saw this movie in Toronto and the full house gave it a huge applause - people around me wept with the emotion of the movie - although it is not a sad movie at all - it is at times hilarious and very delightful. We have seen attempts at scripts of women who fall in love with each other - but they are so stilted and awkward - this movie treats the theme with a delicacy and grace that rises above anything petty or mundane - and this from a 'male' director from a 'macho' culture? I note this because it just proves we cannot accept stereotypes - we must not. The promo stated that the men are not left behind in this story and it is true - the men are strong characters with their own self-worth and we admire everyone in the end. As well, the scenery is fantastic - a Patagonia I would love to visit. A must see.

I saw this movie in Vancouver, after having seen 15 movies selected from across the spectrum. I thoroughly enjoyed the script, the acting and the direction. I am very sensitive to generalizations of race or culture, and resent themes that play to a lowest common denominator and therefore I was constantly being relieved when an obvious theme of Italian culture - like loyalty among family was given a modern and genuine lift...at every stage I thought the script presented us with the obvious assumptions we have of Italians and then took us to a more subtle and thoughtfull response - never more so than when the character of Claudio confronts the young Romanian son of the immigrant worker and tries to tell him 'what's what' in the real world. The young man, more wise and thoughtful of the two forces Claudio to re-think his position. Personal growth, hope - what else can we want? My only complaint? The theme song played one too many times for me....

Saw this movie at TIFF 09 - a stunning account of the life of Hildegard of Bingen - portrayed by Barbara Sukowa as if she was born for the role. Directed impeccably by Margarethe Von Trotta. I watched with interest how we in 2009 have not changed much since the times of the Middle Ages. They were worried then about the world ending in the 'new' millennium of 1000. The movie opens with the events of December 31, 999. Have we become any more sophisticated? Remember Y2k anyone? The glory of this story and the times Hildegard lived in, is that she was brave and forward thinking. Ready to test the proscribed rules against women being allowed to read, let alone write. The courage and genius of this woman of history is told through both the actress playing her as well as the circle of people around her, from peasant to pope. Scenery and cinematography were excellent. I will leave it for people more versed in film to comment further.