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tickets & membership info festival personnel February 4–13, 2005 (Staff , Board of Directors, Jurors) windows around town 808 View Street messages of welcome Victoria, BC, Canada & sponsors v8w 1k2 feature fi lms [email protected] Screening Venues Gala CAC 1 Community Arts Council Gallery check the website Canadian 6G-1001 Douglas (Sussex Building) for changes & updates World Perspective Capitol 6 2 Famous Players Capitol 6 www.vifvf.com 805 Yates Next Wave Cinecenta 3 Cinecenta Midnight Madness Student Union Building, UVic Documentary Hermann’s 4 Hermann’s Jazz Club 753 View other Venues shorts Odeon 5 Odeon Cineplex Th eatre special events 780 Yates Laurel Point Inn 9 680 Montreal One 6 One Lounge Reef Restaurant 10 533 Yates Tribute to Bill Plympton 1318 Broad Solstice Café 11 529 Pandora Sips ‘n Cinema Star 7 Star Cinema Temple 12 525 Fort 9842 3rd St (Sidney) Godzilla vs Tatu Upstairs Cabaret 13 15 Bastion Square VCC 8 Victoria Conference Centre Film Classics 720 Douglas the fi fty fi fty 14 2516 Douglas Triple Shot Talks Open Space Gallery 15 510 Fort Sight Pacifi c a program of NFB shorts InVision & FilmCAN student work Open Cinema Paintings from Film art exhibition 90 Interactive Futures Film Forum guest bios index by fi lm title
fi lm schedule & parties at a glance Sharing stories, celebrating unique voices Des histoires à partager, une diversité à célébrer
Telefilm Canada is proud to be a partner to the 2005 Victoria Independent Film & Video Festival.
Téléfilm Canada, fier partenaire du Victoria Independent Film & Video Festival 2005 3
Films Advance tickets are available $2 festival membership beginning Th ursday, January 20 at: (required for entrance to fi lms) Bolen Books $8 feature-length fi lm 1644 Hillside, Victoria $38 set of 5 feature-length fi lms 11am–7pm daily (fi lms selected at time of purchase) the festival offi ce $75 set of 10 feature-length fi lms 808 View, Victoria (fi lms selected at time of purchase) 10am–5pm, Mon–Sat $7 program of shorts by telephone () - or () - Special Events 10am–5pm, Mon–Sat
$25 Opening Gala Reception Cash, Visa and MasterCard are accepted for advanced tickets. Only cash is accepted at the door. $15 End of Festival Bash $20 Sips ‘n Cinema Advance tickets cannot be bought the day of the show. Same day tickets will be on sale at the door $6 Godzilla vs Tatu 30 minutes before the show (subject to availability). free Triple Shot Talks Please note that advance tickets sell out quickly.
$8 Sight Pacifi c Ticket prices include GST, (883954026rt0001). TICKETS a program of NFB shorts Sales are fi nal, no refunds. $8 InVision screening $8 Open Cinema Membership Info free Paintings from Film Membership has its privileges. Do you know that art exhibition all the movies you normally see at the theatre have been classifi ed? You know – rated PG or R or G. Th ey have been passed by the BC Film Film Forum Classifi cation board and deemed appropriate for public viewing. In British Columbia, the only way $15 individual panel to view unclassifi ed fi lms is to be a member of $75 2 day pass to all panels the society showing the fi lms and over the age of 18 – that’s the law. Th e Victoria Independent Film $107 master class & Video Festival screens unclassifi ed fi lms. Th at’s free martini talk why you have to have a membership and that membership costs $2. And once you’re a member of the Festival Society you can get in to see any of Interactive Futures the fi lms at the 2005 Victoria Independent Film & Video Festival. Th is year we’re making the ‘burden’ of $5 individual panel, becoming a member just a little bit more pleasant. presentation or keynote $20 2 day pass to all panels, When you sign up for your 2005 membership you presentations and keynote are entered into a draw for a trip to Seattle that includes passage on the Victoria Clipper and a night $10 Char Davies presentation at the beautiful Hotel Andra in trendy Belltown. #/-0,)-%.4!29 !0093 SERVED DAILY FROM 0-
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Jurors
Shirley Goldberg Goldberg is a free-lance writer, fi lm critic and fi lm programmer. She is retired from teaching English and Film Studies at Malaspina University-College and is a regular fi lm columnist for Humanist in Canada magazine. Staff John Hamann Hamann was a founding writer for the movie- Festival Director Kathy Kay business website boxoffi ceprophets.com. Recently, the website has been featured on CNBC, in Operations Coordinator Rob Pingle USA Today and at the CNN/Money website. Programmer Donovan Aikman Michael Hoppe Volunteer Coordinator Kimberley Tooby Hoppe is a fi lm programmer for Cinecenta in the Event Coordinator Mary Jane Foster Student Union Building at the University of Victoria. Michael managed the now defunct Oak Bay Cinema
Advertising Sales Rosalinde Compton in the 1980s during which time he was one of the FESTIVAL Communications Nora Arajs founders of the Victoria International Film Festival. Graphic Design Emrys D Miller David Lemieux
Web & Distribution Steve Webb Since 1999, Lemieux has been the audiovisual
archivist for the San Francisco rock group the PERSONNEL Program Notes David Lemieux Grateful Dead, where he produces archival CD and Kathy Kay DVD releases from the band’s extensive archives. Donovan Aikman Prior to moving to Northern California, Lemieux Jurors completed his BFA in Film Studies from Concordia University in Montreal in 1997. He curated the Board of Directors Philip Borsos Tribute at the VIFVF in 1999. Brian MacDonald President David Simmonds MacDonald makes short personal videos about Vice President Wendy Floyd love and lonliness with his digital camcorder, his Secretary Jo-Ann Richards old computer and any volunteers available. Works from his two compilations, Sex & Sadness (2001) Treasurer Alan Penty and Memories of Earth (2003), have been screened Directors at Large David Polny at fi lm festivals across North America, Europe, and Sheena Macdonald Asia and Sex & Sadness (Part 1) will be broadcast this Niels Petersen season on ZeD on CBC. He studied English, Film Pat Ferns and Th eatre at the University of Western Ontario, Joanne Fraser where he made his fi rst student video, 11 years ago. Gail Noonan A childhood spent in rural Nova Scotia prompted Noonan’s decision to live the next phase of her life in as diff erent an environment as possible. After an intense two year course in Vancouver, she fi nished her fi rst fi lm, Play ball! and has been making animation on Mayne Island ever since. She won VIFVF’s 2004 Best Animation Award for her latest animation More Sensitive.
7
Vote in-store for your favourite window and enter to win a vip pass. Th e winners will be announced at the Opening Gala, February 4.
Downtown businesses have jumped on board to support the Festival and highlight many
of our fabulous fi lms. With lots of ingenuity WINDOWS and creativity, our designers have created windows that will pique your interest in the feature fi lms, shorts and documentaries.
Check out all the windows, cast your vote
and support the businesses willing to help AROUND the Festival in such an exciting way.
Confi rmed window display
participants include: TOWN Breeze • CBC radio • Central Library • Goldy Music • Island Collateral • Island Video • James Bay Coff ee and Books • Kay’s Korners Experienced Goods • Legend Comics • Levis • Lucky Bar • Metropolis DVD • Th e Papery • Th e Patch • Pic a Flic • Planet Ocean • Reckless Bike Store • Retrowear • Still Life • Vortex • Wine Barrel • Woodpecker • UVic bookstore • WIN (Pandora) • WIN (Cook) • 711 Douglas & Pandora • 920 Douglas • 1316 Douglas
9
After a year of scouring the corners of the world for fabulous, delightful and sometimes challenging fi lms we are about to launch the ever growing Victoria
Independent Film & Video Festival for an eleventh event. WELCOME Having sorted through 1057 entries the Festival will present its best program to date with even more feature fi lms for your enjoyment. We’ve found fi lms from a broader range of countries including Two Great Sheep from China, a must see fi lm; and Millions, a production from
the UK showing the gentler side of Danny Boyle (Trainspotting). & SPONSORS And never forgetting the homeland, Canada is on display for several terrifi c off erings from old veterans and new emerging faces.
A huge and sincere thank you to our sponsors, the board of directors, staff and hundreds of tireless volunteers – please know that it cannot happen without you.
We have some very special people and businesses to thank this year. For their kindness and generosity I’d like to acknowledge: Sheena Macdonald & Phil Schmitt, Polar Securities, Robbins Parking, Victoria Taxi, CompuSmart and Mount Doug Spring .
Enjoy the Festival! see different… feel different
Kathy Kay Festival Director
GOLD
SILVER
BRONZE
11
MEDIA
GOVERNMENT SPONSORS
PATRON
BENEFACTOR
FRIEND
HOSPITALITY
VENUE
13 WELCOME
15 Th e Victoria Independent Film & Video Festival is a celebration of distinctive and competitive Canadian voices, which deepen an understanding of Canada and its rich cultural diversity. Th e Festival also provides a great opportunity for the industry to come together to discuss today’s issues and challenges, and to explore creative and business opportunities. As a government cultural investor in fi lm, television, new media and music, Telefi lm Canada is proud to be a contributing sponsor of the Victoria Independent Film & Video Festival. In order to underline its commitment to help a wider range of Canadian works connect with audiences, Telefi lm provides support for events that actively enhance the profi le of Canadian cultural products, showcase home-grown talent, provide regions of Canada with increased access to Canadian productions, and contribute to the development of a strong and sustainable domestic industry. On behalf of everyone at Telefi lm Canada, I would like to commend the artists, industry professionals, volunteers and organizers whose dedication and hard work have made
this year’s edition of the Victoria Independent Film & Video Festival a success. WELCOME Le Victoria Independent Film & Video Festival célèbre l’originalité et l’excellence des créateurs canadiens, favorisant ainsi une meilleure compréhension du Canada et de sa riche diversité culturelle. Le Festival off re également aux membres de l’industrie une occasion idéale de se rencontrer pour discuter des enjeux et des défi s d’aujourd’hui, tout en explorant de nouvelles avenues artistiques et professionnelles. En tant qu’investisseur public dans les domaines du cinéma, de la télévision, des nouveaux médias et de la musique, Téléfi lm Canada est fi ère d’être au nombre des commanditaires du Victoria Independent Film & Video Festival. Pour favoriser le succès d’un plus large éventail d’œuvres canadiennes auprès des auditoires, Téléfi lm accorde son soutien à des événements qui contribuent activement au rayonnement des produits culturels canadiens, qui off rent aux talents de chez-nous la chance de se distinguer, qui assurent une plus grande diff usion des productions canadiennes dans tout le pays et qui appuient le développement d’une industrie nationale dynamique et prospère. Au nom de toute l’équipe de Téléfi lm Canada, j’aimerais féliciter les artistes, les professionnels de l’industrie, les bénévoles et les organisateurs dont le dévouement et le travail ardu ont fait de l’édition de cette année du Victoria Independent Film & Video Festival un succès retentissant.
Enjoy the Festival! Bon festival!
S Wayne Clarkson Executive Director, Telefi lm Canada Directeur général, Téléfi lm Canada
19
GalaFEATURE • Canadian • World FILMS Perspective Next Wave • Midnight Madness Documentary Friday, February 4, 6:45pm @ CAPITOL 6
20 Saturday, February 5, 12:00pm @ CAPITOL 6
Gala
•
Jimmywork NFB cinéma vérité fi lms, Jimmywork is
FILMS fi lled with dramatic tension, as Sauvé’s Simon Sauvé unobtrusive eye infi ltrates a crime plot of uniquely Canadian proportions. With Quebec • 2004 • 81 min • 35mm Jimmy’s cast of interesting and engaging producer Patricia Diaz friends along for the ride, somewhat FEATURE BC premiere bullied into the proceedings, Jimmywork is a rare documentary that is both objective in its gaze and has a clear narrative trajectory, as we follow the plan for the Montreal and the rural St Tite Rodeo big heist. Sauvé adeptly stands back as Jimmy serve as the backdrop for Jimmy Weber’s latest and his crew invariably bungle the job, but not scheme. In this documentary by fi rst-time before working out every step of the heist to Canadian fi lmmaker Simon Sauvé, we follow perfection, while ignoring many key details this enigmatic protagonist who has endless that will ultimately prove fatal to the plan. ambition, but dishonourable intentions. At times a gourmet cat food maker and aspiring television commercial producer, Jimmy uses screened with his odd blend of charm and sleaze (what he smoothly calls “Jimmywork”) to attempt to Th e Man Without a Shadow make the big score. Although amoral, Jimmy L’Homme Sans Ombre is also sympathetic, and we fi nd ourselves Georges Schwizgebel rooting for this lovable loser. As his schemes Quebec / Switzerland • 10 min fall through, we learn that he is in debt to his family, and will need a substantial haul to repay A man makes a pact with a magician and swaps his shadow for riches. He soon discovers that the it. When it dawns on Jimmy that he can hold absence of a shadow can be a humiliating handicap. 12,000 cases of beer hostage for ransom, not After fl eeing to the far corners of the earth, he hurt anyone, and make the money he needs and ends up in Bali, in a theatre of shadow puppets, then some, the fi lm takes on the feel of a crime where he discovers the true worth of shadows. caper that we are fortunate to be watching. As well-made as any of the early 1960s Tuesday, February 8, 6:45pm @ CAPITOL 6
Friday, February 11, 7:00pm @ STAR 21
FEATURE
FILMS
• Cable Beach Canadian James Head and about his own father. Ultimately, Ben’s Victoria • 2004 • 95 min • digi beta persistence fi nds the truth producer Nora Arajs behind the two mysteries. writers William Th umm, Arthur Jackson Shot near Victoria in Saanich and other nearby Island locations, director James Head When Fisheries offi cer Ben crafts a deep mystery about a murder Sheffi eld (Chris Kramer) returns and a man’s past, with fully developed to his mother’s fi shing village on characters who must weigh contrasting Vancouver Island, he is thrust into the evidence. In Rashomon-like style, middle of a murder investigation that Head presents the murder from two has equally believable yet confl icting completely realized points of view, stories that force Ben to decide which the possible murderer’s and that of to accept. When local madman Kyle the victim’s wife. Th e viewer, and the Jenkins (Tygh Runyan) is found to be protagonist, are then given further involved, either marginally or centrally, elements upon which the truth can be in the murder of a local man, Ben’s revealed, or questioned. Additionally, investigation must not only examine Ben Sheffi eld fi nds himself in the the circumstances around the murder, midst of a long-standing family but also issues that relate to Ben’s own mystery, the truth behind which past and familial history. What soon is also revealed during the murder develops is a local conspiracy that investigation. Vancouver Island attempts to hide the truth that Ben has backdrops give Cable Beach has a local been seeking, both about the murder fl avor that dips into universal themes. 22 Thursday, February 10, 9:00pm @ CAPITOL 6
Angela)
FILM(replaced CANCELLED by
Canadian • Johnny Tootall
FILMS of Native traditions, culture and land, Shirley Chechoo put him at odds with Johnny, who is haunted by his experience in Bosnia. Victoria • 2005 • 90 min • beta sp Seemingly indiff erent to the plight of producer Danielle Prohom-Olson his people, and without regard for his
FEATURE writer Shirley Chechoo family’s past, Johnny has more to learn world premiere from RT than he thought was possible. When RT is framed for a crime and evades capture, it is only Johnny Yet another outstanding British who will protect him at all costs, ultimately Columbia feature fi lm at this year’s festival, proving his innocence. Johnny awakens to Johnny Tootall touches upon many aspects his role in his family and community, which of the long-standing and current fi ght of he embraces after fi ghting it for far too long. Native Canadians to preserve their land Shirley Cheechoo’s latest feature fi lm is and culture, while at the same time off ering one that off ers a depth of style and content a realistic portrayal of a crumbling family that makes it one of the most memorable whose relationships can only be remedied by Canadian fi lms in quite some time. Starring overcoming adversity. When Johnny Tootall Adam Beach (Windtalkers, Smoke Signals, returns to his British Columbia village after Mystery, Alaska, amongst dozens of others) eight years away in the army, including a as Johnny, the fi lm examines many of the stint in Bosnia, he realizes his family has issues that face Native Canadians and all not changed during his absence. Johnny’s families. Johnny’s rejection of his people’s brother, RT, has become the leader of a traditions and his own role in his family and Native blockade against logging, and upon his community are only reversed when he Johnny’s return, the confl ict is on the verge realizes that this is indeed his true home. of becoming violent. Th e angry and bitter With beautiful British Columbia scenery, RT’s resentment that Johnny did not return a well-developed script and fully-realized for their father’s funeral, coupled with his characters, Johnny Tootall is a not-to-be fi erce principles in regard to the protection missed addition to this year’s festival. Sunday, February 6, 7:15pm @ VCC
Saturday, February 12, 7:00pm @ STAR 23
FEATURE
FILMS
• Lies Like Truth Canadian
Michael Bateman in the murder, the mentally-fragile Danny. Always one-step ahead of Detective Brennan Victoria • 2005 • 94 min • beta sp (Nathalie Breuer), Kelly and Victor proceed to producer Peter C Campbell try to obtain what Kelly believes is hers. With writer Brian Paisley the addition of an unlikely co-conspirator, Lies world premiere Like Truth is one of the most fully-realized thrillers from Canada in a very long time. Th e direction of Bateman and the writing Another excellent British Columbia-produced of Brian Paisley is as hard-boiled as anything entry in this year’s festival, Lies Like Truth is an from best fi lm of fi lm noir’s golden age, 1940–1955. intensely plotted fi lm noir from fi rst-time feature Plausible plot twists, hard women and attitudes fi lm director Michael John Bateman. When Victor of selfi shness are just some of the many elements ( Joseph Kell) spends the night in the hospital that make this such a successfully rendered feature taking care of his friend Danny (Tom Scholte), he fi lm. With a crime investigation hanging over returns home to fi nd his wife murdered. Initially a the characters while they plot their next move, suspect, Victor soon takes up with Danny’s sister there is a constant tension that permeates every Kelly (Claudette Mink), who reveals herself to frame of Lies Like Truth. With an ending that be a femme fatale with all of the characteristics will surprise you while at the same time making to put her on par with the worst women of the perfect sense, this is one of the best Canadian 1940s. With several concise plot twists and well- feature fi lms at this year’s festival amongst a crop developed characters, this thriller melds into a plot of unanimously well-made home-grown fi lms. event that implicates the unlikely other suspect
presented by the Victoria Film Producers Association Saturday, February 5, 4:15pm @ CAPITOL 6
24 Tuesday, February 8, 9:00pm @ CAPITOL 6
Canadian • Th e Love Crimes
FILMS of Gillian Guess In his best fi lm in over a decade, Bruce McDonald Bruce McDonald returns to form with a fi lm as strong as Highway BC • 2004 • 93 min • beta sp 61 or Hard Core Logo, with Th e FEATURE producers Debra Beard, Rob Bromley, John Ritchie Love Crimes Of Gillian Guess that writer A Fraser proves to be his most ambitious and fully-realized fi lm to date. Employing a variety of styles and Few can forget the tabloid fodder that shooting techniques, with fl ashbacks used was Gillian Guess’s late 1990s walk on the to detail Guess’s childhood and teenage wild side. A juror on a major murder case in years, McDonald crafts a perfect blend of Vancouver, Guess had an aff air with one of fact, fi ction and humor to create his most the defendants during a trial that ended in entertaining fi lm. With much of the fi lm the defendant’s acquittal. Th ose are merely told by Guess as a confession to talk-show the facts; what became the story was Guess host Bobby Tomahawk (Hugh Dillon), herself, who proved to be a true larger- McDonald allows Guess’s motivations to than-life character, a woman who, despite be told fi rst-hand. Sympathy develops as the obvious wrong of her actions, was so we realize Guess was simply following her desperate for the spotlight that she proudly heart, albeit a heart that took her to places revealed the details of her poorly planned a more morally grounded juror might have aff air. Played perfectly by Vancouver’s resisted. In blending the facts with highly Joely Collins, Gillian Guess is portrayed stylized dramatic sequences, McDonald as the limelight-grabbing, yet sympathetic, presents a scathing critique of the current character at the heart of one of Canada’s cultural infatuation with reality tv. most scandalous stories of the past decade.
presented by Monday Magazine Wednesday, February 9, 9:30pm @ ODEON
Sunday, February 13, 3:00pm @ ODEON 25
FEATURE
FILMS
• Th e Limb Salesman a life at the family compound will bring her. Canadian Director and co-writer Anais Granofsky brings Anais Granofsky us one of the most beautifully shot fi lms of this year’s festival. Its vast snowscapes are constantly Ontario • 2004 • 80 min • 35mm off -set with the richly coloured Victorian interiors producers Nicholas Tabarrok, in this tale of forbidden love in a dystopian future. Anais Granofsky, Ingrid Veninger Th e themes of the human body as experimental writers Anais Granofsky, Ingrid Veninger receptacle are very Cronenbergesque in their ambition, and Granofsky has formed her ideas as strongly as any of Cronenberg’s best fi lms on Set in the Kafkaesque winter wasteland of this subject. Dr Goode’s method, which involves the future, in a time in which the world’s most turning dna into limbs, holds vast currency today valuable commodity is fresh water, Th e Limb when discussions of cloning and stem-cell research Salesman tells the story of Dr Gabriel Goode dominate the news and the political world. (Peter Stebbings), whose unique service provides artifi cial limbs that grow to become part of the recipient’s body. Th is sci-fi tale depicts a landscape screened with as desolate as that of the sensibility of the limb recipient’s father who is concerned only with Imprints the protection of the supply of water he controls. Empreintes Summoned to provide Abe Fiedler’s (Clark Jacques Drouin Johnson) daughter, Clare (Ingrid Veninger), with Quebec • 6 min a leg that will allow her to walk and dance again, Dr Goode fi nds himself in the midst of a family Drouin draws us into an unforgettable sensory experience. On the surface of a pin-screen he imprints dynamic that soon envelops him. With a family his desires and his intuitions. He positions the camera matriarch (played by Jackie Burroughs in her and the lighting so that the viewer can glimpse the most eccentric and powerful role since A Winter images hidden behind this mysterious barricade. Tan) as off -centered as the rest of the family, Dr Goode is surrounded in all corners by seeming insanity. He soon develops a deep love for Clare, and will do anything to rescue her from the fate
26 Monday, February 7, 9:00pm @ CAPITOL 6
Canadian • White Skin
La Peau blanche FILMS Th en Th ierry meets Claire (Marianne Daniel Roby Farley), an elusive and mysterious red- haired musician. Although Claire tries Quebec • 2004 • 89 min • 35mm to discourage his advances, an intense
FEATURE producer Daniel Roby carnal relationship begins. Th e attraction writers Daniel Roby, Joël Champetier is a highly uncharacteristic one for Th ierry, print courtesy of Seville Pictures who has always had an aversion to the pale, translucent skin that often comes with red Making his feature directorial debut, hair. In fact, everything about Claire is a little odd: Montréal fi lmmaker Daniel Roby puts a her sexual appetites, her mysterious ailments, her neat spin on the vampire myth blending bizarre family. Even more extraordinary is the horror with tasty social commentary and moment he realizes that it was Claire’s sister who after having done so manages to walk away savagely attacked Henri and that there seems to be with Best First Canadian Feature Film at more to fear about this family than Th ierry can see. the Toronto International Film Festival. La Peau blanche, based on author Joël Th ierry (Marc Paquet) and his friend spend Champetier’s novel, is a fresh, invigorating work, their spare time walking the crowded streets of mixing elements of science fi ction, romance Montréal discussing eveything from race relations and fantasy. Multi-layered metaphors steeped to philosophy. For Th ierry’s birthday, they decide in notions of racial fear pervade the fi lm, but to avail themselves of the charms of prostitutes they are delivered with a healthy dose of ironic but fun and games come to a sharp end when one humour and postmodern casualness. With of the young ladies becomes an unlikely attacker nods to everyone from Cronenberg to Polanski, suddenly pulling a knife and slitting Henri’s Roby’s situations, dialogue and characters throat. Surviving the attack the two proceed to inhabit a real world gone terrifyingly askew. concoct a story for their friends and families.
Thursday, February 10, 9:30pm @ ODEON 27
FEATURE
FILMS
Tideline • Littoral Canadian of followers who help him battle Wajdi Mouawad Syrian soldiers, venomous villagers and the psychological scars of war, Canada / France • 2004 • 96 min • 35mm fi nally fi nding peace for Wahab’s producer Brigitte Germain father and their own tortured souls. writer Wajdi Mouawad Mouawad, the well-known print courtesy of TVA Lebanese/French/Québécois playwright and dramaturge In Montreal, a Lebanese man is (who co-founded Montréal’s Th éâtre found dead, covered with snow. So begins Ô Parleur and was artistic director of a surreal odyssey for his Canadian son, Th éâtre de Quat’Sous), was a child Wahab who decides to bury his long exile, as is Wahab, the protagonist in absent father back in his homeland. Littoral, Mouawad’s fi rst feature fi lm. At the beginning of the fi lm Wahab In an apparent debt to the absurdist visits the rented room where his father playwrights that have largely defi ned spent his fi nal days. Listening to a contemporary theatre, Mouawad fi nds tape recording of the old man’s voice, a wonderful strategy to convey symbolic Wahab is transported to Lebanon images without obscuring the lively – literally. He opens the room’s door, narrative and dialogue that’s realistic then steps onto one of the Middle enough to carry a story as well as ‘deeper’ Eastern nation’s dusty beaches. meaning. But the war-torn country of Ghosts appear; family members scurry Lebanon has no room for another corpse, about like a colony of crabs by the water’s and Wahab is forced to embark on an edge. Wahab resolves to bury the body unexpected journey to fi nd a place for his in the town of his father’s birth but the father. In his fi lm debut, writer/director idyllic village he envisioned is instead a Wadji Mouawad parlays his Governor cesspool of hate, rubble, and death. Th e General’s Award winning play, Tideline, feckless Wahab somehow collects a band into the engaging feature, Littoral. Saturday, February 5, 1:00pm @ ODEON Saturday, February 12, 7:00pm @ ODEON 28 Tuesday, February 8, 9:30pm @ ODEON
Saint Ralph Show Me Michael McGowan Cassandra Nicolaou Ontario • 2004 • 98 min • 35mm producers Seaton McLean, Andrea Mann, Michael Ontario • 2004 • 97 min Souther, Teza Lawrence producer Howard Fraiberg writer Michael McGowan writer Cassandra Nicolaou
print courtesy of Odeon
Canadian
• a woman lucky enough to be (Adam Butcher) mother has been Meet Sarah, Ralph Walker’s awash in sanctuary and comfort. She has a luxury hospitalized and his father died long ago. Walker’s a car, a cabin in the woods and the reliable arms of smooth operator, sort of an Eddie Haskell type with the the one great love of her life: Sam. But if every FILMS adults but a complete loser with his peers. When his sanctuary is like a bubble that sets you apart from the mother goes into a coma, a kind nurse (Jennifer Tilly) world, then every sanctuary is doomed to burst. tells the boy that only a miracle will bring her back. Sarah’s off to meet Sam for a romantic getaway when When he is forced to join the track team, the two dirty squeegee kids named Jenna and Jackson come coach, Father Hibbert (Campbell Scott), jokes about into her life. Jenna and Jackson (Katherine Isabelle FEATURE there only being six months until the Boston Marathon. of Ginger Snaps and Kett Turton of Falling Angels), When Ralph asks if the team is going to run in Boston, abused and forgotten by the foster-care system, have Father Hibbert tells him he was only joking and that become twisted creatures driven solely by their own it would be a feat to rival the loaves and fi shes if any emerging sexualities, desires and phobias run amok. of his charges won. Th us, Ralph becomes committed Before you know it, Sarah’s being held up at knife point, to the idea of winning the Marathon and creating tied up at gun point and pulled into a living nightmare of the miracle that will restore his mom to him. desperation, incestuous love, and fi ght-for-fl ight violence. It’s a joy to watch Walker as, time and time again, And if a weekend could go anymore wrong for Sarah, he refuses to let his spirit be broken. He is aided by Sam has abandoned her for an ‘important’ meeting. Scott’s wonderful Father Hibbert, a free-thinking Th is is director Cassandra Nicolaou’s debut feature priest who likes to quote Nietzsche and concludes fi lm after many successful shorts and she’s really he chose to be a member of the wrong order. embraced the format and given her characters real room Saint Ralph is quintessential Canadiana. It’s to breathe and grow. Th e terror comes as much from the kind of fi lm that has the same sort of charm what the characters do to their friends as their enemies as the fi ction of Roch Carrier or the paintings and pretty soon nobody’s sleeping easy anymore. of Ken Danby. In short, it’s a crowd-pleaser.
screened with screened with Alien Trouser Accidents Semi Chellas Chris J Menlychuk Ontario • 5 min Alberta • 1.5 min “Th ere are three kinds of lies,” wrote Benjamin Disraeli, Th ey came from far away for a hunting trip and “Lies, damn lies, and statistics.” Short and light, comic celebrated afterwards at a cabin retreat. It just goes and bittersweet, Trouser Accidents will explore all three. to show you that jerks aren’t entirely earthbound.
Friday, February 11, 9:15pm @ CINECENTA 29
FEATURE
FILMS
•
Graveyard Alive: Canadian a Zombie Nurse in Love melodrama you might expect except Elza Kephart that a young man has wandered into the hospital with an axe in his head Ontario • 2004 • 90 min • beta sp and no apparent sense of pain. Before producers Patricia Gomez he kicks off , he’ll give Patsy one extra Andrea Stark, Elza Kephart special little love bite and before you writer Elza Kephart know it, Patsy’s suddenly sexing it up and BC premiere fi ghting rigor mortis at the same time. Nurse Goodie’s not impressed though. She not only wants the attention of all Slicing the line between 1920s German the men in the hospital, she wants Patsy out expressionism and 1960s B-horror with the of the way so she can be Head Nurse and she’s astute skill of a surgeon gone silently mad, willing to do anything to make it happen. comes Elza Kephart’s bold new skewering Kephart’s vision owes much more to of the classic horror conventions: Graveyard masters like Cronenberg, Argento and Lynch Alive: A Zombie Nurse in Love. Much more than Ed Wood but there’s no denying the than standard shock-schlock, this is a fi lm Ed Wood touch is there even if it is given which sharply aims art house sensibilities an Aronofsky treatment. Because the one straight into the arteries of pulp cinema. thing that Kephart clearly doesn’t have is Nurse Patsy Powers, romance novel Wood’s sloppy standards. Th e visuals alone of junkie and perpetual tv dinner victim, has Graveyard Alive will leave no room for doubt the standard schoolgirl crush all the hospital as to why this movie won Slamdance 2004’s nurses have on the dashing and virile Dr Dox. Best Cinematography award. Graveyard Alive However, Dr Dox is now engaged to Patsy’s is a sharp, tight, deep-dark comedy that could co-worker Nurse Goodie Tueschuze. What be straight out of a 1950s Hollywood studio follows might have all the Harlequinesque if it hadn’t been made 50 years too late. Friday, February 4, 9:30pm @ ODEON
30 Sunday, February 6, 7:00pm @ STAR
Canadian • Some Th ings
FILMS Th at Stay paintings. In 1954, Gail Harvey when her family moves to a rural Ontario • 2004 • 96 min • 35mm farmhouse in Sherman,
FEATURE producers Don Carmody, Catherine Gourdier NY, Tamara wants to writer Catherine Gourdier settle down and make (based on the novel by Sarah Willis) it home. As Tamara print courtesy of Odeon and her siblings grow to love their new neighbors and get Based on the New York Times’ their fi rst glimpse at a stable life, their acclaimed novel by Sarah Willis, mother is suddenly diagnosed with Some Th ings Th at Stay is a touching tuberculosis. Left to her own devices, coming-of-age story that unfolds Tamara struggles with her desire to within a picturesque, rural 1950s stay in Sherman, her fear of losing setting. Th e fi lm is wonderfully her mother and her anger at being directed by Gail Harvey, and pulled left in charge of two younger siblings together in the kind of kitschy 50s when her father is off painting. way that leaves you feeling warm Th is fi lm as a whole is quirky, and happy with well-shot, beautiful great fun and and off ers a profound images of a countryside that remain understanding of family dynamics. in your mind for weeks to come. Whether you are looking for an Fifteen-year-old Tamara evening’s entertainment, a powerful Anderson is tired of constantly coming-of-age story, or simply want moving in order for her father to fi nd to reminisce about life in the 1950s, new inspiration for his landscape I guarantee this fi lm is for you. Saturday, February 5, 7:00pm @ STAR
Monday, February 7, 7:00pm @ ODEON 31
FEATURE
FILMS
• World Perspective World
Two Great Sheep
Liu Hao does to keep the sheep comfortable and healthy, it seems to be a losing China • 2004 • 100 min • 35mm battle. If the sheep do not breed producer Lola and become the saviours of the writer Liu Hao community, Deshan will be seen as a (based on the novel by Xia Tianmin) failure, although he never asked for BC premiere such grave responsibility. Deshan’s struggle to protect and care for these sheep is an allegorical tale of the Chinese rural agrarian struggle. When the mayor of a rural and Director Liu Hao, whose previous impoverished Chinese village decides feature fi lm Chen Mo and Meiting took the answer for a much-needed agrarian place in the city, moves to the Chinese reinvention is found in the arrival of two countryside for his sophomore feature fi lm, prize foreign sheep, the villagers believe and the results are exquisite. With gorgeous they are in for a long period of prosperity. cinematography of the vast and barren Th e two sheep are put in the care of villager Chinese landscape, the fi lm’s minimalist Deshan (Sun Yunkun), who becomes a style echoes the villagers’ lifestyle, where celebrity in the village due to his new the security of a meal is the greatest daily responsibility. Th e sheep, though, soon prove goal. Heavily reminiscent of the Italian neo- to require constant care, including a special realist fi lms of the 1940s, Two Great Sheep diet, beautiful wall paper and a bed inside fl ows eff ortlessly to its unexpected climax. Deshan’s house. No matter what Deshan Saturday, February 5, 2:00pm @ CAPITOL 6
32 Wednesday, February 9, 7:00pm @ STAR
World Perspective World • Beat the Drum
FILMS David Hickson from his dying father. His South Africa / USA • 2004 • 113 min • 35mm courage and resourcefulness producers David McBrayer, Debbie McBrayer, are tested in the concrete Karen S Shapiro, Richard Shaw jungle of the big city. He FEATURE writer W David McBrayer fi nds himself surrounded Canadian premiere by violent street gangs and the indiff erence that keeps thousands of children From director David Hickson orphaned and homeless. His friendships comes this drama about a young with a local truck driver and a street- African’s cross-country journey. When wise young girl help him survive and his mother and father become victims confront the realities of the new plague. of ‘the curse’ which is destroying his Beat the Drum features gorgeous remote African village, nine-year-old scenery, fantastic cinematography by Musa, a Zulu boy, is determined to fi nd Lance Gewer and an incredible array his long-lost uncle and earn enough of great South African faces. Festival money to help his grandmother to buy audiences have been enraptured, which a new cow. Th e old one, that guaranteed bodes well for this fi lms future and it their survival, has been sacrifi ced in the has the potential for greater success than attempt to save Musa’s father life. Th e just the art house circuit. It’s impossible boy embarks upon a journey to the heart to deny Beat the Drum’s emotional of AIDS-torn Africa. After crossing the power which is heightened even more African wilderness, he fi nds himself into by the choice to focus the movie on a the teeming metropolis of Johannesburg. beatifi c young boy, Musa (Junior Singo). His only possessions are his wit, determination, and a small drum, a gift Thursday, February 10, 7:00pm @ ODEON Thursday, February 10, 7:00pm @ STAR
Saturday, February 12, 3:00pm @ ODEON Sunday, February 13, 9:30pm @ ODEON 33 FEATURE
(Sunday screening cancelled) @Festivbercine.ron FILMS El Mago
Gabriel Retes, •
Lourdes Elizarrarás Jaime Aparicio Perspective World
Mexico • 2004 • 98 min • 35mm Mexico • 2004 • 95 min • 35mm producers Mitl Valdez, Robert Fiesco producers Gabriel Retes, Lourdes Elizarrarás writers Jaime Aparicio & Enrique Rentería writers Gabriel Retes, María del Pozo Canadian premiere Canadian Premiere
An intimate and hilarious behind-the-scenes look When Mexico-city street magician at the inner workings of fi lm festivals, @Festivbercine. Tadeo (Erando Gonzalez) learns that he ron is a comedy about one man’s attempt to get his fi lm has a terminal illness, he chooses to take seen. Mexican director Pacheco has made an English- the smoothest way out rather than fi ght a language fi lm Welcome which he is trying to get shown likely losing battle with his sickness. With at Latin American fi lm festivals, and is met with chilly his ubiquitous blind assistant Felix (Gustavo receptions. Miraculously, the fi lm is accepted into a festival, Munoz), Tadeo continues his street act until and it soon becomes the joke of the festival. Pacheco’s he is too ill to do so. Th ese fi nal months of annoying, boorish and oblivious attitude alienates his life lead him to revisit his past, rekindle him further from the media and his peers, until the old friendships and romances, make amends suspicious interest in his fi lm from a major US director with those he’d fallen out with, and most gains him the respect from his fellow fi lmmakers. importantly, the adoption of a new family With all aspects of a fi lm festival revealed, from that provides Tadeo with the love his life has fi lm selection to schmoozing, @Festivbercine.ron is a lacked for so long. Finding this happiness and fully realized examination of the administrative side peace that he has been missing, Tadeo gives of fi lm festivals that the festival-goer rarely sees. himself a dignifi ed, and surprising, send-off . Shot mostly in the working class neighborhoods of Mexico City, El Mago screened with off ers a touching and uplifi ting story of reconciliation and the search for peace amidst Ryan crisis. Without shying away from the social Chris Landreth issues that plague urban Mexico, including Canada • 13.5 min petty crime, drug use, street violence and the exploitation of the Mexican working An animated tribute to Canadian animator Ryan Larkin. Th irty years ago, at the NFB, Larkin produced some of the most class, El Mago is a very welcome Mexican infl uential animated fi lms of his time. Today, he lives on welfare feature fi lm at this year’s VIFVF. Always and panhandles for spare change in downtown Montreal. entertaining, this is also a rare chance to see How could such an artistic genius end up on this path? the honest representation of urban Mexico. Wednesday, February 9, 7:00pm @ ODEON
34 Sunday, February 13, 1:00pm @ ODEON
World Perspective World
•
Th e Python FILMS Laila Pakalnina nurse, the army and the fi re brigade. When the Latvia • 2003 • 88 min • 35mm photographer arrives producer Laila Pakalnina to take each child’s FEATURE writer Laila Pakalnina yearbook photo holding either a monkey or a snake, chaos soon ensues, and the actions With an absurdist plot that to remedy the problems are as outra- is really more at the service of the geous as the troubles themselves. breathtaking visual style of the fi lm, With the plot acting as little Python off ers a clear example that more than a very loose platform for in the new millennium, Eastern the fi lm’s impressive visual style, the European cinema continues to elements of style and content soon be at the forefront of producing begin to contrast to great eff ect. stylistically daring fi lms. Taking place With long, well-planned tracking at a Latvian school, the basic plot shots reminiscent of Sokurov’s elements include a cold and matronly Russian Arc, Python’s chaotic events headmistress’s search for a tell-tale work in confl ict to the lyrical style stool, a school photographer who of the cinematography, and this loses a monkey and a snake, and the adds a greater element of depth to hunt for a possibly rabid beaver. Th e this absurd farce. Never dull, and additional cast of characters who always engaging, this excellent partake in this absurdist comical Latvian fi lm bodes well for a drama are the seemingly-oblivious continued excellence of fi lmmaking school children, the indiff erent school from the former Soviet Union.
Friday, February 11, 7:00pm @ ODEON 35
FEATURE
FILMS
• World Perspective World
Millions Danny Boyle from the sky. Damian, an odd little boy obsessed UK / USA • 2004 • 97 min • 35mm with the lives of saints, thinks that the money has producers Andrew Hauptman, come from God and wants to give it to the poor. Graham Broadbent, Damian Jones His materialistic older brother Anthony (Lewis writer Frank Cottrell Boyce McGibbon) just wants to spend it – preferably print courtesy of Fox Searchlight by diversifying their property portfolio! But how can an eight- and a ten-year-old hope to spend a quarter of a million quid in just over a week? Are you ready for a hold onto your hat, dig Etel and McGibbon are real fi nds, giving your nails in hard and swallow your tongue raw and honest performances that completely kinda fi lm as the director of Trainspotting, hold the fi lm together. Th ere are also memorable Vacuuming Completely Nude in Paradise and 28 secondary characters everywhere, as well as dryly Days Later explodes back on to the screen!?!! witty running gags in this whizzy, inventive fi lm. Well you can let go now because Boyle has Writer Frank Cottrell Boyce (Code 46, remade his image in the mold of an angelic 24 Hour Party People) obviously knows kids, young boy who’ll captivate you in this charming and his script is marvelous at capturing the comic fantasy. odd and funny things they say and do – both Th e story places the viewer in the North East Damian’s innocent otherworldly quality and of England, a few years from now. Britain is about Anthony’s slick, incongruous, regurgitation to convert to the Euro – secure trains crisscross of estate agent/accountant patter. the country taking euros to the bank and sterling Millions is lovely: refreshingly uncynical, funny to the incinerators. Eight-year-old Damian and moving – a fi lm about faith that doesn’t Cunningham (Alex Etel), sitting in his cardboard preach. Yet with its strong themes (and strong den by the railway line, is almost killed by an language) this isn’t a children’s fi lm at all! enormous bag of cash that appears to have fallen
36 Sunday, February 13, 7:00pm @ CINECENTA
World Perspective World •
Exist FILMS Esther Bell your middle-class existence and decide to put yourself in danger for the sake of people USA • 2003 • 80 min • dvcam halfway across the world?” Th e fi lm is an producers Esther Bell, Merlion intimate portrayal of two kids from diff erent
FEATURE writers Nic Mevoli, Ben Bartlett, Esther Bell backgrounds who are trying to live by their North American premiere political ideals and the obstacles that stop them. Starting with a script in hand Bell rewrote Director Esther Bell mixes actors and it with her actors – newcomers chosen for activists in Exist, a super-low-budget DV feature their activist backgrounds. Th e fi lm was about young Philadelphia squatters in the anti- made by a collective that, for all its guerrilla globalization movement. Th e fi lm unfolds as credentials, also included members like dp a mystery about a missing seventeen-year-old Tracey Goodwin, a former ac for Martin who may have come to harm at the hands of Scorsese and producer Isen Robbins, who got the police. Set in the trenches of America’s involved in post after seeing Bell’s raw footage. resurgent protest movement, Exist captures the essence of personal relationships in the midst of turmoil, and explores how far people will go screened with to be heard. But the strong suit of Exist is that the agenda doesn’t overwhelm the attempts Fishing with a Diff erence of political fi lmmakers to deliver a stong, clear Nick Versteeg message within the framework of narrative fi lm. BC • 10 mins Propelled by the the story of 500 kids arrested Who says you can’t make a diff erence? Food afi cionado for demonstrating at the 2000 Republican Nick Versteeg takes a look at one Prince Rupert National Convention, Bell wanted to pose fi sherman who’s learned that being environmentally the question: “At what point do you leave sensitive is not only smart, it’s profi table and delicious! Friday, February 4, 9:00pm @ CAPITOL 6
Sunday, February 6, 9:30pm @ ODEON 37
FEATURE
FILMS
• World Perspective World
Vares Aleksi Mäkelä in her dangerous pursuit of Russian mob money. Finland • 2004 • 110 min • 35mm Eeva, the soon to be producer Markus Selin bride of an imprisoned writer Pekka Lehtosaari Russian mobster (who’s stolen millions from his collegues) drags Vares into her scheme Jussi Vares is a private to claim half the stolen funds. detective whose business is more Based on the book by Finnish often handled in a pub than the novelist Reijo Mäki, Vares boasts offi ce. A law school dropout who great characters including his thinks that conventional rules are boozing buddy Luusalmi (Markku for those who lack imagination. A Peltola), Samuli Edelmann, a single man suff ering from midlife tough cop working on both sides crisis, Vares enjoys his beer and of the law, there’s the hilarious appreciates a pretty pair of eyes killer duo Hillosilmä-Munck and and legs when he sees them. Tetsuo Sinkkonen played by Pekka Aleksi Mäkelä, the director of Valkeejärvi and Kari Hietalahti the brilliant Th e Tough Ones and and the lovely Eeva herself. his last feature A True Story, off ers Vares is not just a detective us a great and stylish piece here. story, but a black comedy and Th e title character Vares ( Juha good old fashioned action movie Veijonen), sets out to help a woman as well as the fi nest pop-culture named Eeva (Laura Malmivaara) movie made in Finland in 2004.
38 Saturday, February 12, 9:30pm @ ODEON
World Perspective World •
Sex is Comedy FILMS Catherine Breillat chemistry between the lovers. In fact, the unnamed performers (Gregoire Colin and France / Portugal • 2003 • 92 min • 35mm Roxane Mesquida) seem to hate each other. producer Jean-François Lepetit It’s up to Jeanne to make magic out
FEATURE writer Catherine Breillat of bad-tempered reality. Th e situation print courtesy of Odeon is comically priceless, as Jeanne tries diff erent tactics, ranging from bullying to seductive, to get her young actors in the Sex is Comedy is a fi ctionalized re-creation mood. And then there’s the artifi cial phallus of Catherine Breillat’s experience making one of the male actor has to wear. “Th e Velcro’s her best fi lms, 2001’s Fat Girl – and, in particular, coming loose,” he complains just before a shot. staging a graphic and harrowing sex scene. Will Jeanne get her movie made? Will Th e confrontational fi lms of French director these actors ever do the right thing? Th e Breillat usually take on sexual politics the fi nale is a suspense-heavy scene in which old-fashioned way: her movies are strong, they a crucial lovemaking scene has to be roar, and they’re not funny. Th en there’s Sex completed in one, uninterrupted take. is Comedy, which, while not exactly a romp in the park, shows a beguiling aptitude for self-mockery in the pursuit of illuminating screened with her thoughts on art and human sexuality. Jeanne, a fi ctional director played with Element of Light fl irtatious intensity by Anne Parillaud (La Richard Reeves Femme Nikita) is making a movie on the Alberta • 4.5 min French Atlantic coast about young lovers in the A cameraless animated fi lm inspired by the primal heat of summer love. Th e problems are elements of nature on a journey through light, many. Th e weather’s freezing and wet, which form, and optical (scratched on fi lm) sounds. makes nude scenes on the beach less than sexy or romantic for cast and crew. Th ere’s zero
Tuesday, February 8, 7:00pm @ ODEON 39
FEATURE
FILMS
• World Perspective World
Th e Boys & Girl from County Clare player, Anne (Andrea Corr of the Irish pop John Irvin group the Corrs) goes against her mother’s wishes in order to fi nd romance with Ireland / UK / Germany • 2004 • 90 min • 35mm Jimmy’s fl ute player, Teddy (Shaun Evans). producers Wolfgang Esenwein And there’s plenty to sort out between Evzen Kolar, Ellen Dinerman Little the brothers. John Joe is a lifelong bachelor, writer Nicholas Adams still working their father’s old farm in print courtesy of Odeon County Clare; his band has won the top prize at Ireland’s largest folk festival two years running. He and Jim haven’t talked Th e Boys and Girl from County Clare for twenty-four years, during which time is a fun, entertaining and often hilarious Jim has married fi ve times while becoming a romantic comedy with something for everyone. millionaire builder in Liverpool, but now he’s Set in the late ‘60s, the story involves a pair put together a Celtic band of his own and aims of rival brothers each out to win the All-Ireland to win the trophy himself. Th e two feuding Traditional Music Competition in County Clare. brothers seem to stop at nothing to prevent the As defending champion, John Joe (Bernard Hill), other band from registering in the contest. gets his local Celtic band ready to compete, his Th e movie is full of high-jinx between the estranged brother, Jimmy (Colm Meaney), blows two brothers and the music in the movie is into town from Liverpool with his own band. terrifi c! Th ere were some priceless moments John’s pianist, Maisie (Charlotte Bradley), isn’t during the movie including a drunken Andrea happy to see Jimmy, who left her years ago with a falling into a river and also some touching daughter, Anne, to raise. Now the town’s star fi ddle heartfelt moments between Anne and her mum.
40 Sunday, February 6, 7:00pm @ ODEON
World Perspective World • Clean
FILMS Olivier Assayas their relationship is almost over. Th ey get into a France / UK / Canada • 2004 • 110 min • 35mm big fi ght at a hotel in Canada and Emily leaves producer Edouard Weil, telling him she does not want to see him again. Niv Fichman, Xavier Marchand Obviously they have been through this before, as FEATURE writer Olivier Assayas Emily returns to the hotel after a good dose of print courtesy of TVA heroin and a bout of sleep in her car. Returning to the hotel she fi nds the police in her room and Lee dead from an overdose. Th e police Most screenwriters and directors are arrest her on the spot and Emily is jailed for six simply not up to the task of making something months for possession and has to undergo detox. interesting out of seemingly disconnected scenes, When she comes out of prison, she has a though I can now add Olivier Assayas to the list of meeting arranged with Albrecht Hauser (Nick ‘A’ directors that can. Assayas’ latest eff ort is Clean, Nolte), Lee’s father, they must meet in order to sort and though the story has been told before, director/ out Lee’s inheritance, which includes Jay ( James screenwriter Assayas and Maggie Cheung know Dennis), the child he had with Emily. Emily to imbue Emily Wang with a very clear identity knows she has to better her life if she wants to be of her own (Cheung got the best actress award at able to take care of Jay, who, a judge has decided, Cannes last spring). Clean is constructed around will remain with Albrecht until Emily is more the powerhouse performance of both Cheung capable. She returns to her roots in Paris, where and an introvert performance by Nick Nolte, who her family is, and starts working in their restaurant. continues to impress with his delivery of words Assayas shows a remarkable intimacy with our that from any other mouth would sound hollow, multi-faceted nation, neatly contrasting Emily and but from his mouth acquire a sense of gravitas. Albrecht, frigidity and warmth, the bright lights Emily Wang is a Chinese girl living in Paris of Paris and a Pacifi c fi shing village. Luxuriating where she used to host an MTV-style music- in striking images, Clean is a stunning tribute programme on French tv before being swept off to reconciliation and new beginnings, and a her feet by Lee Hauser, a Canadian recording resounding testament to Assayas’ great talent and artist and producer. When we fi rst meet them, the extraordinary actors he directs so eff ectively.
Friday, February 4, 7:15pm @ VCC Saturday, February 5, 9:00pm @ CAPITOL 6 41
FEATURE
FILMS
Quite Ugly One Holy Cross
Morning •
Mark Brozel Perspective World Sam Miller UK • 2003 • 91 min • beta sp UK • 2004 • 102 min • beta sp producers Robert Cooper, Jonathan Curling producer Murray Ferguson writer Terry Cafolla writer Stuart Hepburn print courtesy of BBC Canada based on a novel by Christopher Brookmyre print courtesy of BBC Canada Th e story of sectarian violence in North Ireland may be old news to those of us lucky enough Th e scene: Edinburgh, a brutally murdered to live in a relatively stable country like Canada. doctor, a dodgy investigative journalist, the However, the story of Holy Cross has been winning attractive ex-wife of the dead man, a mad, scheming, awards from the UK to Chicago to Shanghai corrupt exec, a brutal thug who can’t stick to a and once you’ve seen it you’ll understand why. plan – Trainspotting meets Law and Order. In 2001, tempers fl ared at Ardoyne Road in Th e plot: Jack Parlabane ( James Nesbitt) has returned Belfast where a dispute arose concerning the from LA in a hurry. Nesbitt playing a journalist with a rights of schoolgirls from the Catholic Ardoyne really bad hangover (hence the quite ugly one morning) area of north Belfast to walk a few hundred yards walks into a neighbour’s fl at to fi nd him murdered, through the predominantly Protestant area of and not just murdered: really nastily murdered. When Glenbryn to the Holy Cross Primary School. But he shows little sign of shock at the gruesome killing what came to a head with violent protest and news of a respected doctor, Detective McGregor (Kevin headlines was many months in the making. McMonagle) suspects that he is the killer and Parlabane Holy Cross follows two regular working class whose journalistic instincts are in full throttle can’t families from two diff erent neighbourhoods caught suppress the urge to meddle and fi gure out whodunnit up in the crossfi re: the Nortons and the McClures. – along with the more mundane task of clearing his Th e McClures are Catholics and their daughters name. Th ere is something rotten in the state of Britain! Siobahn and Aofi e go to Holy Cross. Th e Nortons Meanwhile the instigator of the murder is are Protestants and they only live near Holy Cross trying to get back some vials that the hit man left but their son Peter is getting caught up in the behind and so begins a great spirited thriller. street fi ghting and its hard to discourage him Th e dialogue is a joy throughout and the plot crackles when Dad’s done time for the Protestant cause. along with confi dent gusto and intelligence. Violent, Although Holy Cross may be a fi ctional story set very funny, a comedy with political edge, Quite Ugly within the real events of Ardoyne Road and Holy One Morning is based on Christopher Brookmyre’s Cross Primary School, it smartly cuts in news footage best-selling novel of the same name. If you know with video diary footage and from-the-hip camera of the writer you’ll love the fi lm and if you haven’t angles to create a new reality. Th e truth behind the read this book or Boiling a Frog – now’s the time. fi ction seems all the more close to home for all of us.
42 Friday, February 4, 7:00pm @ ODEON
World Perspective World • Rory O’Shea
Was Here FILMS he changes the life of Connolly, Damien O’Donnell encouraging him to experience life outside the confi nes of ‘the system.’ Ireland / UK • 2004 • 104 min • 35mm Th ese two young men form a
FEATURE producer James Flynn, Juanita Wilson friendship that empowers them to look writer Jeff rey Caine beyond Carrigmore and its infl exible print courtesy of Odeon supervisor Eileen (Brenda Fricker). After the rebellious and outspoken Rory masterminds a fi eld trip to pub Th e winner of the Audience Award and nightclub, Michael is emboldened and at the 2004 Edinburgh International motivated to fi nesse an appeal to Ability Film Festival, Rory O’Shea Was Here is Ireland for a personal-assistance grant. His an extraordinary story of determination appeal is successful, enabling the two friends that fuses highly emotional drama with to move into a fl at of their own and recruit bracingly boisterous humour. Inspired by the the disarming Siobhan (Romola Garai) to experiences of real people, the fi lm follows assist them with their daily needs. Rory and two young men with physical disabilities as Michael both develop growing feelings for they band together and seize an opportunity Siobhan, and their rivalry for her attention to savour life on their own terms. only further accelerates their shared journey All his life, Michael Connolly (Steven towards true independence and liberation. Robertson) has lived in the residential I can’t remember the last fi lm I saw care of Dublin’s Carrigmore Home for the that took me through pretty much every Disabled. Michael has cerebral palsy, uses a emotion possible the way that this one motorized wheelchair, and has a signifi cant did. I was utterly impressed by the depth speech impairment. Most people fi nd it of the story and the characters involved. I diffi cult to make out what he is saying, could really feel for Rory and Michael and and simply stop trying. When the kinetic their optimism to make the best out of life Rory moves into a home for the disabled, should be such an inspiration to everyone. Saturday, February 5, 7:00pm @ ODEON
Sunday, February 6, 3:00pm @ ODEON 43
FEATURE
FILMS
• Primer Wave Next
Shane Carruth small group of men who work by day for a large corporation while conducting extracurricular USA • 2004 • 78 min • 35mm experiments on their own time in a garage. producer Shane Carruth While tweaking their current project, a device writer Shane Carruth that reduces the apparent weight of any object print courtesy of THINKFilm placed inside it by blocking gravitational pull, they accidentally discover that it has some highly unexpected capabilities – ones that Primer is a mesmerizing thriller that could enable them to do and to have seemingly introduces a gifted new fi lmmaker with an exciting anything they want. Taking advantage of this new sensibility. Th irty-one-year-old Shane unique opportunity is the fi rst challenge they Carruth, a former engineer who spent three years face. Dealing with the consequences is the next. teaching himself fi lmmaking, conceived, wrote, Challenging but worth the ride, you’ll be up directed, edited and scored Primer and also plays for hours discussing this one with your friends. one of the lead roles. His impressive feature It’s already won the Grand Jury Prize at debut – set in the very world Carruth abandoned Sundance and just won’t go away. It moves to make movies – tells the story of two engineers along, it’s clever, it holds your attention. who stumble upon a remarkable invention which Primer is utterly defi ant of the expectations changes their lives in unimaginable ways. Primer of the current traditional movie experience. It is engrossing and provocative in its exploration can’t resort to a beautiful cast, shiny special of the dark side of human nature and science. eff ects, gorgeous scenery – not on a budget Set in the industrial park/suburban tract- of just seven thousand dollars – and yes the home fringes of an unnamed contemporary city lighting and focus aren’t always perfect but where two young engineers, Aaron (Carruth) it just makes Primer a exquisitely diff erent and Abe (David Sullivan), are members of a movie, and furthermore, a movie that works. Saturday, February 5, 3:00pm @ ODEON Sunday, February 13, 9:15pm @ CINECENTA 44 Monday, February 7, 9:30pm @ ODEON
McDull, Eternal Present Prince de la Bun Otto Buj Toe Yuen Ontario • 2004 • 77 min • 16mm Hong Kong • 2004 • 78 min • 35mm producer Otto Buj Next Wave Next writer Otto Buj
• producer Brian Tse writer Brian Tse Western Canadian premiere
FILMS Take everything you know about, or have seen of, A fi lm unlike any other at this year’s festival, animation and throw it out the window. McDull, Prince Eternal Present is about a young obituary writer who de la Bun is unlike anything you have ever seen from soon fi nds himself at the heart of the very deaths this medium. Following the story of a little pig, McDull, about which he is writing. With an oneiric quality as he travels and learns about life, and learns about similar to David Lynch’s Eraserhead, fi rst-time director
FEATURE his absent father, the fi lm only uses a loose narrative Otto Buj has crafted a fi lm that draws on several trajectory. Th is fi lm’s story, however, is only a vehicle infl uences, and yet that is completely unique. Th e via which we are taken on a journey through some viewer will see and feel shades of the French New of the most whimsical landscapes and cityscapes ever Wave’s style (particularly Alphaville), Guy Maddin’s imagined. Although completely unique in style, the fi lm eccentricities, Hal Hartley’s ironic sensibility and the has very broad hints of the animation of Terry Gilliam pacing of early Jim Jarmusch fi lms, all without any and the recent hit Triplets of Belleville, but by mixing sense of imitation, but rather a sense of homage. styles ranging from cut-out animation to live action When the protagonist, Tim, begins to visualize the backgrounds, McDull, Prince de la Bun is one of the deaths he is to write about before they occur, it soon most original and innovative animated fi lms ever made. becomes clear that he has some role in their outcome. McDull is a completely mesmerizing fi lm Is he simply receiving premonitions of the victims’ that, it is just plain fun to look at. For those deaths, or is Tim a quasi-Grim Reaper who not only interested in a change from the current state of plays a role in the deaths, but who is responsible for American animated fi lms and those interested them? Possibly Tim, due to the macabre nature of his in cutting-edge art, McDull is a must see. work, simply loses his grip on reality and implicates himself in deaths that couldn’t be his responsibility. Th e fi lm takes on the feel of an existential mystery, screened with one for which, perhaps, there are no answers. Otto Buj makes a confi dent debut, and in A Memory a fi lm that is sure to inspire repeated late-night Mozaffar Sheydaei viewings, brings the festival one of its more BC • 10 min challenging and satisfyingly complex fi lms of 2005. An animated fi lm on the evolutional stage of the life cycle of a butterfl y with that of mankind.
Wednesday, February 9, 9:30pm @ ONE 45
FEATURE
FILMS
• Next Wave Next Public Lighting Mike Hoolboom All of the stories that follow share only her introduction in common. Th ere are no crafty Ontario • 2004 • 76 min • beta sp intersections of plot or character at work. Some producer Mike Hoolboom characters are actually seen on screen but writer Mike Hoolboom most aren’t. Some characters speak directly to the viewer, some use text to make their point and the lonely man in Hiroshima never says A writer, a jilted lover, Philip Glass in New York a single word. And yet, despite the apparent City, a Madonna fan with AIDS, a middle-aged unconnected-ness of it all, each story fi nds a way daughter half-a-world away from her parents, to become tied into the others by a common Hiroshima, Amy. Seven characters, six stories plus bond of pain but pain both bitter and sweet. one thread that binds them all. Th is is the world of If you’ve never seen a Mike Hoolboom movie Mike Hoolboom’s newest fi lm Public Lighting, an before, be prepared for unusual delicacy. His experience both sublime and diffi cult to describe. techniques may seem familiar – a fondness for Th ese six stories and six characters are then montaging found, created, and documentary framed by one more story. A story that only footage working together as a seamless whole. But introduces the others and yet silently over-arcs the thoughtfulness of his fi lmic ‘whole’ reveals so them all – the writer’s tale. Floating through the much of his own mind at work that by the end city as a disembodied voice, she explains her job of Public Lighting you will know Hoolboom as as a writer this way – there is a pain in the world a man fi lled with both deep compassion for the and it is her job to bring illumination to it. tragic smallness of human existence and an awe- struck wonder for the utter hugeness of it too.
46 Saturday, February 12, 11:30pm @ CINECENTA
Midnight Madness Midnight •
Harry Knuckles & FILMS
the Pearl Necklace supreme Johnny Vegas and Troma Film’s head Lee Demarbre schlockmeister Lloyd Kaufman along the way. True to the form of his previous hit Jesus Christ: Ontario • 2004 • 116 min • 16mm Vampire Hunter, Lee Demarbe still shoots and edits FEATURE producer Lee Demarbre on grainy 16mm fi lm with badly dubbed hand- writer Ian Driscoll sync’d sound. And although his style is both campy BC premiere fun and sly homage to the early chop-shocky fl icks, it’s still just a backbone for all the sight gags and one-shot parodies that are his true strength. And Bigfoot attack at the museum? An truly, there is still only one way to describe a Harry evil twin running amok in Ottawa? Fish Knuckles movie: the way famed now-defunct nunchucks? It can only mean one-thing: the fi lm critic Joe Bob Briggs would! So here goes… fu is back!! Harry Knuckles (aka, Phil Caracas, Harry Knuckles and the Pearl Necklace is aka Special Agent “Spanish Fly”) and director quite simply a double-deep-dish fu pizza with Lee Demarbe return to the screen once again a side order of BBQ fu and extra spicy fu and as always, they never disappoint. sticks. “Course ya, got your kung fu here and Bigfoot, the normally docile recluse of the your Santos’ Mexican-wrestle-fu. Plenty of chick Canuck hinterlands, has staged a daring smash- fu too, featuring extra virtual leopard-chick and-grab at the museum! So when two sexy fu and bikini-chick fu. Th ere’s also fi sh fu, art curators interrupt Harry’s fi shing trip to enlist fu, chainsaw fu, mustache-fu, gerbil fu, Korean his help, you better bet the man of action is on twin fu, ninja star fu, wedding fu, foot fu, atomic the case. But you know that nothing is ever that bomb fu, hockey fu, chair fu, ladder fu, paperwork simple and a diabolically devious double-cross is fu, schoolgirl fu, 80s New-Wave fu, kilt fu, rap already in the works. Harry’s gonna have a lot of fu, gun fu, sword fu, and yep… evil twin fu.” chops to bust before this fl ick’s over. Be on the Don’t miss it! look out for appearances by Ottawa’s lounge lizard
48
:pm Star Some Th ings Th at Stay · · :pm VCC Lies Like Truth · · · · · · :pm One shorts Sideshow Strangeness :pm Capitol Scared Sacred · · · · · · · :pm Odeon Vares · · · · · · · · · · · · :pm VCC I, Curmudgeon · · · · · · :pm One shorts Driven Out, Friday, February 4 Up and Away! · · · · · · :pm CAC classics Pure Comic Genius · Monday, February 7 :pm Capitol gala Jimmywork · · · · · · :pm Odeon Rory O’Shea Was Here · · :pm CAC classics Pure Comic Genius · :pm Star Beethoven’s Hair· · · · · · :pm Capitol Sight Pacifi c (NFB)· · · · · :pm VCC Quite Ugly One Morning · :pm Odeon Two Great Sheep · · · · · :pm Capitol Vares · · · · · · · · · · · · :pm Star Scared Sacred · · · · · · · :pm Odeon Some Th ings Th at Stay · · :pm VCC Soraida: A Woman
:pm VCC Drawing Out the Demons· of Palestine · · · · · · · GLANCE
:pm One shorts Neurosis-a-Go-Go · · A
Saturday, February 5 :pm Capitol White Skin · · · · · · · · AT
:pm Odeon McDull, Prince de la Bun · :pm CAC classics Animations Alive · · :pm VCC Inside Jewish Venice · · · · :pm Capitol Jimmywork · · · · · · · · :pm One shorts Visions Out :pm Odeon Show Me · · · · · · · · · of the Darkness · · · · · ·
SCHEDULE :pm Capitol Beat the Drum· · · · · · ·
:pm Odeon McDull, Prince de la Bun · Tuesday, February 8 :pm Capitol Th e Love Crimes FILM of Gillian Guess · · · · · :pm CAC classics Animations Alive · · :pm Capitol Born into Brothels· · · · · :pm Capitol Cable Beach · · · · · · · · :pm Odeon Primer · · · · · · · · · · · :pm Odeon Th e Boys and Girl from County Clare · · · :pm Star Two Great Sheep · · · · · :pm Star Rhythm Is It! · · · · · · · :pm VCC A Whale of a Tale · · · · · :pm VCC Ganges: River to Heaven · :pm Capitol Holy Cross· · · · · · · · · :pm One shorts Odd Compellings :pm Odeon Overnight · · · · · · · · · & Unknown Unknowns · :pm VCC Behind the Mascot · · · · :pm Capitol Th e Love Crimes of Gillian Guess · · · · · Sunday, February 6 :pm Odeon Show Me · · · · · · · · · :pm VCC Being Caribou · · · · · · · :pm CAC classics A Bright Shiny… Past?· · · · · · · :pm One shorts See What I Really Am· · · · · · · · :pm Capitol Behind the Mascot · · · · :pm Odeon Overnight · · · · · · · · · Wednesday, February 9 :pm Capitol Born into Brothels· · · · · :pm Odeon Primer · · · · · · · · · · · :pm CAC classics A Bright :pm Capitol What Remains of Us · · · Shiny… Past?· · · · · · · :pm Capitol Beethoven’s Hair· · · · · · :pm Capitol What Remains of Us · · · :pm Odeon Clean · · · · · · · · · · · :pm Odeon Th e Python · · · · · · · · 49
:pm Star Beat the Drum· · · · · · · Friday, February 4 :pm One shorts Cultural Explosion – Opening Gala Cultural Spectacle · · · · · :pm Hermann’s WebCam Girls · · · · · · :pm @ Famous Players Capitol :pm Capitol shorts Th e with opening fi lm Jimmywork Unwilling Witness · · · · :pm @ Laurel Point Inn ( Mntreal) , :pm Odeon Th e Limb Salesman · · · · a party, dj Tyger Dhula, R&B band, appies :pm One Public Lighting · · · · · · cash bar and surprises!
Thursday, February 10 Sunday, February 13 End of Festival Bash :pm Capitol InVision & FilmCAN · · · & Festival Awards :pm Odeon @Festivbercine.ron· · · · · ) :pm @ Reef Restaurant ( Yates :pm Star El Mago · · · · · · · · · · :pm One (check www.vifvf.com) Th e Festival’s lmsfi are juried and, of the works accepted to the festival,
:pm Capitol Johnny Tootall · · · · · · · FILM several are selected to receive an award :pm Capitol Angela · · · · · · · addendum (announced at the End of Festival
:pm Odeon Tideline · · · · · · · · · · e categories are: Star!TV Best
Bash). Th SCHEDULE Feature Film; Famous Players Award Friday, February 11 for Best Canadian Feature; CHUM Television Award for Best Canadian :pm Odeon Millions · · · · · · · · · · First Feature; CBC Newsworld Award ; Best Short; Best :pm Star Cable Beach · · · · · · · · for Best Documentary tion; and the Audience AT
:pm Cinecenta Mondo Plympton · · · · · · Short Anima
Favourite Award (don’t forget to vote!). A
:pm Cinecenta Graveyard Alive · · · · · · GLANCE :pm Odeon Mondovino · · · · · · · · Screening Venues Saturday, February 12 (map on page 1 ) :pm Odeon Rhythm Is It! · · · · · · · :pm Odeon @Festivbercine.ron· · · · · CAC Community Arts :pm Odeon Saint Ralph · · · · · · · · Council Gallery :pm Star Lies Like Truth · · · · · · 6G-1001 Douglas (Sussex Building) :pm Cinecenta Rosy-Fingered Dawn · · · :pm Cinecenta Hair High · · · · · · · · · Capitol 6 Famous Players Capitol 6 805 Yates :pm Odeon Sex is Comedy · · · · · · · :pm Cinecenta Harry Knuckles Cinecenta Cinecenta & the Pearl Necklace · · Student Union Building, UVic Hermann’s Hermann’s Jazz Club Sunday, February 13 753 View Odeon Odeon Cineplex Th eatre :pm Odeon Th e Python · · · · · · · · 780 Yates :pm Odeon Th e Limb Salesman · · · · One One Lounge :pm Odeon Mondovino · · · · · · · · 1318 Broad :pm Cinecenta Exist · · · · · · · · · · · · Star Star Cinema :pm Cinecenta Th e Eternal Present · · · · 9842 3rd St (Sidney) :pm Odeon El Mago · · · · · · · · · · VCC Victoria Conference Centre :pm Odeon Angela · · · · · · · addendum 720 Douglas
Friday, February 11, 9:30pm @ ODEON
Sunday, February 13, 7:00pm @ ODEON 51
FEATURE
FILMS
• Documentary Mondovino Jonathan Nossiter way: big conglomerates taking over smaller family farms, duelling ideologies, USA/France • 2004 • 120 min • 35mm bright young upstarts, a battle for a producers Jonathan Nossiter, Emmanuel Giraud village in France, a thousand-year-old writer Jonathan Nossiter name in Italy and so on. Nossiter also seems to have an obsession with dogs, which helps liven things up. While interviewing people, his hand-held Nossiter very deftly blends his camera roams around looking for a friendly investigation of the wine business into pooch to fl irt with – and everybody has one! wider concerns about globalisation, Nossiter clearly feels a great aff ection for
homogenisation, the eff ect of the mass many of his interlocutors and their opinions. presented by CBC Newsworld media, the power of capital and the need Others he skewers simply by letting them for diversity. It’s a great subject – old world speak for themselves. Th e result is a fascinating versus new world in the wine trade. portrait of egos at war with ideals; of moguls Th e topic is fascinating, and Nossiter really and dynasties struggling for ascension to digs into it, interviewing movers and shakers the apex of an industry that is at once a from France (de Montille and Guilbert) to vestige of ancient tradition and a revealing Italy (Frescobaldi and Antinori) to California barometer of global economic change. (the world-dominating Mondavi family) Nossiter punctuates Mondovino with lively to Argentina (Etchart). He also talks to the techniques that defi ne his investigative, well- consultants (Rolland), critics (Parker and natured – if slightly irreverent – point of view. Suckling) and importers (Broadbent). For Th is is a sprawling yet personal account of lovers of fi ne wine, here is the tasting to the behind-the-vines struggle for the future end all tastings, as Mondovino delivers the of an industry. Th e idea that the world is inside scoop on the wine industry, from shifting from family control to multinational the little guy to the big corporation. corporations is not limited to the wine industry, Th ere are several mini-dramas along the but it’s certainly demonstrated vividly here. Friday, February 4, 7:00pm @ STAR
52 Sunday, February 6, 6:45pm @ CAPITOL 6
Documentary • Beethoven’s Hair
FILMS Larry Weinstein before gracefully moving into a beautiful climax. Ontario • 2005 • 84 min • digi beta Th e overriding arc asks the intriguing producers Jessica Daniel, question: 170 years after someone’s death can Jody Shapiro, Larry Weinstein we learn something profound about their life? FEATURE writer Th omas Wallner Beginning with Ferdinand Hiller who fi rst (based on the book by Russell Martin) snipped a lock from Beethoven’s head we slip through time to visit with Dr Che Guevara, a particularly avid Beethoven-ite who’s on his Beethoven, through his music, never expressed way to his annual party for Beethoven’s birthday his suff ering but rather his transcendence from with a huge bas relief in tow. Guevara and Ira it and like a phoenix rising from the ashes he Brilliant (no I’m not making these names up!) comes back to life in this beautifully compelling have bought the famed lock of hair and so begins documentary from Larry Weinstein (Stormy our quest to discover whether it’s just a lock of Weather: Th e Music of Harold Arlen, VIFVF 2003). hair or the clue to the man himself. Could analysis Here Weinstein envisions a wonderful detective reveal the cause of suff ering from liver disease, story propelled by the simple act of cutting a jaundice, kidney stones, infections, intestinal snip of hair from Beethoven’s famous locks. pains and deafness? Or more astutely, reveal the Eschewing a straight linear narrative, capacity of Beethoven for life and for his music? Weinstein weaves back and forth in time and Capturing unguarded moments with collectors, space like a great movement from a Beethoven scientists and musicologists, Beethoven’s Hair symphony, building his story as the great composer wanders through history tossing out fascinating would have built his leitmotifs: framing the tidbits about a man whose music is so familiar force of the narrative then easing off to give us and important to so many cultures, and in a moment to absorb and refl ect, resolving the what can only be described as a miraculous way, story by balancing one passage against another continues to aff ect the lives of people today. presented by CBC Newsworld by presented
Tuesday, February 8, 7:15pm @ VCC Monday, February 7, 7:15pm @ VCC 53 FEATURE
Ganges: Soraida:
River to Heaven A Woman of Palestine FILMS
Gayle Ferraro Tahani Rached
•
India / USA • 2003 • 77 min • beta sp Ontario • 2004 • 119 min • beta sp Documentary producer Gayle Ferraro producer Yves Bisaillon North American premiere writer Tahani Rached BC premiere One of the fi nest additions to this year’s festival, Ganges off ers both a history lesson Soraida is a Palestinian woman who on the nature of Hindu spiritual ceremonies lives in Ramallah, in the occupied territories. and an in-depth examination of an essential Soraida captures her personal struggle to retain aspect of the Hindu life cycle. As elders her humanity in the midst of oppression. In in India approach death, their families her neighbourhood, the women do not all transport them to the city of Varanasi wear veils, the men do not rattle off empty (Kashi), where they live out their fi nal days political slogans, and the young people do not at the hospice Mukti Bahwan. Upon death, have bombs strapped to their belts. Life goes the ceremonies that bring the deceased to on despite the curfews and checkpoints that the afterlife are respectfully shown in Ganges. confi ne the people in a barless cage. Soraida From purchasing the cloth in which the invites us into her world, and that of her
deceased will be wrapped, to the acquisition family and neighbours. Th rough their simple, presented by CBC Newsworld of the wood for the cremation, to the fi nal everyday actions, we discover the worst thing cremation and spreading of the ashes, this about living under a state of siege: the loss rare look at Hindu traditions is unlike any of control over one’s own life. In this vibrant other fi lm of its kind. Here, in the Ganges plea against the occupation, Soraida shares (or Ganga), the dead fi nd Moksha, or peace, her refl ections on life in Palestine and her which is based on the deeds of one’s life, the refusal to give in to the hate and violence. notion of Karma. Coming to Varanasi is Everyday, Soraida is faced with the an essential element of achieving Moksha. confl ict between reason and sensibility, Beautifully and lyrically shot, Ganges between instinct and political uprightness. off ers an in-depth look at caste and Soraida off ers a new perspective about the gender roles in India, and how ceremonies, Palestinian confl ict, radically diff erent from particularly those in death, are essential the body counts which we have gotten for one’s peaceful journey through much too accustomed to. Sidestepping the afterlife. Th e role of the Ganges the usual stereotypes, this feature in Indian culture us revealed to be as documentary off ers a very human look at important as an aspect of the ceremony. what life is like in Palestine these days.
54 Saturday, February 5, 7:15pm @ VCC
Documentary
•
A Whale of a Tale FILMS Peter Lynch Lynch’s earlier Project Grizzly – in which he chronicled the Ahab-like quest of a Canadian Ontario • 2004 • 90 min • beta sp inventor to create a suit that could withstand an producers Ed Barreveld, Peter Starr, Peter Lynch attack by North America’s largest carnivore. FEATURE writers Peter Lynch Whale of a Tale diff ers from that eff ort, however, in that it is a tale of multiple obsessions. It is a kind of Roshomon tale, with the remnant of the dead- sea mammal having a diff erent eff ect on everyone Take one self-consciously world-class city and a who comes in contact with it. As such, Lynch tells seemingly-innocuous ‘found object,’ mix in an absurd an evocative story of diff erent realities, his lens broth of characters and agendas, and you have Peter wandering darkly from the depths of primordial Lynch’s Whale of a Tale, a fanciful documentary that oceans, to the strata of subterranean Toronto, to speaks to our gullibility and desire to believe tall tales. the dusty world of academia and ‘experts.’ In Whale of a Tale said object is a whale bone, incongruously discovered in the 1980s under the streets of Toronto – a thousand kilometers from screened with the ocean – during the construction of a streetcar extension from Union Station to the waterfront. Th e Mystique of the Truffl e As if awakened from hibernation, the bone would Nick Versteeg soon come alive as the center of a media storm. BC • 22 min Th e sometimes-hilarious cast of characters drawn It is amazing how many people still associate truffl es to it include a wishful paleontologist, an obsessed with chocolate! Did you know that truffl es are found debunker, some wildly unscientifi c journalists, a underground by a dog, and in the old days were found by police ‘bone expert’ and an erstwhile circus owner. a pig? It is truly fascinating how and where this ‘diamond Whale of a Tale is the latest stream-of- presented by CBC Newsworld by presented noir,’ as the French call it, is grown and found. It is also heightened-consciousness from Lynch (Cyberman, extremely intriguing to see how the truffl e has become a Th e Herd) a Canadian auteur whose style-heavy delicacy in fabulous restaurants where the chefs prepare approach is often compared by critics to that of this great fungus in the most wonderful creations. Werner Herzog. It’s an absurdist tale that evokes Sunday, February 6, 4:15pm @ CAPITOL 6 Friday, February 4, 9:30pm @ VCC
Wednesday, February 9, 6:45pm @ CAPITOL 6 55 FEATURE
What Remains of Us Drawing Out
the Demons FILMS François Prévost &
Hugo Latulippe David Vaisbord
•
Quebec • 2004 • 77 min • 35mm BC • 2004 • 78 min • beta sp Documentary producers Francois Prévost, Yves Bisaillon producers Stephanie Symns, Trish Dolman writers David Vaisbord, Jeanne Slater
For 50 years, the Tibetans inside the Nearly fi ve years in the making, and country have hoped that China would allow the incorporating footage spanning nineteen Dalai Lama to return. A small portable video years, Drawing Out the Demons is an artist’s player ended this half-century of absence. journey. With unparalleled access and active Filmmakers François Prévost and Hugo Latulippe participation of the artist, Vaisbord creates an joined with Kalsang Dolma, a Tibetan exile living uncensored and highly original work that off ers in Quebec to bring a message from the exiled Dalai a glimpse into Attila’s volatile personality. It Lama to ordinary Tibetans. Dolma smuggled into is an unfl inching, face-to-face look at one Tibet a videotape containing a message from the of the most gifted painters alive today. Tibetan spiritual leader urging his people to be Gifted artist, tormented soul, and egomaniacal true to the Buddhist ideals of compassion for your bad-boy, Attila Richard Lukacs used a strategy enemies and to continue their peaceful resistance. of moving to Berlin to gain fame before trying
Peasant farmers, sex trade workers, families and to take over Manhattan – the New York art presented by CBC Newsworld friends crowded around the tiny screen, as many see scene doesn’t like to discover ‘new artists’ second an image of the Dalai Lama for the fi rst time. But it hand. His plans to rule the world’s toughest art was a risky undertaking: the renowned monk, winner scene crash and propel Lukacs towards an artistic of the Nobel Peace Prize, is still viewed by Beijing as mid-life crisis. He spirals into depression and a threat to national security. Watching his message drug addiction, alienates arts associates, angers his in the remotest corners of the Land of Snows, the boyfriends and pushes away his saintly parents. people of Tibet respond with moving testimonies. For A gritty and compulsive examination of the many years, hope had not shown its face on this side extremes of artistic temperament, the story is set of the Himalayas. For one of the fi rst times, Tibetans against the backdrop of Lukacs’ school days at inside Tibet dare to speak in front of the camera. Vancouver’s Emily Carr Institute of Art & Design Th e only chance you will have to see this fi lm and his meteoric rise into the international art is if it is playing at a theater near you. For security world. His paintings – once the toast of Berlin reasons, it will never be released on video or DVD. and Toronto – shift and change in tone and Please be aware that security will be in place at the theatre to execution during his redemption and creative ensure that no recording devices including photo-taking cell renaissance, revealing an artist of uncanny ability. phones are allowed into the theatre. Saturday, February 5, 9:30pm @ ODEON
56 Sunday, February 6, 1:00pm @ ODEON
Documentary •
Overnight FILMS Tony Montana approval and fi nal cut and okays a deal for his & Mark Brian Smith band to produce and perform the soundtrack. But Weinstein has second thoughts – USA • 2003 • 82 min • 35mm sobered up, perhaps – and put the fi lm
FEATURE producer Tony Montana in turnaround, Duff y’s overnight success print courtesy of THINKFilm soon starts to crash and burn. It’s too late for Duff y, who’s started to believe his press clippings. Convinced that he It was one of those fabled Hollywood combines the fi lmmaking acumen of Hitchcock Cinderella stories: blue collar Boston twenty with the musical genius of Elvis, he pushes something, Troy Duff y moves west with on. Duff y grows increasingly outraged at every dreams of making it big with either his band, setback. He rants and threatens. People who don’t Th e Brood, or his tattered script Th e Boondock ‘appreciate’ him are dismissed as being disloyal Saints. Duff y instead fi nds work as a bartender (his family and friends) or stupid (everyone else). at a seedy West Hollywood dive. Th en fate From this point on, our curiosity is of the intervenes and Duff y gets his script into morbid variety. It’s like watching a runaway the hands of the right decision makers. train race down a mountain: we know that a Th anks to an imposing physical presence crash is coming; we just don’t know how many and devil-may-care attitude, Duff y is soon on casualties there will be. Smith and Montana the receiving end of an impressively lucrative never get comments from Weinstein, nor do movie deal and front page media coverage in they seem to seek them. All we get is a shot of Th e Hollywood Reporter, Variety and USA Today. Weinstein strolling the streets of Cannes, eating No doubt enchanted by the idea of unearthing an ice cream cone. He’s so tantalizingly close, the next big thing – Pulp Fiction with a heart – so seemingly accessible, and yet so far away. Miramax’s Harvey Weinstein not only off ers Duff y $1 million for his script but agrees to let him direct, gives him a $15 million budget, cast presented by Zip.ca
Sunday, February 6, 9:30pm @ VCC Tuesday, February 8, 9:30pm @ VCC 57 FEATURE
Being Caribou
I, Curmudgeon FILMS Alan Zweig Leanne Allison, Diana Wilson
BC • 2004 • 70 min • beta sp Ontario • 2004 • 94 min • digibeta • producer Tracey Friesen Documentary producers Kristina McLaughlin, Michael McMahon writer Leanne Allison, Diana Wilson
Well, we all know that we can’t all be happy Most of us will never explore the high arctic all of the time, right? How about if you were never wilderness. Consequently when we hear about the happy any of the time? I, Curmudgeon examines Bush administration plans to drill for gas and oil the world of the eternal pessimist, and yet the in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, we have fi lm focuses upon the elements of this negativity little concept of what would be lost. Not so, after that are most interesting, and, for the most part, seeing this fi lm. Th e great achievement of Being justifi ed. With a cast of characters including some Caribou is the seductive way it combines a gripping of the world’s most famous curmudgeons, including epic adventure tale with environmental advocacy. American Splendor’s Harvey Pekar, 60 Minutes’ Andy Newlyweds Leanne Allison and Karsten Heuer are Rooney, Kids In Th e Hall’s Scott Th ompson, and easy to identify with as they set out to accompany a other lesser-known, but universally identifi able herd of 123,000 porcupine caribou on their annual happiness-challenged folks, I, Curmudgeon presents migration from the Yukon to Alaska and back. Even
a darkly humourous portrait of why these people though the Bush plan – which has specifi cally targeted presented by CBC Newsworld are so, well, unhappy. “I’m not negative, I’m a the fragile area of their annual calving grounds frustrated optimist,” “If you want to hate the world, – would supply no more than a six-month supply there’s a lot to hate,” “What’s wrong with being of fuel needs for the US market, the government so diffi cult?” and “I articulate dissatisfaction with appears willing to risk a mass species extinction some consistency” are just some of the words of comparable to that of the bison. To call attention to wisdom by which this cast of social misfi ts live. this crisis, Allison and Heuer made their grueling Th e fi lm’s most important examination is 1500 km trip (as the crow fl ies) on foot and on skis the reason behind the unpopularity of why over tortuous trails and passes, schlepping 80 lb packs outspokenness is so frowned upon, and why this of camping gear, camera equipment, satellite phone honesty is punished. We are, the fi lm argues, a and solar panel (to recharge batteries), swimming society that would rather hear only what we want to 40 icy rivers, coping with grizzlies and mosquitoes. hear, and not the truth. Th e curmudgeons, though, While relating their day-to-day ordeals and triumphs, refuse to accept this standard; rather, their appeal they share with us the incredible wonder of such a to both Zweig and the viewer is their honesty. herd in migration and the unearthly beauty of this I, Curmudgeon is one of the most honest, and pristine arctic landscape with all of its creatures. We funniest, documentaries in this year’s VIFVF. know what is at risk and what needs to be saved. Sunday, February 6, 9:00pm @ CAPITOL 6
58 Monday, February 7, 7:00pm @ STAR
Documentary •
ScaredSacred FILMS Velcrow Ripper sacred through their art. Wherever Ripper goes, we meet people with incredible stories of BC • 2004 • 104 min • 35mm survival – the child soldier of Cambodia, the producers Cari Green, Harry Sutherland, Sufi musician banned from playing or listening
FEATURE Tracey Friesen to music by the fundamentalists, the mother writer Velcrow Ripper of an Israeli refusenik. What is the fascination of these stories and these sites? Why do tourists fl ock to them? Clearly the presence In Velcrow Ripper’s lonely, inspired, fi ve- of so much dark history opens us to our own year quest for the unknowable, he journeys to vulnerability – and that of others. Th is archetypal thirty of the major ‘ground zeros’ of recent world hero’s journey – much of which Ripper travelled history – the toxic wastelands of Bhopal, the and photographed alone – is stunningly beautiful, killing fi elds of Cambodia, Afghanistan, Sarajevo, full of fl eeting haiku-like images, accompanied Auschwitz, Israel, post- 9/11 New York. And in by haunting music and personal commentary. all these places of inconceivable human suff ering, he asks whether something positive, something hopeful, something good can come out of so screened with much evil. Some of his answers involve political action, people banding together like RAWA Welcome to Kentucky (the Revolutionary Women of Afghanistan) and Craig Welch the Bereaved Family Circle of Israel to struggle Quebec • 12 min against social and political injustices. Some On the screen a small fi sh is snapped up by a big answers call for a profound understanding of the one. A bigger fi sh snaps up the sun. Th is visual poem, forces at work in order to be able to prevent such hand-rendered in black-and-white drawings, invites horrors from happening again. Some, like those viewers to lose themselves in its singular beauty. of the Dalai Lama and the Zen master, seek a spiritual enlightenment. A couple in Bosnia are transforming the nightmare of Sarajevo into the presented by Village Saturday, February 5, 9:30pm @ VCC Saturday, February 5, 6:45pm @ CAPITOL 6
Sunday, February 6, 12:00pm @ CAPITOL 6 Sunday, February 6, 2:00pm @ CAPITOL 6 59 FEATURE
Behind the Mascot Born into Brothels
James Phillips, Doug Barber Zana Briski, Ross Kauffman FILMS USA • 2003 • 85 min • 35mm BC • 2004 • 90 min • beta sp producers Zana Briski, Ross Kauff man producer James Phillips, Doug Barber • writers Zana Briski, Ross Kauff man Documentary writer James Phillips, Doug Barber print courtesy of THINKFilm BC premiere
In Behind Th e Mascot, Doug Barber and British photojournalist Zana Briski James Taylor Phillips show us a side of sports to intended to record the lives of Calcutta’s which few of us rarely give consideration: the life prostitutes, but soon found that it was the children of the lowly mascot. However, in showing us who of the Sonagachi red light district – even lower is inside these costumes, entertaining us in virtually on society’s pecking order – who were more unbearable heat (and odor…), the fi lmmakers also accessible to her. Briski moved in and had the present everything we ever wanted to know about simple, improbable and altogether inspired idea mascots, and then some: how they are trained; of organizing a photography class. Th e seven what it takes to become a mascot; mascots for children, four girls and three boys, who are the businesses and political organizations; violence focus of Born into Brothels, were given cameras against mascots (more common than you’d think!); to take pictures of the world around them. Th eir origins of the mascot name (France) and their work provides the fi lm with some of its most
purpose. Th ese men and women must entertain beautiful and revealing images, off ering glimpses presented by CBC Newsworld legions of fans by communicating with their bodies, of life in the crowded, colorful alleyways of the and, as one mascot so memorably puts it, “my red light district that no outsider could capture. job is to live out their fantasies. What they get One of the students, twelve-year-old Avigit, arrested for, I get a paycheck for. Th at’s mascotting.” is a born artist. He’s happiest when he’s putting Behind the Mascot is a comprehensive look at his thoughts into colors, either painting or the icons we associate with our favorite sports shooting scenes of the incredible street life. He teams, businesses and social causes (including is invited to participate in a World Press Photo Broccoli Man’ and Phil the Syphilis Sore!) Foundation program in Amsterdam. Watching In tracing the origins of the North American him encounter the outside world is one of many mascot from the San Diego Chicken and the profoundly moving moments in the fi lm. Philly Phanatic, Barber and Phillips present Anyone who has ever thought that an always-engaging story of the importance documentaries lack the emotional impact, drama or of the mascot in our culture. As funny as any sheer moviegoing pleasure of fi ction fi lms will likely documentary you will ever see, this fi lm gives change their mind after seeing Born Into Brothels. a sympathetic treatment to people we rarely Winner of over 20 major Film Festival awards think about inside the mascots’ giant head. including winner of the Sundance Audience Award. Tuesday, February 8, 7:00pm @ STAR
60 Saturday, February 12, 1:00pm @ ODEON
Documentary
•
Rhythm Is It! FILMS Thomas Grube, With a specifi c focus on three disparate youth, Enrique Sánchez Lansch the fi lm follows their transformation, showing that music and dance can join them, and Germany • 2004 • 100 min • 35mm not separate them. As the dancers are issued FEATURE producers Uwe Dierks, Andrea Th ilo, Th omas Grube greater challenges to their abilities, they learn that with enough determination and encouragement, they are capable of anything. Structured as a linear narrative, following Sir Simon Rattle, the new conductor of the progress of the children, the fi lm also the Berlin Symphony Orchestra, is adamant provides a deep insight into why Sir Rattle that classical music is not only for upper crust. embarked on such a project. With a desire of Setting out to prove his theory, Rattle and a host bringing classical music to the “lower rungs of elite dance instructors embark on a plan to of society,” and consequently bringing these teach 250 youth, aged eight to twenty years old, lower rungs to the music, Rattle demonstrates to dance to Stravinsky, performed by the Berlin that societal boundaries are ably broken down Symphony Orchestra. Th ese 250 youth come with enough eff ort and concentration. As the from largely lower-class backgrounds, as well as 250 performers, who had never danced just six those exiled from their own countries, including weeks earlier, perform on stage in front of a Iraq, Iran and African nations. Rhythm Is It large crowd, the adrenaline fl ows, and these follows the rigorous six week training the kids neophyte performing artists could easily be are put through, kids who had no formal dance mistaken for professionals. With a stunningly training and, more importantly, no previous edited fi nal scene of the performance, the interest in dance. As they begin the training, culmination of weeks of work is fully realized. many lack confi dence and focus, but as the Th is uplifting fi lm about hope and challenge weeks go by, they learn discipline and become is another fi ne contribution to this year’s presented by CBC Newsworld by presented confi dent, appreciating what they are doing. excellent crop of documentaries at the VIFVF.
Saturday, February 12, 7:00pm @ CINECENTA Monday, February 7, 9:30pm @ VCC 61 FEATURE
Rosy-Fingered Dawn: Inside Jewish Venice
FILMS a Film on Terrence Malick Carlo Hintermann Luciano Barcaroli,
Italy • 2004 • 93 min • dvd Carlo Hintermann, • Gerardo Panichi, Daniele Villa producer Citrullo International Documentary writers Alessandro Blajimme, Carlo Hintermann Canadian premiere Italy • 2003 • 90 min • beta sp producers Alessandro Verdecchi, Samantha Gaetani Canadian premiere What is a city? Is it its sights and sounds? Is the Empire State Building New York? Is Chicago a gust of wind? Is Terrence Malick’s reputation as one of the Venice just a series of canals? Hardly. A city is its people most infl uential directors in American cinema and a city is never just one city – it’s the city it was, the city rests on just three remarkable fi lms: Badlands it is, and the city it will be. So step behind the signature (1973), Days of Heaven (1978) and Th e Th in Red boats and bridges of the Venice you think you know and Line (1998). Despite this modest portfolio, he is get to know a deeper side of Venice through its Jews. respected for his unique poetic and philosophical Carlo Hinterman’s Inside Jewish Venice has a kind vision and ranked among some of the best of dual citizenship going for itself. It is a fi lm with an fi lmmakers, including Arthur Penn, Sam equal interest in both its subjects: Jewish culture and Peckinpah, Quentin Tarantino and David Lynch. Venetian culture but it never distinguishes between
Th e epithet, ‘rosy fi ngered dawn’ marks the two. It is never specifi cally a Jewish or an Italian presented by CBC Newsworld the beginning of Odysseus’ journey in Th e fi lm but very much a fi lm about Venice as told by Odyssey. And so, Rosy Fingered Dawn is an apt Venetians who are defi ned by their Jewish heritage. title for a documentary about an infl uential Told by a chorus of voices, Inside Jewish Venice slides fi lmmaker who not only allies himself with from character to character around the city recounting the philosophers and poets of antiquity, but histories both personal and public. About topics as diverse who has been on a fi lmic odyssey that has as their faith, their families, their jobs, their public markets, fascinated fi lmgoers the world over. their education and even their favourite foods. Behind the Over 22 fi lm industry people participate camera’s eye we follow boats through the canals, children in the documentary, including actors Martin though the streets, and dancers through the squares. Sheen and Sissy Spacek (who starred in his Narrators sit in libraries, museums, restaurants, beaches, fi rst fi lm Badlands), Sam Shepard, Sean Penn synagogues, stalls, stores, graveyards and backyards while and Ben Chaplin, among many others. Each they give you a small slice of their life to savour and enjoy. person imparts his or her experience of Malick And from these many voices, Inside Jewish Venice fi nds as a director and cinematic visionary. Malick a completeness you might expect from any ensemble work himself, a very private man, does not appear in but it’s the kind that you see much more often in narrative the fi lm, yet gave his blessing to the project. ensembles than documentary works. And like a fi ne Italian — Barbara Black wine, the fi lm’s complexity may be deep and old but it still retains a delightful simplicity that makes it delicious.
63
SHORTS
Monday, February 7, 7:30pm @ ONE 65
NEUROSISAGOGO Little Boy Blue Blind Awake ARC Donna Barker Zsolti Varsanyi Steve Gelder BC • 8 min Alberta • 3.5 min USA • 30 min Over eleven million American A hypnotist fi nds himself enslaved Every morning in Los Angeles, the children took antidepressant drugs in in a ‘patient’s’ mental turmoil. sun comes up and Steve and Dean 2003. And the numbers are growing meet on a bench to drink beer and
quickly – particularly among children discuss life while the world passes SHORTS aged fi ve and younger. Little Boy Blue Consideration them by, literally. Steve is waiting blends startling statistics with expert Joel Bailey for some kind of catalyst to bring testimony, a mock public service USA • 12 min an ARC into his life, to propel him announcement and words-from- back into the arms of his wife, Kathy, the-mouths-of-babes to deliver a Set in the 1960s, Consideration who has run from LA back home to message that is a hard pill to swallow. is a young boy’s story about his Nebraska. What could a crazy guy loss of family and self-control. who shows up every morning at 9:21 possibly mean to that arc? And what LSD A-Go-Go will Steve and Dean do the morning Scott Calonico Th e Hill Skinny Jimmy doesn’t show on his USA • 9.5 min Deborah Chow appointed rounds? Featuring actors Ontario • 12 min and actresses who have appeared Th ings got a little out of hand in on Th e Sopranos, Seinfeld, ER, House the 1950s after the CIA embarked Jack and Jill went up the hill… of Sand and Fog, Th e Joy Luck Club upon the MV-ultra major drug but who came down fi rst and and more, this has been called ‘warm, and mind control program, and what happened next is up for funny and very human.’ Soundtrack studied the eff ects of LSD much menacing discussion. music by internationally renowned on themselves and others. composer John Cage, East Coast college faves Pico vs Island Trees, Bliss ‘80s Australian band Th e Sports and Hawaii Isabel del Rosal LA hip-hop/jazz artists Elements of Nick Schelle USA • 12 min the Outer Realm. A sweet, simple Victoria • 7 min fable about love, loss, insanity A couple comes home to seek and the need to communicate. Bobby is a sheltered boy who refuge in the darkness of the dreams of playing outside. Much night. Seemingly injured, bloodied to his delight, the dreary world and spotted with dirt, they around him begins to unravel. methodically take action to return Come unwind in Hawaii. to normalcy – if you can call it that. 66 Monday, February 7, 9:30pm @ ONE
VISIONS OUT OF THE DARKNESS
In the Dark Dead Broke A Tale of Bad Luck Ho Tam Patrick Hasson Brad Peyton Victoria • 6 min USA • 12 min Ontario • 8 min Made in the year after SARS, In the Rodney found himself staring at A second short from the director of Dark revisits the images collected the cats, eating their gelatinous the VIFVF fav Evelyn: the Cutest from the Toronto newspapers. All we seafood bounty. He thought to Evil Dead Girl. Set in a discarded toy can see now is the darkness of a time himself… how low can I go? dump and using silent fi lm motifs passed, a city under attack, politicians Patrick Hasson’s clever black comedy and title cards, the visually lush A scrambling, citizens living in a state Dead Broke is about a man at the Tale of Bad Luck is the stop-motion of fear, distrust, paranoia and shame. end of his rope. Rodney is out of animated odyssey of a bear named Th e dark ages at times thinking work and shares a house with hostile Ted as he searches to the ends of the we would never come out of it. roommates and their creepy cats. earth for his one and only love, Dolly. Poor starving Rodney is so desperate he’s reduced to eating canned cat White Light food – something the cat’s are not too Raven Tales happy about – and soon we’re witness SHORTS Simon Reynolds Simon James Ontario • 7 min to a hilariously paranoid clash of wills BC • 22.5 min between man and feline. Director White Light is a simple tale about Hasson employs perfect cinematic Raven Tales is based on the our inability to see the meaning technique to tell his suspenseful famous Haida story of how the of our lives until it’s far too late. comedy: he shoots the entire fi lm Sun was stolen by Raven and his Sean is sick and tired of being a through fi sh-eye camera lenses. Th is cohorts, Eagle and Frog. It is a junky; he and his pal Jason decide visual distortion is an excellent funny, engaging and ultimately to go on a cold turkey retreat. But expression of Rodney’s unstable heartfelt tale fi lled with comedy, heroin withdrawal turns out to be a psychological state (reminiscent of drama and even a bit of slapstick. torturous experience, and Sean fi nds John Frankenheimer’s thriller Seconds). himself cornered into a confrontation It also allows us to glimpse a reality with the deepest revelation of from the cat’s point of view. Quick Two Winters: Tales his life. A tight, harrowing ride cut editing and a spookily expressive from Above the Earth through hell and heaven. soundscape also clue us into what the cats are thinking. Never has a descent Carol Geddes into madness been so entertaining. Ontario • 26 min Dear Aaron In fact, this movie is so eff ective Th e Tutchone people of the Yukon Tristan Steiner that from now on the fi lm world tell of a time when winter lasted Ontario • 12 min may have to change the name of the almost two years. In the early 1800s ‘fi sh-eye’ lens to that of ‘cat’s-eye.’ a volcanic eruption in Indonesia Dear Aaron is the dark story darkened skies around the world and of a young man struggling to the indigenous peoples of Canada understand himself in a world fought to survive a year with no he cannot agree with. summer. Th is is the imaginative animation inspired by that true story. Tuesday, February 8, 7:30pm @ ONE 67
ODD COMPELLINGS & UNKNOWN UNKNOWNS
Don’t Mouse Around Zushi Klanglabor SHORTS Jeremy Bailey Carolina Felix Thorsten Nesch Ontario • 3 min Germany • 4 min Germany • 10 min An exhausted performer is A woman, some sushi and Brave new notes and bold poked and prodded by a swarm some potential sushi. invigorating visions of music from of computer cursors. Why is Germany’s SoundLab music project. the performer so tired? Maybe because he’s spent the last 48 hours Inamorta animating cursors to lift his body. Adrienne Butcher, Secrets for Sale Jeremy Bailey is a video artist. What Chris Sexsmith Elodie Pong does that mean? He uses his video Victoria • 7 min France • 64 min camera and a computer to make art. It’s as simple as that. Which is what Experimental fi lm which explores In Secrets for Sale, Elodie Pong buys is so great about Don’t Mouse Around. a woman’s inner dialogue and secrets from people who wander into Bailey is not trying to pull the wool psychological disturbances as the her art installation and the result is over your eyes and use Hollywood world around her stares at her intense. Th e secrets that are confessed, magic to allow you to escape into unusual looks and behaviour. whether they are petty or powerful, another world. Bailey wants to ambiguous or sincere, reveal so much show you who he is and what he’s about the participants and makes doing because that’s interesting in 10 one question what kinds of secrets itself. Just a guy with a camera being Dana Claxton we are withholding and why? Th en manipulated by his computer. Run for Ontario • 7.5 min the selling of these secrets provokes your lives, the digital age has arrived! further questions about what is for Ten little Indian boys, an Agatha sale and how do we put a price tag Christie redux… or is it? Her popular on what is (supposedly) personal? play may be a staple of repertory theatre and mystery movie fans but there’s much more than just a sinister plot at work here – much more. 68 Wednesday, February 9, 9:00pm @ CAPITOL 6
THE UNWILLING WITNESS
Soldiers and its heroic protagonists Milo 55160 Quadrilateral are Faulkner’s loving homage to David Ostry Cuadrilatero those who would sacrifi ce their lives Ontario • 20 min Jose-Carlos Ruiz and family ties for the freedoms that America enjoys today. Milo 55160, heaven’s loneliest Spain • 16 min bureaucrat, meets Will, a boy who Four characters with no name, is struggling to stay alive on earth. incapable of expressing their feelings, Th rough My When Will disappears, Milo embarks love each other without being loved. on a journey through the afterlife Th ick Glasses that changes him forever. “Imagine Pjotr Sapegin your fi rst glimpse of Heaven as Sara Goes to Lunch Norway / Canada • 13 min a sterile processing centre where SHORTS there are long line-ups and where Dean Kapsalis It’s Norway, and it’s winter. To Kafkaesque bureaucrats stamp forms USA • 20 min convince a short-sighted little girl to put on her cap before going out all day.” Th is is the opening of Milo Sara’s lunch hour is easily the to play, her grandfather tells her a 55160, written and masterfully directed best part of her day. But she gets story: his personal history of WWII. by David Ostry, a graduate of the more than she ordered when she’s Brimming with strange characters, Canadian Film Centre. Our hapless served up a surprising special his tale conjures up a world hero Milo is one such bureaucrat in this darkly comic fable. drone – a cog-in-the-machine, beyond the girl’s comprehension. milquetoast who is blandly proud of Th is story combines the best aspects being employee of the month. But Two Soldiers of visual and verbal ways of telling one day a little boy appears at Milo’s a story. Th e audience will be drawn desk and changes everything… Th is Aaron Schneider inside to view the horror and beautifully controlled production USA • 40 min betrayal of war under the guise of a childhood tale. Th e clue is in the boasts Kubrick-clear cinematography, 2004 Academy Award Winner thick glasses the child plays with to sharp editing, antiseptic art direction for Best Live Action Short and a very good cast of actors. Ostry’s focus or blur our vision when we expert direction makes maximum Based on the short story by William peer out through her eyes. We have use of silences (and memories of Faulkner, Two Soldiers is the story clear glimpses of the real perils of falling snow) as Milo confronts of two otherwise inseparable war while the children make a game the Angel of Death and goes on to brothers, pulled apart by war. Set on of it. Th e wonderful design and stand up for the little boy’s right the eve of America’s involvement acting of the characters, the gentle to return to earth. Haunting music in WWII, Faulkner’s story of soft voice that tells an astounding by Avro Pärt is perfectly expressive love, loyalty and duty, resonates as tale of complexity in a completely of Milo’s emotional awakening. meaningfully today as it did in 1942, unassuming manner join together to when it was originally published form a near perfect fi lm experience. in the Saturady evening Post. Two
Sunday, February 6, 7:30pm @ ONE 69 SHORTS SIDESHOW STRANGENESS
stance that Canadian fi lm has several Inhaling the Spore: Weird Sex & unique characteristics, including A Journey through Snowshoes fascinations with survival, reactions to the Museum of Jill Sharpe our powerful neighbour to the south Jurassic Technology BC • 60 min and a willingness to take artistic risks. A tradition of artistic expression is Leonard Feinstein Fresh, fast paced and funny… yes something all Canadians hold close USA • 36 min funny! Weird Sex & Snowshoes is to their hearts and it translates into a must see fi lm for any fi lm buff s Like the fi rst museums of the 17th our fi lm culture. Th ere are so many and/or Canadian citizens. Showcasing century, the Museum of Jurassic fi lms out there that we hesitate to more than 70 Canadian fi lms and Technology suggests a modern-day see because Canadian fi lm has such a interviews with twenty-one of the ‘cabinet of curiosities,’ fi lled with strange reputation, but this doc opens most prominent Canadian directors juxtapositions of the genuine, the the door and says to people, “Look including Victoria favourite Atom strange and the truly unexplainable. what we have – we have an amazing Egoyan, Lynne Stopkevich, Denys As its founder, David Wilson range of fi lm and it’s fantastic.” Arcand, Guy Maddin and Robert reveals, “We like experiences that LePage. It’s a documentary that will break the hard shell of certainty.” open our eyes to what’s under our Inhaling the Spore explores how this noses: great cinema with a perspective remarkable museum inspires us that’s all our own. Weird Sex & to wonder at the marvels of man Snowshoes is based on the book of and nature, and wonder whether the same name by Vancouver writer any of it could possibly be true. Katherine Monk who is also featured. Weird Sex & Snowshoes takes the 70 Sunday, February 6, 9:30pm @ ONE DRIVEN OUT, UP AND AWAY! Th e Remaining Days A Miracle Last Day on Earth Simon Olivier Fecteau Daniel Barrow Alan Bacchus Quebec • 8.5 min Ontario • 2.5 min Ontario • 9 min While cleaning out his closet, a very Since 1993, Daniel Barrow has used an Last Day on Earth is a science fi ction old widower fi nds a list of things overhead projector and adapts comic drama about an alien visitor on the he wanted to do in his life. Seeing book narratives to a “manual” form eve of returning to space. He discovers that he might not have much time of animation by projecting, layering he has fallen in love with humanity. left, he decides to carry them out, and manipulating drawings on mylar But is it too late to save the planet? in his own way… Th e Remaining transparencies. A Miracle, is a music Days is a comedy, with some very video created for Toronto-based “gay poignant moments, and real laughs church folk” musicians: Th e Hidden Sin Embargo in its short running time. Th e fi lm Cameras, which documents Barrow’s – Nevertheless opens with an old man, struggling performance methods. Th e story of with the loss of his wife, who fi nds the video features a young boy lying Judith Grey his list of “things to do before I in bed, using the light of the moon Cuba / USA • 49 min die” while going through some old to make shadow puppets on his After the revolution of 1959 and photos and memories. Th e fi rst on bedroom walls. While experimenting the US embargo that followed, the his list – have children – seems with forms, he summons the spirit people of Cuba were left to fend impossible at his age, but this is no of a huge fruity, bird-like creature for themselves. Deprived of even ordinary old man. So out he goes, with the silhouette of an owl, and the the most basic goods, they scavenge buys a heat lamp and an egg, and feathers of an ostrich. Th e creature the alleys and scrap heaps, giving is on his way to having children, shares a brief, sensual exchange new vitality to the discarded. except that this child is a bird. Th e with the boy before swallowing Th eir recycled products are often second item on his list: play with the him whole and then regurgitating, remarkably ingenious and creative. For Symphony. Again he accomplishes twisting and compressing him Andrs the sculptor, Tomas the canary this by thinking outside of the box, into a gizzard-shaped ball. breeder, and the other subjects of bringing his violin and playing from
SHORTS Sin Embargo – Nevertheless, even the the audience. Every item on his greatest pressure – whether levied by list is accomplished with grandeur Winky government or circum stance – cannot and steadfastness. Th e Remaining Scott Amos crush the spirit nor quash the desire Days shows us that big budget Victoria • 3.5 min to forge a better life for themselves and a long run time isn’t needed and their families. Shot entirely in with a good, well executed idea. A hitchhiker fi nds that his Cuba, Sin Embargo – Nevertheless is imagination can take him further a look into the hearts and dreams than the cars that pick him up. of struggling peoples and a tribute An Archetypical to their optimistic and resourceful Room all right determination to survive. Juror Shirley Phyllis Bulkin Lehrer Goldberg notes, “Fascinating mix of USA • 2 min Aleesa Cohene Rube Goldberg-style contraptions, Ontario • 7 min modernist art, alternate lifstyles, A video poem about obsession with human resilience and ingenuity. material surface. Using camera What’s really heartbreaking is all Cuba really is a parallel reality.” stop motion within computer 2d right. It’s so refreshing to see an drawing the work, an element experimental video with a political of a larger installation piece, has message that is so moving. It uses Veggie Van Voyage a dual function analagous to found footage from Canadian Immigration offi cer training videos, Josh Tickell the mind/body dichotomy, a USA • 12 min theme central to Leher’s work. sound clips from news broadcasts, and scenes from horror fi lms to send Go on a fossil-free road trip a clear message that our criteria for across the USA on vegetable oil. judging what a new Canadian should be is so misinformed that it’s tragic. Tuesday, February 8, 9:30pm @ ONE 71 SEE WHAT I REALLY AM Ancient Marks Strongest Man Bad Hair Day Ethan Boehme Jeremy Bailey Meesoo Lee USA • 12 min Ontario • 4.5 min BC • 6 min World-renowned photographer, A man, a cam, a simple plan. VIFVF’s favourite video artist Chris Rainier journeyed through six returns with this short insight into continents and into more than thirty the true pain of parent and child countries over a span of seven years Our Love relations as they relate to coiff urism. to photographically document the Noelle Rees traditional and modern uses of tattoo BC • 5 min and scarifi cation. Th e culmination of Color of a Doubt: Rainier’s extensive work on this topic Love is pure; the most powerful an urban fable is being published as a book titled, emotion experienced on diff erent Ancient Marks: the Sacred Origins of levels. Love is primal. All Jason Garrett Lewis, Tattoos and Body Marking. Rainier’s humans have the capacity to Pornsak Pichetshote Ancient Marks project has continued to give and to receive love. USA • 24 min evolve into a fi lm collaboration with Too often the only thing you see is director/editor, Ethan Boehme and everything you can’t. Chris Parker is music composer, Anoushka Shankar. Riding Shotgun a photographer who’s been slaving Th is stylized short fi lm, uncovers J M Finholt over his latest set of photos, pictures the intriguing world of tattoo and USA • 19 min capturing the vibrant colours of scarifi cation through rare, beautiful the city, brilliant hues that people and stunning images, revealing the Brian Wallace is a cameraman for are consistently overlooking and intrinsic connection between culture the hit tv show, Riding Shotgun. A ignoring. Th e problem is, even right SHORTS and the tradition of body marking as minute ago, he was hauling ass down there, captured on actual fi lm, he’s a form of initiation, beauty and highly an alley, trying to keep up with two still the only one who sees them. Is ritualized ornamentation. Anoushka cops chasing some gang members. there such a thing as imaginary Shankar, the celebrated daughter of Th en he made a wrong turn, and got color? If ‘pink’ is the new ‘black’ then legendary sitar virtuoso, Ravi Shankar, separated from the damn cops. Now ‘busy’ must be the new ‘happy.’ Harris composed and produced a beautifully there’s a knife at his throat, and he’s Kincaid said it, so it must be true. haunting soundtrack supplementing face to face with a notorious young Harris Kincaid is an actor, writer, the intensity of the black and white gang leader named Magic. For the fi lmmaker and artist; don’t believe images. Ancient Marks transcends rest of the day, Brian will fi nd himself it, just ask him. Harris Kincaid is cultural stereotypes to create a rolling with Magic and his gang, also obnoxious, loud, and very, very lingering sense of fascination with irresistibly caught up in their struggle annoying; don’t believe it, just listen the human mind, body and spirit. to solidify a permanent truce with an to him. So why is he also the only enemy gang. Before the opportunity is person who can see the colors Chris is destroyed by those who are blind to it. talking about? Th e answer starts with Begin to Begin one wrong glance in a story about Hee Joo Yoon questions and doubts, contradictions Ontario • 20 min Th e Shirt and perceptions; an urban fable about Shelly Niro how people perceive color‚ in a story Jake is heartbroken, when once Ontario • 6 min told entirely in black and white. again a two year friendship that he thought was going somewhere, Th ere are things that landscapes suddenly ends. In denial of his fear and bodies fail to express about our of another rejection Jake decides lives, our histories and our families. not to get involved with any female Th ankfully, there are t-shirts! friends. Th en Nicole comes into his life and causes a big turmoil. 72 Wednesday, February 9, 7:30pm @ ONE
CULTURE EXPLOSION CULTURAL SPECTACLE Sneakers rebel against the establishment. As Falang: Behind
SHORTS of the early 1960s, sneakers were used Femke Wolting by numerous countermovements to Bangkok’s Smile Netherlands • 52 min express their beliefs; sixties greasers, Jordan Clark seventies punks and of course the Th e footwear that dominates the Victoria • 48 min hip-hop b-boys of the eighties. Each streets today is unmistakably the world premiere movement chose their own brand sports shoe. Or sneaker, as the and model of footwear and even the Producer/Director Jordan Clark takes invention of shoes sporting a rubber way they were worn was dictated by a walking tour with his camera-eye sole are commonly known. Th ose the specifi c subculture. Skateboarders on a one man/one bargirl through very few non-sportswear types out rooted for VANS because they Bangkok and the various levels of there will certainly label all those were comfortable and cheap, the prostitution from basic bargirls who sneaker fans out there as hopeless eighties b-boys weapons of choice merely pour you a drink and smile fashion victims or easy-going slackers. were white Adidas shelltoes worn nicely to money-for-sex relationships But everyone that has ever set foot without the laces as was customary to straight up hooking on both sides in a sneaker store is bound to have in US penitentiary facilities. Th e of the gender line. Falang: Behind caught a glimpse of an encoded world documentary Sneakers aims to expose Bangkok’s Smile is a daring and where a complex game involving the mechanism that made the unabashed look at ourselves through subcultures and identities is being sneaker what it is today. Although a the eyes of one South East Asian played. Once a shoe bearer has shoe is just an inanimate object, its bargirl, in an honest, morally gripping made his or her choice, they will cultural meaning is complex. An story, which challenges the worldwide be categorized by that same world interaction between alternative, accepted practice of sex tourism. at a glance: mass-consumer or real independent sports, music and street sneaker freak, skater or hip-hop cultures on one hand and the clever gangsta, old school or high-tech, marketing strategies of the large trendsetter or follower. Besides acting sports shoe brands on the other as a signifi er of a person’s identity, hand have increased the sneaker sneakers have also served as a tool to hype of the late twentieth century.
Join Now and Get Shooting! Amazing member r ates on workshops, equipment & post-productions suites Workshops • Screenings Avid • Pro Tools • Final Cut Pro DVD Studio Pro • Motion • After Effects Cameras • Lighting • Sound Equipment Check us out at www.cineworks.ca CINEWORKS INDEPENDENT FIMMAKERS SOCIETY SUITE 300 – 1131 HOWE ST. VANCOUVER, BC V6Z 2L7 TEL 604 685 3841 FAX 604 685 9685 EMAIL: [email protected] 75
TributeSPECIAL to Bill Plympton EVENTS • Sips ‘n Cinema Godzilla vs Tatu • Film Classics Triple Shot Talks • Sight Pacifi c InVision & FilmCAN • Open Cinema Paintings from Film Interactive Futures • Film Forum
Friday, February 11, 7:00pm @ CINECENTA – MONDO PLYMPTON
Saturday, February 12, 9:15pm @ CINECENTA – HAIR HIGH 77
SPECIAL
EVENTS
• • A
A TRIBUTE TO BILL PLYMPTON T RIBUTE
He’s back – two evenings with Plymptoons. 1990. Plympton animates and compiles his funniest Hair High
animated Bill Plympton takes us and strangest gag cartoons (from
through his life and career as a Rolling Stone, Playboy, Penthouse USA • 2004 • 75 min TO
cartoonist and animator, surveying and National Lampoon). director, producer B his complete animation from & writer Bill Plympton
Faded Roads. 1994. A country ILL the 1980s and 1990s, followed song about life on the highway, by his new feature Hair High! searching for lost love. With a tip of the hat to Carrie, Hair P High is an American Gothic high-school Th e Wiseman. 1990. To create the comedy chockfull of the weird sex, bizarre LYMPTON Mondo Plympton wacky dialogue for this fi lm, Plympton imagery, over-the-top set pieces, creepy programme totals 81 min researched Hare Krishna, New Age monsters and sweet romance we’ve come Living brochures and soap operas. to expect from the excessive auteur. You’ll laugh, scream a little, marvel at the mascot’s 1987. As a second-rate Your Face. Push Comes to Shove. 1991. Laurel huge erection, go “Ewwwwww, gross” a crooner sings about the beauties and Hardy were the inspiration couple of times, wipe away a tear and then of his lover’s face, his own face for this madcap escalation of laugh some more. Th is is a perfect fi rst- metamorphosizes into the most surreal physical humor and violence. date movie for the alternative crowd. shapes and contortions possible. Cherri and Rod rule their domain as the Nosehair. 1994. Th is epic battle Draw. 1990. Winds moan across reigning high-school king and queen. When between a man and his nasal follicle the new kid, Spud, off ends them he is forced the desert, empty save for two escalates to world-war proportions. desperadoes. A shot reverberates to become Cherri’s slave. In the best meet- the still air and fi nds its target. cute romantic tradition, their initial hatred Plympomania. 1996. All the stuff transforms into everlasting love. Th ey decide form Fox TV’s show Th e Edge. How to Kiss. 1989. One of to attend the prom, but their plans go fatally the wackier ‘How To’ fi lms ever Smell the Flowers. 1996. A awry when Rod discovers the arrangement. made. Th is short shows all the busy executive gets a visit His murderous jealousy turns true love to bizarre pitfalls of ‘sucking face.’ from a nature-loving bird. tragedy as he forces their car into a lake. Th ey sink to the bottom locked in a fi nal Boomtown. 1983. Th e absurdities How to Make Love to a embrace. One year later, the submerged car of military spending from the Woman. 1995. We’re talking emerges and the (soggy and decomposed) Cold War to the present. naked bodies and hot emotions lovers head for the prom to fi nish their date. here. Watch for the famous and A distinguished voice cast includes One of Th ose Days. 1988. What outrageous erect nipple scene. David Carradine, Keith Carradine, would it be like to live the most violent Beverly D’Angelo and Ed Begley Jr. and accident-fi lled day imaginable? plus excerpts from live-action features: J Lyle. 1993. Guns screened with Ways to Quit Smoking. on the Clackamas. 1995. 1989. A few of the demonstrated smoking ‘cures’: wear a heat-seeking plus rarely seen tv ads, both Guard Dog. 2004. Why do dogs bark missile hat; hire a sumo wrestler banned due to violence: at such innocent creatures as pigeons to jump on your head; and use Oregon Lottery: Blackjack. and squirrels… what are they afraid of? a fl amethrower as a lighter. Solofl ex Fitness. Th is fi lm answers that eternal question.
Tuesday, February 8, 5:30pm @ TEMPLE (followed by screening 7:00pm @ ODEON)
Thursday, February 10, 5:30pm @ TEMPLE (followed by screening 7:00pm @ ODEON) 79 SPECIAL
SIPS ‘N CINEMA
EVENTS A triple treat of fi ne food, And local wine purveyor Strath where the wines are from, how they fi ne wine and fi ne fi lms – along Ale, Wine & Spirit Merchants were made and off er food pairing with great company!! (from the Strathcona Hotel at 919 suggestions. Gourmet appetizers Th is intimate evening’s host is Douglas) will be on hand pouring and ambience provided by Temple. S • Times-Colonist fi lm writer Michael a fantastic selection of wines from Advance tickets D Reid who will lead a discussion their diverse portfolio for you to only ($20 each IPS
around the evening’s feature fi lm. sample. Th ey will also talk about night), available at the ‘
Festival box offi ce or Bolen N Books, which includes the C
evening at Temple with wine, INEMA food, fun and the fi lm.
Tuesday, Feb 8 Th e Boys & Girl from County Clare discussion 5:30pm at Temple screening 7:00pm at Odeon fi lm description page 39
Thursday, Feb 10 @Festivbercine.ron discussion 5:30pm at Temple screening 7:00pm at Odeon fi lm description page 33
Friday, February 11, 9:00pm @ THE FIFTY FIFTY 81
– vs –
SPECIAL
GODZILLA VS TATU EVENTS
Movies are to be seen in to the traditions of mainstream of live soundtracks by hip indie
a theatre with soft drinks and cinema. It’s best enjoyed in a more musicians, neat video installations G • popcorn and apparently life-sized ‘experimental’ environment where and triple-screen-projected
cardboard cutouts of the characters you can chose between sinking in a short videos infl uenced by the ODZILLA inviting you inside. Th at’s all bean bag chair, lying on the couch, likes of James Bond, Godzilla, good, but new experimental fi lm or leaning against the bar. Godzilla strange singing politicians and and video is best not confi ned vs Tatu will be a boogie experience our favourite Russian duo, Tatu.
All of this in a place where
you can let your hair down. VS T
Friday, Feb 11, 9:00pm ATU at the fifty fifty fl icks Security Anthem Kent Lambert Automatic Music Meesoo Lee Play Lisa Lounila Audition Tape Benny Nemerofsky Ramsey Destroy My Tokyo Tasman Richardson Super Extra Plus Alissa Firth-Eagland Disunion of the Union of Suff ering Wenhwa Ts’ao U Yuri A
Fri Feb 4 – Wed Feb 9, 12:00pm @ CAC 83 FILM CLASSICS
Free screenings of fi lm classics (approx hour programmes) run at noon at the Community Arts Council Gallery (CAC).
Friday, Feb 4 & Monday, Feb 7 Pure Comic Genius! a Charlie Chaplin triple SPECIAL bill of one reelers!
Easy Street
One am EVENTS Rink
Saturday, Feb 5 F • & Tuesday, Feb 8 Animations Alive! ILM various ‘unknown’ animations (including NFB, Pixar & C
Norman McLaren classics) LASSICS Adventures of a * ‘E’ “The true foundation of a home Evolution isn’t built from concrete alone.” George ’n Rosemary Big Snit Chairy Tale
At VanCity, our purpose has always been working with people and commu- Knick Knack nities to help them thrive and prosper. Not only can we offer day-to-day banking and investment advice, we also offer financial services expertise Sunday, Feb 6 brought right to you, on your schedule. A VanCity mortgage specialist will & Wednesday, Feb 9 meet with you – wherever you are; whatever you’re doing – even outside of normal business hours.They’ll offer a range of flexible mortgage options A Bright Shiny… at highly competitive rates, customized for a fit that’s just right. Past? Ahh… the remembrance of years gone by. But were ‘the To find out more, call Crystal Shimizu at 250-661-0968. good old days’ always so good? Crystal Shimizu Haunted Spooks VanCity Mortgage Specialist Spartree Phone 250-661-0968 My Financial Career Fax 250-383-8337 Toll-Free 1-866-323-8383 Th e Awful Fate of Email [email protected] Melponemus Jones vancity.com/mortgages Debts One Million BC
Fri Feb 4, Mon Feb 7, Wed Feb 9, 4:00pm @ SOLSTICE CAFÉ 85 TRIPLE SHOT TALKS Th is intimate series of free- wheeling conversations with people who make movies is designed to satisfy the tastes of fans and fi lmmakers, buff s and professionals
alike. Informative, anecdotal, funny, SPECIAL provocative, full of the kind of valuable wisdom that comes from
serving on the cinematic frontlines,
Triple Shot Talks will explore EVENTS how a good movie evolves from inspiration to script to screen and what drives that creative evolution. Conversation will be steered by T • our host, Monday Magazine Arts Editor John Th relfall, who will RIPLE share coff ee and talk with guests before opening the session to
the audience for questions. S HOT
Fri, Feb 4, 4:00pm T
Jimmywork ALKS Simon Sauvé’s unobtrusive eye infi ltrates a crime plot of uniquely Canadian proportions. fi lm description page 52 Mon, Feb 7, 4:00pm Beethoven’s Hair Larry Weinstein envisions a wonderful detective story propelled by the simple act of cutting a snip of hair from Beethoven’s famous locks. fi lm description page 52 Wed, Feb 9, 4:00pm Cable Beach tea | aromatherapy | spa & Johnny Tootall Join Nora Arajs (Cable Beach) and Danielle Prohom-Olson featuring all natural products made fresh in victoria (Johnny Tootall) as they discuss their fi lms and shooting locally. 1624 GOVERNMENT ST CHINATOWN VICTORIA fi lm description page 21 and 22 WWW.SILKROADTEA.COM 86 Monday, February 7, 6:45pm @ CAPITOL 6 SIGHT PACIFIC NATIONAL FILM BOARD OF CANADA AT THE VICTORIA INDEPENDENT FILM AND VIDEO FESTIVAL
SIGHT PACIFIC: OFFICIAL NFB SELECTION A Program of Shorts from NFB Pacific & Yukon Centre Being Caribou Leanne Allison and Diana Wilson ACIFIC February 7, 2005 at 6:45 pm
P at the Capitol Theatre#6 Empreintes/Imprints
Jacques Drouin IGHT from the Picture This Program L’homme sans ombre Georges Schwizgebel • S • Suckerfish Lisa Jackson Studio GDS/ONF Lolo’s New Home Arlene Ami Exit Kingsway Trish Dolman Ryan Is This Your House Velcrow Ripper Christopher Landreth EVENTS Fragments of Proximity Rafi Spivak Copper Heart Entertainment/NFB
Sponsored by NFB Pacific Centre & Scared Sacred Yukon and British Columbia Film. Velcrow Ripper
SPECIAL Producers on Davie/NFB from Shortz Soraida, une femme de Palestine Jenny’s Deli Rachel Moore Tahani Rachid I Almost Drowned Rick Raxien Things Were a Little Backward Mike Geiger Through My Thick Glasses I Made Something of Myself Chad Sorensen Pjotr Sapegin As the Wheel Turns Tim Packwood Pravda/ONF Random Acts of Silence Jay White Walking Catfish Blues Sponsored by NFB Pacific & Yukon Centre, Paul Morstad CBC Television’s ZeD and British Columbia Paul Morstad/NFB Film. Welcome to Kentucky From Our City, Our Voices Craig Welsh
Follow the Eagle and Slo-Pitch A Whale of a Tale Kamala Todd, Project Director Peter Lynch Storyline Entertainment/NFB Part of Storyscapes, a project initiated by the City of Vancouver
www.nfb.ca Thursday, February 10, 6:45pm @ CAPITOL 6 87 Wandering
Storm Island SPECIAL Jonah Friedman Alexander Livingston I NVISION BC • 3 min USA • 12 min is a collection of fi lms
by up and coming student A farm girl is confronted by In a remote island community
a storm (represented by giant off the northeast US, in a F ILMCAN EVENTS fi lmmakers who show for creatures) that brings both house where time seems to is an opportunity remarkable promise and local high school students have made an impres- destruction and fertility. stand still, a mother and son drift apart in the wake of (from Claremont, Esquimalt, sion on the jurors. During tragedy. Th is visually striking Mt Doug, Parklands, tonight’s presentation, the Tahara poem poses the question as Reynolds, Specturm, and I • Best Student Short Award to whether leaving home is Vic High) to create a short
will be announced and the Sara Rashad running away or moving on. N video from beginning to end V $500 prize will be awarded. USA • 18 min and have it screened at the ISION Tahara is a dramatic narrative Vic Independent. Guided fi lm portraying the harsh reality Heaven is by mentors Brian Paisley
of female genital mutilation a Place Th at (Narrative), Mandy Leith F & Spin (FGM) on the psyche of a Starts with ‘H’ (Documentary), and Grace David Marmor young woman. Th e story deals Salez (Experimental) the USA • 15 min with an Egyptian housewife, Tricia Lee teams workshopped their ILM Amina, living in Los Angeles, Ontario • 14 min ideas and then went on to
After a near-fatal accident, who must decide if she will CAN A quirky fi lm about connection, create the world premieres a scientist’s growing follow tradition and circumcise you will see here tonight. obsession with the physics her daughter, Suha, or if she aff ection and belonging. A of mortality threatens to will abandon this age-old look at a slightly dysfunctional unravel the fabric of his life. cultural practice and save her family through the eyes of a daughter from the physical and precocious ten-year old girl. psychological horrors of FGM. Wednesday, February 9, 88 7:30pm @ HERMANN’S OPEN CINEMA Open Cinema and the Vic Independent present WebCam Girls Aerlyn Weissman
BC • 52 min • 2004 producers Harry Sutherland, Cari Green, Frank van de Ven,
INEMA Aerlyn Weissman
C writer Aerlyn Weissman PEN Meet the new digital
• O • generation of women in cyberspace. With a modem and some moxy, they’re taking on our old ideas about
fame and shame, and opening up EVENTS
a space for new art forms, virtual pornography and internet celebrity. Watch some of the pioneers and the outlaws from the femcam
SPECIAL frontier, Ana Voog, the fi rst art/life web cam, Ducky Doolittle, sexologist, and burlesque queen, Terri Senft, internet cultural critic and Dionne Loewen, ethical porn producer, as they reveal the world of micro-celebrity and cyberloving. Today’s web cam girls run sophisticated websites that integrate web cams, online diaries, or ‘blogs,’ chat rooms, and a variety of visual displays, from thumbnail images to Flash animations. Compressing weeks of archived images into head spinning animations, creating instant art, incorporating sound, text, hyperlinks and streaming video, WebCam Girls shows you the leading edge of a newly emerging woman-run internet culture.
Director in attendance. Party to follow screening and discussion. Fri Jan 28 – Wed Feb 9 @ CAC 89 PAINTINGS
inspiredFROM by local filmmakers’ FILM short films
Harley Smart SPECIAL Ben van Netten Christopher
Shoust & Peter Allen EVENTS
Th e artists explore P • various processes of creating
two dimensional works of AINTINGS art from fi lm and video. Th e works are a tribute to the local fi lmmakers and an attempt to highlight the fi lms artistry.
Th e exhibition will pose FROM questions relating to the permanence of fi lm and its
historical legacy verses a low F
tech medium such as painting. ILM
opening reception Friday, Jan 28, 7–9pm at CAC Gallery free with wine by Strath Ale, Wine & Spirits and artists in attendance 90
Interactive Futures is a forum \for showing recent tendencies in new media art as well as a conference for exploring issues related to technology. The theme 3.30–5.00
UTURES FRIDAY, FEB 4 of this year’s event is Technology in the Life World. @ LAUREL PANEL F Within this broad thematic Interactive Futures 05 Carol Gigliotti (Chair), Arthur & Marilouise Kroker, will explore particular issues related to two sub- POINT INN, BREAKOUT ROOM Char Davies themes, Digital Nomadism and Technology and Ethics. The Bio-Question The impetus for the sub-theme 9.30–0.30 This panel addresses the \ of Digital Nomadism comes not PRESENTATION most conflicted of values and from some unifying curatorial theory, but from a perceptions in art today, the value Randy Adams and perception of our biological
NTERACTIVE way to assemble, as laterally as possible, roaming ‘Reel’ Writing origins. In relation to this inclinations. To create a definable category for the Discussion on the practice of conflict, the Krokers’ discussion using found objects in digital
• I ideas, art, performances, wanderings presented in of clashing artistic perspectives multimedia. Are the ethics on genetic technology and Davies’ this conference would be to limit their potential. and guidelines, developed for We could say that the works use some kind of discussion of the Heideggerian traditional arts and writing, at notion of ‘releasement’ towards pedestrian, mobile or remote sites, occurrences all useful or applicable for best the world will assist Gigliotti practice in New Media Writing? EVENTS or devices. But this reductive description would and the audience in forming anchor them to methods used or technologies questions of their own. employed and not recognize what they may incite. 0.30–.30 The familiar, even mundane, digital devices used in KEYNOTE 5.30–6.30 the works are only a means to create opportunities Arthur PRESENTATION 3
SPECIAL of displacement and reconsideration of reception, & Marilouise Kroker Todd Davis, Jeremy Turner, Suspicion of Thought: The Rise Douglas Jarvis location and space. To borrow a collecting strategy of the New Biometric State from Lyotard, nomadism functions “not to provide OUTERSPACE: A Network Explores two key tendencies in of Accessibility, SAT-TEL- the key and demonstrate their unity, but rather to technoculture: the rise of the biometric state as surveillance COMP 1977 through 1982 make them drift a little more than they seem to.” An exploration and discussion culture increasingly invades of Sat-Tel-Comp, an early Technology and Ethics seeks to the life world of electronic collaborative project that \ the dramatic role of the digital in the society; and artistic resistance explore emanated from Open Space. “life world.” As technology becomes more pervasive in an era where the aesthetic The presentation will look at imagination most of all is in the world and we enter a culture of increasing questions raised concerning art, placed under the political lens technological ubiquity, artists, writers and theorists networks and communications. are considering the ethical ramifications of issues of suspicion of thought. related to biotechnology, ecology, surveillance, and global activism. In Technology and Ethics we will .30-2.30 PRESENTATION 2 FRIDAY, FEB 4 explore a broad range of issues from Arthur and Jennifer Willet @ OPEN SPACE Marilouise Kroker’s discussion of the biometric & Shawn Bailey state to Lucas Kuzma’s poetic approach to nature in BIOTEKNICA: 20.00-2.30 technology in his piece The Ecstasy of Communication. Organic Tissue Prototypes GALLERY INSTALLATIONS Our goal is “rub clashing artistic and ethical BIOTEKNICA is a fictitious OPENING perspectives together” to create a genuine debate on corporation, which explores Zehao Chang notions of reproduction in relation COLLECTIVE the future of technology in art, culture and the world. to evolving biotechnologies. SUBCONSCIOUS An interactive installation that — Julie Andreyev imprints a dynamic collage of & Steve Gibson reverberating thoughts on a (co-curators) public space as people move through them. Recurring words and themes are highlighted and represents the state-of-being 91 of the people in the vicinity. 0.30-2.00 appropriated from online sources interactive interventions explore Robert Ladislas Derr KEYNOTE 2 can be remixed. It questions how the intersection between Void Char Davies much remixing is necessary for new technologies, public Void is a multi-channel video Landscape of Ephemeral an artist to claim that their work space and performance art. is original? And does it matter? and photographic installation Embrace which embodies Derr’s peripatetic Drawing on her recently Evann Siebens 4.00–5.00 performance through the streets completed text Landscapes of image/Word.not_a_pipe= PRESENTATION 6 of Dublin, Ireland in June Ephemeral Embrace: A Painter’s A lone man in an overcoat and a Suzi Webster & Jordan 2004 for the Wandering Rocks, bowler hat is obscurely displaced Exploration of Immersive Benwick Revolving Doors exhibition. Virtual Space As A Medium for as he dances on a deserted beach, Lucas Kuzma over a grassy knoll and through Technological and Transforming Perception, Char Geological Nomadism The Ecstasy of Communication Davies will discuss central themes a crowded street. The figure
This live telematic performance/ L A I C E P S A population of sound-making that have emerged from her represents Magritte’s familiar presentation from South Africa devices interacting with 2½-decade-long art practice. symbol of the ‘Everyman.’ each other and the sounds in Flick Harrison is a geographic and conceptual their environment. The units MARIE TYRELL exploration of digital nomadism. combine to form a playful Marie Tyrell is a revolutionary
conflation of neural network SATURDAY, FEB 5 on death row, as seen through 5.00–6.30 ENTS T N VE E and swarm intelligence. @ OPEN SPACE her lover’s song, her psych report, PANEL 3 Will Pappenheimer her videotaped messages, her Julie Andreyev (Chair), Breathe On Me 4.30–5.30 teenage diaries… based on a Robert Ladislas Derr, Will An installation/internet work PRESENTATION 5 974 story by Vancouver’s D M Pappenheimer, Art Clay consisting of a three walled Art Clay & Swiss Federal Fraser. Watch the narrative •I drama, then click the video to Driftworks space with hybrid fan/webcam Institute of Technology While nomadic creation sets in
interrogate the politics, authorship VE I T C A R E T N devices affixed to the walls. motion ideas of transience and Zurich (ETHZ) and production of this DVD. Internet visitors are invited to ephemerality, it also demands a log on to control the ‘fancams’ GoingPublik: Mobile Multimedia as Mixed Reality new consideration of the private while physical visitors invite 2.30–22.30 and public spaces of the city and an offering of fan ‘breath.’ The presentation addresses Artistic issues rooted in many PERFORMANCE of the body. The panel will discuss works of the sound artist and Art Clay & Guenter Heinz the agency of the mobile body, 2.30–22.30 will be demonstrated in order GoingPublik for distributive movement as data collection and nomadic mapping of the city. PERFORMANCE to show where the artist’s trombone and mobile F
Jackson Two Bears interests lay in general. score synthesis S E R U T U & Ted Hiebert Guenter Heinz, Trombone 20.00–2.5 Experimental Self- 5.30–7.00 Art Clay, Score Synthesizer PERFORMANCES Hypnosis: Shapeshifting PANEL 2 A sound art work for distributive Jackson Two Bears & Kristen An immersive audio performance ensemble and mobile score Roos Dene Grigar (Chair), synthesis. The core idea behind that combines experimental John Barber, Will Bauer, Echo Location sound and guided visualization the work is a strategy of mobility A collaborative sound techniques in order to explore Steve Gibson by employing a wearable computer Telepresent Collaboration performance in which sonic the possibilities of hypnotically system running a software based fragments sampled from mediated reality as a strategy for Real-Time Interaction electronic scoring system The the local environment are Digital nomadism implies for self-fashioning in an age solo version of the work for digitally reconstructed into a freedom of movement achieved of technological possession. distributive trombone was created forty minute soundscape. through the utilization of especially for presentation at Suddenly Dance w/ Steve Gibson computer technologies. But Interactive Futures this year. what does it mean when that Nature Ecstasy SATURDAY, FEB 5 movement occurs among groups Nature Ecstasy facilitates the @ LAUREL of people coordinating their creation of original music as it efforts at-a-distance in real-time? SUNDAY, FEB 6 is a silent digital video made POINT INN, @ OPEN SPACE for live musical interpretation. BREAKOUT ROOM The video uses invented 20.00–2.30 environments and actual locations 2.00–3.30 9.30–0.30 SCREENINGS in Ireland, New Mexico and John Celona KEYNOTE 3 BC to create illusions of place PRESENTATION 4 Rafael Lozano-Hemmer inhabited by dancers David Will Pappenheimer Reaching for Paradise This DVD presentation is - Antimonuments: performative Ferguson and Jung-ah Chung. Transoptical Paradise Now intended as a prototype self-repair for public spaces The real-time Internet camera representing production, aesthetic (Remote keynote from 2.5–? unfolds its own set of discursive intent, and documentation Madrid via videoconference) spaces as a more democratized CLOSING PARTY for Networks Performance, a This presentation will feature the with DJ Jimmy broadcast medium of ‘live’ global three-year proposal to create Relational Architecture series of Dance out Interactive Futures vision. This presentation will experimental multimedia large-scale installations in public with a rousing mix of abstract historically enumerate and using high-speed networks. space that Mexican-Canadian evaluate this nascent medium techno, 980s synth pop, classic Randy Adams artist Rafael Lozano-Hemmer hip-hop, industrial-strength from the perspective of recent has been staging for the past ten art history, criticism and the ‘Reel’ Writing metal and nordic cool, featuring Created using various ‘out of the years. Using robotics, tracking DJ Jimmy and his kilt! surrounding institutions systems, online interfaces, and of technological culture. box’ digital tools, ‘Reel’ Writing explores how images and texts high-power projectors these 92 TELEFILM CANADA PRESENTS FILM FORUM
Saturday, Feb 5 Sunday, Feb 6
ORUM 9:30–10:45am 9:30–10:45am F Th e Power Finding a
ILM of the Co- Partner Production to Woo 3:00–4:15pm • F • Meet the players as they 2:00–3:30pm Opening up your universe Documentary provide insight into the Th e Ultimate – instead of thinking small POV world of co-productions. …think big! Can you
guests Mitchell Block, Basics fi gure out how to make Do subjective or objective EVENTS
Harold Gronenthal, Everything you need to your project while using choices in shooting a Chris Haws, Kris Slava, know about getting a the resources of another documentary defi ne the Nobuo Isobe, Sheena production company started country? Find out who has truth or reality of a non- Macdonald & Nick and making your fi rst fi lm access to dollars and how fi ction fi lm? How does a narrative voice impact the SPECIAL Witkowski or television program. to go about combining moderator Pat Ferns guests Jason Charters funding while examining portrayal of the subject? location Laurel Point Inn, & Liam Romalis the fi nancial as well as the Integral to the success of Terrace Room moderator Diane Boehme creative factors of working any documentary is the sponsored by location Laurel Point Inn, with foreign countries. relationship between the Playback Magazine Breakout Room guests Chris Haws fi lmmaker and the fi lm’s & Nobuo Isobe subject; a relationship moderator Pat Ferns that can be riddled with 4:00–5:30pm location Laurel Point Inn, ethical and aesthetic DOPs Take 3 Breakout Room’ challenges. Whether the 11:30am–12:30pm fi lmmaker is documenting Case Study: In this session acclaimed a very personal event in Beethoven’s cinematographers join in 11:15am–12:30pm their subject’s lives or conversation about the International presenting a politically Hair collaborative process and contentious argument, how the technical considerations Marketing & the director negotiates Discover how the co- involved in creating a Distribution the information is a vital production model works in feature fi lm. Looking at part of the fi lmmaking reality. Learn the hazards to Finding an audience scenes from their recent process and key to the avoid and discover the best is the last and often fi lm, the cinematographers shape of the story. A panel plan of action to success. most neglected step in a will analyze and discuss of diverse fi lmmakers voice guests Larry Weinstein, fi lmmaker’s job. Th e reality specifi c scenes, and the their informed opinions. Harold Gronenthal, is that the same relentless creative thinking and guests Velcrow Ripper, Sheena Macdonald & ingenuity needs to be specifi c decisions that went Larry Weinstein & George Anthony applied to distribution as into them. Th e audience is Simon Sauvé moderator Pat Ferns it is to writing, directing invited to comment and ask moderator Gary Marcuse location Laurel Point Inn, and producing. Our questions in this fascinating location Laurel Point Inn, Terrace Room panelists will explore how exploration of the creative Breakout Room distributors are changing, process and how it becomes sponsored by the Directors self distribution models, ‘reality’ on screen. Guild of Canada – BC and direct distribution. guests Laszlo Kovacs guests Nick Witkowski, & William Fraker Kris Slava, Margo moderator George Langford, Sheena Anthony Macdonald & Tiff any location Laurel Point Inn, Naiman Breakout Room moderator Pat Ferns location Laurel Point Inn, Breakout Room 93 4:30–5:45pm Writing MARTINI MASTER Diff erent Voices TALK 5:30pm CLASSES @ Laurel Point Inn, You have a great idea for a screenplay Cooks Landing Lounge
but now you need to bring a Directing SPECIAL diff erent voice to each character TBC and you need to get to know each Saturday, Feb 5 of the characters helping you as the Future is Now if you were working on a long With boutique stations Documentary Tune Up
springing up everyday come construction project. After all, you for the Producer EVENTS are going to get tired together, some and talk to Harold Gronenthal Friday, Feb 4, 10am–1pm about the changing needs and of you may get injured, or damaged with Mitchell Block environment of television. As emotionally. You need to understand Can’t fi nd funding? No one wants to invest? Maybe it’s the idea Senior Vice President, Program or the project. Come and get a doc proposal check up and tune each character as intimately as if F • Acquisition, of Rainbow up. Th is three hour workshop is intended to help you decide if they were living in real life. Our Media Enterprises, Gronenthal that dream doc is worth pursuing. Why isn’t it attracting funding oversees AMC, We (Woman’s panelists discuss understanding from a studio, network or cable company? What’s with the ILM character research, writing character Entertainment), and IFC as well package? Th e proposal? Th e idea? Ideas or projects at any stage of as other Rainbow projects.
essays and learning to combine development are welcome. We spend the day reviewing a number F
traits to create a fascinating and of projects as a group. Explore how the doc can be tuned up or ORUM compelling character for the screen. junked, who might produce it, how to pitch it, what is needed to Sunday, Feb 6 sell it, and which broadcasters should be considered. Find ways to guests Semi Chellas Th e ABC’s of rights acquisitions – make your packaging bankable. Look over the proposals and see & Chip Proser writer’s agreements, book options, why it’s not pulling in off ers. Get hard information to build into moderator story editors – what you need to your business plan. By reviewing individual projects develop an Shelley Nowazek know. guest Michelle Gahagan understanding of how to pitch and sell projects. Th e case studies location Laurel Point Inn, come from the class and the instructor’s extensive collection Breakout Room of cases. You don’t need a project to attend but preference will be given to those that have them. A one-page project description will be requested at time of registration for review. 94 GUEST BIOS
Award nominations for cinema- and regional programming and Film tography, including Looking plays a key role in the shaping of Interactive Forum Guests for Mr Goodbar (), Heaven program development priorities. Futures Guests Can Wait (), War Games George Anthony is the Director Tiff any Naiman is the Marketing Randy Adams is Associ- for Special Projects for tv Arts & () and Murphy’s Romance ate Editor for the trAce () and another nomina- Manager for First Look Media. Entertainment for CBC Television. She is involved in all facets of Online Writing Centre. Mr Anthony has served as Creative tion for visual eff ects for . First Look’s fi lm development, Julie Andreyev is Associate Head of TV Arts, Music, Science Michelle Gahagan is a principal production and distribution for & Variety where he was responsible Professor at the Emily Carr with the Vancouver-based law fi rm all theatrical, international and Institute of Art, Design & Media. for the artistic welfare of all CBC Equity Business Lawyers, a fi rm home entertainment titles. arts and variety programming. specializing in providing advice to Shawn Bailey is an Assistant Shelley Nowazek is a Commu- Mitchell Block is president of business owners, in both the pri- Professor at Concordia Uni- vate and public company contexts. nications Offi cer with Telefi lm versity in Studio Arts (Print Direct Cinema Limited in Los Canada. She is responsible for BIOS Media) and an artist-researcher
Angeles. He has served as a consul- Harold Gronenthal is Senior Vice Media and Client Relations with the Hexagram Institute. tant on short fi lms worldwide and President, Program Acquisitions, and Western festivals. since he has been consulting Rainbow Media Enterprises and John Barber, author of numerous on short and feature nonfi ction now oversees AMC, We (Woman’s Chip Proser is a producer, books, essays, and reviews, teaches GUEST projects for HBO/Cinemax. Entertainment), and IFC as director, cinematographer and writing and science fi ction at the writer for television, fi lm and Diane Boehme is Senior Direc- well as other Rainbow projects University of Texas at Dallas. and original HD channels. interactive media. His credits tor of Independent Production include Innerspace, Mobile Suit Will Bauer is an artist and for CHUM Television. Diane Chris Haws has been an active Gundam, Iceman and Interface. engineer working with “integrated” is responsible for fi nancial and participant in the international media. He is the inventor of creative analysis, evaluation, Documentary production com- Velcrow Ripper, acclaimed the Gesture and Media System disposition and administration munity for over three decades. fi lmmaker explores issues from – a wireless d virtual media of all work with the indepen- During that time he has written, oppression to the environment. control and integration tool. dent production community. directed and produced a host of His work has been honoured award winning documentaries with over awards and has Jordan Benwick creates generative Lodi Butler is Manager of the screened at major festivals and software to manipulate audio and Television and Film Financing for the BBC, ITV, Channel , Discovery, PBS and ABC. on television around the world. video data in real time. He has Program at British Columbia exhibited and performed across Film and as such is respon- Nobuo Isobe is the Chief Produc- Liam Romalis is a found- North America and Europe. sible for the overall supervi- er, Satellite and Hi-Vision Broad- ing partner at Riddle Films sion of the fi nancing provided casting Department for NHK. Mr where he recently produced John Celona teaches composition, by British Columbia Film. Isobe is in charge of international and directed a three-part series pursues research in music-com- co-productions with HDTV. on a Canadian choir called positional software and is the As- Jason Charters is a found- the Nathaniel Dett Chorale. sociate Dean in the Faculty of Fine ing partner at Riddle Films, a László Kovács is one of the most Arts at the University of Victoria. company dedicated to making respected directors of photogra- Simon Sauvé, is the director high quality fi lms in the world of phy in the business. His credits of Jimmywork which he began Zai (Zehao Chang) is a De- the performing arts and culture. include Easy Rider (), Five shooting in January of . sign/Media Arts MFA student at UCLA exploring boundar- Semi Chellas is the Executive Pro- Easy Pieces (), Close Encounters Kris Slava is Vice President of Ac- of the Th ird Kind (), Frances ies, often using ambience as a ducer, Creator and Head Writer of quisitions and Program Planning, vehicle to convey messages. the television drama, THE ELEV- () and Ghostbusters (). Trio Network. Formerly Mr Slava ENTH HOUR, which won the Margo Langford is President of was in charge of international dra- Art Clay is sound artist, specialist Gemini for Best Series this year in Cine-Clix, a distribution company ma development and performance in the performance of self-created its fi rst season. It was nominated designed to help fi lm owners make programming at A&E Network. works with the use of intermedia. for a record fourteen Geminis, money from their work so they can Larry Weinstein has become Char Davies has achieved including three for writing. just get on with making more art. Canada’s pre-eminent direc- international recognition for her Pat Ferns has produced some of Sheena Macdonald is the tor of fi lms on musical subjects. work in virtual reality. Davies was Canada’s fi nest award-winning head of International Sales Many of his fi lms document a founding director of Softimage fi lm and television program- and Co-Production Divi- the lives and musical creation of which she left at the end of ming as well as some of the sion for Rhombus Meida. twentieth century composers. to found her own art & technology world’s leading media events. research company, Immersence Inc. Gary Marcuse is a Programming Nicholas Witkowski is a partner William Fraker has compiled Executive for CBC Television. in WV Entertainment which Todd A Davis has plied his nearly feature fi lm credits as a Gary is responsible for manag- operates as a fi nancier, producer trade as an artist, writer, cura- cinematographer during a career ing program development in and distributor in the interna- tor, and administrator on the that has spanned some years. BC, participating in network tional television business. West coast since . He has earned fi ve Academy 95
Robert Ladislas Derr is currently Ted Hiebert is a Canadian visual a Rockefeller Fellowship (), a Jeremy Turner is a net artist, an assistant professor of photogra- artist whose work has been shown Langlois Grant () and an In- and writer who has exhibited phy at Th e Ohio State University. across Canada, and in group ternational Bauhaus Award (). internationally and published exhibitions internationally. in such journals as Intelli- Steve Gibson is an Associate Pro- Will Pappenheimer is currently gent Agent and C-Th eory. fessor of Multimedia at the Uni- Douglas Jarvis is an artist and an assistant professor of Digi- versity of Victoria and a multime- curator interfacing his experi- tal Media at Pace University in Jackson Two Bears is an aboriginal dia artist, composer and theorist. ence in Victoria with notions of New York and assistant director installation and performance artist. where else he may have been. of the Pace Digital Gallery. Two Bears’ installation works have Dr Carol Gigliotti is a writer, edu- been exhibited nationally, in artist- cator, and artist, teaches Interactive DJ Jimmy likes to mix it up and Kristen Roos is an artist who run centres and alternative spaces. Design at Emily Carr Institute get people dancing hard. Prepare frequently works in collab- for Art and Design (ECIAD) for an eclectic mix of your favourite orative settings. Currently, Suzi Webster’s multimedia instal- where she is also Director of the and not-so-favourite dance tracks. he is working on an MFA at lation work explores tensions Center for Art and Technology. the University of Victoria. between physical and virtual, Arthur and Marilouise Kro- the viewer and the viewed. Dene Grigar is an Associ- ker are internationally known Evann Siebens recently com- ate Professor at Texas Woman’s writers and lecturers on the pleted a dancefi lm series for Jennifer Willet is a profes- University, specializing in new future of technology. the Black Filmmakers Founda- sional artist and a part-time
media, interactive arts, elec- tion TV Lab, and an interactive faculty member in Studio Arts GUEST tronic literature and rhetoric. Lucas Kuzma is a media artist, dance web-site with new media at Concordia University. Her musician, programmer, and interac- artist Yael Kanaerk, commis- work explores notions of self and Flick Harrison co-shot and pro- tion designer living in New York. sioned by Turbulence.org. subjectivity in relation to bio- duced Reg Harkema’s Better Off in Rafael Lozano-Hemmer is an medical, bioinformatic, and digital Bed, and shot video for R.E.M. (I’ll Suddenly Dance Th eatre has BIOS electronic artist, whose work has technologies with an emphasis Take the Rain), Bruce Sweeney, been creating original works in on social and political criticism. Nettie Wild, David Vaisbord, been shown in two dozen coun- Victoria since . Ferguson James Dunnison and many others. tries. He won a BAFTA British and Lowry’s next cinematic Academy Award for Interactive collaboration, the minute Guenter Heinz is the artistic Art in London (), “Artist/ OPIUM, will be seen on BRAVO! director of the Festival of Free performer of the year” at Wired and ARTV in /. Improvised Music in Dresden. Magazine’s Rave Awards (), 96 index of films Element of Light . . . . . Little Boy Blue ...... Security Anthem . . . . . El Mago ...... Littoral (Tideline) . . . . See What I Really Am . . @Festivbercine.ron . . . . Empreintes (Imprints) . . Love Crimes of Sex is Comedy...... 10 ...... Eternal Present ...... Gillian Guess, Th e . . . Shirt, Th e ...... 25 Ways to Quit Smoking Evolution ...... LSD A-Go-Go ...... Show Me ...... Adventures of a * . . . . . Exist ...... Man Without Sideshow Strangeness . . . Alien ...... a Shadow, Th e . . . . . Faded Roads ...... Sight Pacifi c...... all right ...... McDull, Falang: Behind Prince de la Bun . . . . Sin Embargo – Ancient Marks ...... Bangkok’s Smile. . . . . Nevertheless ...... Memory, A ...... ARC ...... FilmCAN...... Smell the Flowers . . . . . Millions...... Archetypical Room, An . . Fishing with Sneakers...... Milo 55160 ...... Audition Tape...... a Diff erence...... Solofl ex Fitness (tv ad) . . Miracle, A...... Automatic Music . . . . . Ganges: River to Heaven Some Th ings Th at Stay . . Mondovino ...... Awful Fate of Melponemus George ’n Rosemary . . . . Soraida: A Woman Jones, Th e ...... Graveyard Alive: Mondo Plympton . . . . . of Palestine ...... Bad Hair Day ...... a Zombie Nurse Mystique of Spartree ...... in Love ...... the Truffl e, Th e . . . . . Beat the Drum ...... Spin...... Guard Dog ...... My Financial Career . . . Beethoven’s Hair . . . . . Strongest Man ...... Begin to Begin ...... Guns on the Clackamas Neurosis-A-Go-Go . . . . (excerpt) ...... Super Extra Plus . . . . . Behind the Mascot . . . . Nosehair ...... Hair High ...... Tahara ...... Being Caribou ...... Odd Compellings & Harry Knuckles Unknown Unknowns . Tale of Bad Luck, A. . . . Big Snit...... & the Pearl Necklace . . One am ...... Th rough My Blind Awake ...... Th ick Glasses ...... Haunted Spooks...... One Million BC . . . . . Bliss ...... Tideline...... Hawaii ...... One of Th ose Days. . . . . Boomtown ...... Trouser Accidents . . . . .
FILMS Heaven is a Place Oregon Lottery: Born into Brothels . . . . Th at Starts with “H” . . Blackjack (tv ad) . . . . Two Great Sheep . . . . .
OF Boys & Girl from Hill, Th e...... Two Soldiers ...... Our Love ...... County Clare, Th e . . . Holy Cross ...... Overnight...... Two Winters: Tales from Cable Beach ...... Above the Earth . . . . How to Kiss...... Play ...... Chairy Tale ...... U ...... INDEX How to Make Love Plympomania ...... Clean ...... to a Woman...... Unwilling Witness, Th e. . Plymptoons ...... Color of a Doubt: I, Curmudgeon ...... Vares ...... Primer ...... an urban fable . . . . . Imprints ...... Veggie Van Voyage. . . . . Public Lighting ...... Consideration ...... Inamorta ...... Visions Out of Push Comes to Shove . . . Cuadrilatero Inhaling the Spore: A Journey the Darkness ...... (Quadrilateral) . . . . . through the Museum of Python, Th e ...... Wandering Storm . . . . . Culture Explosion – Jurassic Technology . . . Quadrilateral ...... WebCam Girls ...... Cultural Spectacle. . . . Inside Jewish Venice. . . . Quite Ugly One Morning Weird Sex & Snowshoes . Dead Broke ...... InVision...... Raven Tales...... Welcome to Kentucky . . . Dear Aaron ...... In the Dark ...... Remaining Days, Th e. . . Whale of a Tale, A . . . . Debts ...... Island ...... Rhythm Is It! ...... What Remains of Us . . . Destroy My Tokyo . . . . Jimmywork ...... Riding Shotgun...... White Light...... Disunion of the Johnny Tootall ...... Rink ...... White Skin ...... Union of Suff ering . . . J Lyle (excerpt) ...... Rory O’Shea Was Here . . Winky...... Don’t Mouse Around . . . Klanglabor ...... Rosy-Fingered Dawn: Wiseman, Th e ...... Draw ...... a Film on Knick Knack ...... Your Face ...... Drawing Out Terrence Malick . . . . Last Day on Earth . . . . the Demons ...... Ryan ...... Zushi ...... La Peau blanche Driven Out, Saint Ralph...... Up and Away! . . . . . (White Skin) ...... Sara Goes to Lunch . . . . “E” ...... Lies Like Truth ...... Scared Sacred ...... Easy Street ...... Limb Salesman, Th e . . . Secrets for Sale ......
ADDENDUMchanges since the programme guide’s printing Thursday, February 10, 9:00pm @ CAPITOL 6 addendum Sunday, February 13, 9:30pm @ ODEON
World Perspective World (this fi lm replaces all screenings of Johnny Tootall • Angela and the Sunday screening of El Mago)
FILMS Roberta Torre dangers, but the couple functions as a well-oiled Italy • 2002 • 92 min • 35mm machine, so no one suspects that the shoe boxes producers Lierka Rusic, Rita Rusic are sometimes stuff ed with packets of cocaine. writer Roberta Torre Angela is a beautiful young woman, but even
FEATURE Canadian premiere as her husband showers her with love and gifts, he print courtesy of First Look Media controls her completely. Life is good, but it gets complicated when young, dark, handsome Masino comes into the store. At fi rst, Angela thinks he It seems that fi lms about the Mafi a is a copy, but soon, he becomes her husband’s inevitably focus on the men of this underworld. right-hand man. Th eir mutual attraction becomes By relating the story of a young woman whose increasingly stronger, but since strict codes passions are aroused despite the dangers of honour dominate both their lives, an aff air involved. Angela breaks the model and adds between them would be life dancing with death. a rare chapter to the mafi a genre – but this Roberta Torre’s direction is assured, her is not its sole point of interest: the fi lm is a chosen palette of dark hues well suited to beautifully conceived, written and acted work the claustrophobic, interior nature of the about a woman who decides to step outside fi lm. She is ably supported by a fi ne cast, led the carefully delineated parameters of her life. by Donatella Finocchiaro in the title role. Th e world of the Sicilian Mafi a provides the When the consequences of Angela’s actions backdrop to the tale of Angela’s transgression, begin to take their toll, Torre delicately the quotidian details of her everyday life sidesteps cliche and stereotype to present a instilling her story with exceptional realism. natural, believable play of confl icting emotions. Since the age of 20, Angela has been married Th is is a fi nely modulated work about a to an older Mafi oso who hides his drug-dealing society in which the relationship between lifestyle behind the apparently legal front humandesire and honour is uneasy at best. he and his wife have created as owners of a — Piers Handling popular shoe store in Palermo. Life has its small Toronto International Film Festival