CINEMA CAN A D A •

structure, direction, and image enhance this humour, creativity, and freshness with which familiar story and its characters. the story is told merit the re-telling. If the term " fragmentation " can be used to Harriet Wichin , describe Esther's psychological state, it can also be seen as inherent in the montage and visual ONZIEME SPECIALE p. Roger Frappier d. Micheline style of Onzieme Speciale , a collection of images Lanctotsc. Marie Perreault, Louise Roy d. o. p. Pierre Mignot and experiences from Esther's life and art. This art d. Louise jobin ed. Michel Arcand orig . mil S. Lorraine Desmarais p. mgr. JeanMa rie Comeau sd. Yvon Benoit 151. is truly an episodic film (ah , television), and the a. d. jacques Laberge COlli. Therese Beru be lSI. ass/. cam. insights are sporadic, for Esther as well as the Chrisnarule Guernon IInil mgr. Michele St-Arnaud lid. eiec/. viewer. Lanctot's subtle images (she worked Daniel Chretien key grip Michel Periard set des. Blanche with cinematographer Pierre Mignot and art Boileau props lIIasler Pierre Fournier boolll Claude Laha ye nssl. props Louis Gascon assl. cost. josee Boisvert makcllp director Louise Jobin) capture Esther in her own Micheline Foisy-Trepanier Zlldcnlll. "55/ . Marnn Dubois 151. opacity; we see her in and through other eleel . ManalHassibgripJean-Mauricede Ernstedp. n. Maite materials: faceted and distorted in mirrors, Sarthou, Pierre jasmin sd. ed. Pa ul Dion mix. SheUey Craig ncci. Daniel Demers p. coord. Helene Ross nssi. 10 p. Lyne silhouetted through patterned glass, windows. Lemieux still photoPi erre Drury pub. Christianne Ducasse Esther is one against the world - her famil y, 1.1'. Sylvie-Catherine Beaudoin, Robert Toupin, Lorraine the organized art communi ty, her high school Pinta\, Jean Beaudry, Colin Caroit, Markita Boies, Andre alumni - and is often filmed in perspective with Melancon, Pierre Collin, Ma rie-Lou Dion, Ann Caron, julie Vincent. Lucie Saint-C)7, Roger Baulu, johanne Seymour, the physical space around her. Perhaps most Andree PeUetier, Suzanne Champagne, Louise funfret, importantly, we see her against a blank canvas, josee Cusson, Louise Bombardier, Clement Schreiber, unable to execute a self-portrait. The overall jean-Gabriel Lambert. Aco -production of Les Producteurs TV-Films Associes and the NFB, with the fin ancial visual approach emerges as a metaphor for parti cipation of SOGIC, Telefilm an d Radio Quebec Esther's confusion, questioning the notion of images and who creates them. Although unable to " see " herself, Esther paints images of other women, and renders them disrobed, disfigured, TOP SECRET non-human. The art work we see is pOignant, TO : Department of Puerile Entertainment full of the questions ,. what is woman) " and" of Surveillance (DOPES) FROM: Agent 008'12 what is her self-image made? " Acharacter film. Amise-en- scene film. Atheme Jon Hess' film. An editor's film. Surprising for" made-for­ Corey Haim and a nice doggie foil the nasties in Watchers television. " Not surprising considering the Watchers creative team. Al ook behind the camera reveals and present danger to our balance of terror and the person of a dean-cut teenager and his rather quite a constellation, so much so that it is isguised as a FREAK (Film Reviewer, threaten the cornerstone of U. S. policy in this cute Mom. difficult to say whether autellrist critique is Exploitation / Actioners / Kitsch) I hemisphere, namely the Marilyn Monroe As indicated at the beginning of this report, appropriate here. Equ ipe-ist ? observed ano ther Canadian attempt to Doctrine, according to which no other power is Wa tchers is a force to be reckoned with. It is What are the drawbacks of Onzieme Spiciale ? penetrate U. S. drive-in circuits and allowed to make American movie s. professionally scripted with a O. 9ibeat Lanct6t offers no answers for Esther's human video-networks camouflaged as a bO lla The danger comes from two sources: (a) the cliche-ratio, wi th full y computerized scenario drama - only windows . And surely the pdeD American operation. similarity of terrain permits the Canadians to and diesel-powered sequencing, featuring aS yd characters are stereotypical, and the criticism of If this observer is permitted an opinion, these substitute fraudulen tly their Northwest for ours, Field-tested structure with turgid-driven the art world has been heard before . Yet the Canadian undercover activities represent a clear and (b) their actors, writers and directors have dramatics and characterization. managed, through years of painstaking For the most part, the direction and imitation, to pass for one of U. S. cinematography demonstfote schlock-proof Watchers, were it not a dangerous and trade -craf t. Ac tors, with the exception of near-successful attempt to penetrate our Oxcom, turn in a performance perfectly defences, could be dismissed as Lass ieM eets matching the exigencies of the project. Clean Godzilla , Three Days of theOXC OI1J or Grizzlyalld the Teen, Spunky Mom and Sneering Villain being War Games. The hybrid ti tles are a natural possibly more memorable than the script called outgrowth of th e CIA-opera tion-gone-wrong­ for, but this could have been caused by an error and-danger-stalks-the-land-as-a-consequence in wiring. Oxcom's efficacy is difficult to plot, another cloning achievement of tha t determine ; possibly for budgetary reasons, he, aU-powerful multinational conglomerate, she, it, is never full y visible. Not even its status Industrial Plot and Action. as a mammal can be certified on the basis of Specifically, Watchers deals with the escape of visual sighting. the "ultimate predator ", a.k.a. Outside However, we must bite the bullet: the , Experimental Combat Mammal or Oxcom. Canadians nearly got away with successfully Oxcom Must Be Stopped, not only because it launching across the border a near-perfect pod, keeps on killing everything in its way with a deceptively well-made and commercially predictable regularity and not only because it is feasible replicate of a U. S. B-'89 Bomb. telepathically linked to a nice doggie, but Almost, but not quite. because the CIA team that created and trained it Fortunately, Watchers has been intercepted by has a Hidden Agenda, wouldn't you know. the undersigned before it could become part of Oxcom'sM. O. seems to be mostlyripping out American culture. This, thanks to the vigilance esophagi and de fenestration, and he (she? it?) of this operative and some minor, but telltale Sylvie Catherine Beaudoin as Esther in Onzieme Speciale leaves a bloody trail until he Meets Its Match in flaws in the film's concept and execution.

CINIMA CANADA "AGE to IUNI • IULY 1 ••• PAT THOMPSON

The first clue indicating subversive activity SKIN Jennifer hits back, "Don' t congratulate me. You high flame and the creation of edible works of was the deliberate withholding of an adequate made me feel like a fool. " art; and where appreciative consumers are seen amount of gore in the first two acts: while the hree" visible minority" teenagers talk As mart, sensible and humorous look at the murmuring their delight (the audience joined in perpetrators may have wished to establish a about their backgrounds. Phiroza was born hurt and suffering caused by thoughtless racial too ... ). Atrul y delectable film which should not sense of rising action, the poorly planned Tin Bombay and ca me to Toronto at age prejudice. The use of masks is particularly be missed when CBC shows it soon. (By the time-release mechanism of gore, gristle and four. jennifer's roots are Jamaican, but she was effective in conveying the blind, blank attitudes way, the invited audience, following the gutbucket indicates typical Canadian restraint. born in Toronto. Tuan is Chinese from Hanoi, often encountered in school and in the world at premiere of this li ttle epic, were treated to Itors Adead giveaway! North Vietnam, and he and his older brother large. The three leads are personable, d'oet/ures from the master hands of Jamie The second clue also belongs in this category: were "boat people". When their frail craft sank, convincing achievers who forcefully convey the Kennedy ... ) the first time the film made an attempt at real 60 people drowned, including Tuan's brother. message of, and some solutions to, this gore, the butchered face and torn-out eyeballs of Based on actual incidents, interviews and pervasive problem. This is undoubtedly a useful exec. 1'. Ronn Mann, Don Haig /'. Sue len Quon, Susan the victim looked so phoney, even a moderately Hayes d. Robert Kennedy calli. Robert Fresco sd. Valentin interracial workshops, the trio talk of prejudice film for stirring up discussion and confronta tion. Pricop 24 mins. 16nun. Sphinx ProductionslToronto (412) splatter-happy six-year-old could tell. Was it and race relations, and fantasy and rea lityjs However, one wonders how less educated and 971 -9I3J With financial participation 01: Ontario Film deliberate sabotage? Is one of them working for cleverly combined to reveal their feelings. less fortunate minority yo uth copes with the [Jevelopment Corp. , City ofT orontolT oronto Arts Council, us? Further investigation may be required. Phiroza loves school and never has any same questions, and do they succeed in the end? CBC, City-TV Butthe fatal blow was struck by the dialogue. problems because she is black, but then admits Quote the villain, speaking to some suspicious that she's not sure what'S worse - being called prod. Gilbert W. Taylor/Glenn Frost. d. Gilbert W. Taylor. local citizens: "We are Washington, we' re the sc. Dennis Foon. cnm. Robert Brooks csc. sd. Peter THE DINGLES names or just being in visible ... a boyand girl si t Oements. I. p. Mishu Vellani (Phiroza Mehta ), Robert Lee good guys. We are your government, we are in each side of her, safe behind masks, and carry on (WongTuan Hung ), KarenJohnson (jenniler Malcolm). 29 oris Dingle and her three cats - Donna, this together. " mins. Videotape -alilormats. Distributor: International an animated conversa tion across Phiroza who's Deedee and Dale - live in perfect Only a Canadian would deem it necessary to just a space to them. Phiroza has to deal with Tele-FilmfToronto (416) 24 1-4483. Produced by Intercom reassure the American public that their Films Ltd. IToronto in association with TVOntario, and with Dharmony, in a tiny house with a dating Tom, a white boy who asks if she comes the partidpation 01 Telefilm Canada, Ontario Film institutions work for and not against them. This pocket-handkerchief ga rden. Donna is an from italy, bu t she says she's from Persia. Development Corp. , and Secretary 01 State/Muiticul· aristocratic Siamese, Deedee's the quiet one, and lack of patriotic understanding; or understand­ Eventually Phiroza tells Tom she lied, that she turalism. ing of patriotism, is what finally exposes Daleis" an all-round good gu)''' who's digging a really comes from Bombay. In the end, Phiroza hole to China ... Breakfast is their favourite Watchers as a snowbird behind eagle feathers. admits that it wasn't all that hard and Tom didn't SPECIAL OF THE DAY However, we have no reason to be smug. meal, and together they enjoy cereal and eggs reject her. and toast and delicious catmint tea. Watchers came this close I The next time, they Tuan came to his sponsor from a camp in Aspec ial dinner party for a surprise guest, The day the storm came - somewhat could make it all the way. We better watch the Hong Kong. The first day at school was difficult designed specifically for this film - and reminiscent of the Wizard ofOz tornado - the cats Watchers! and his English was bad. He meets Lo, a friend whata vision for the eye and, surprisingly, The price of liquidi ty is eternal violence. were flung against the fence by the wind, and from home who says, "it is all war here too - the ta ste buds I Jamie Kennedy and Michael Doris had a hard time rescuing them. But her Agent 008JfzlCode name : they push and so I push," but Tuan disagrees. Stadtlander, two of the leading young chefs in Paul Gottlieb • iron will triumphed as she ripped up her Tuan cleans an office building after school and Canada, take us through all the steps leading to pinafore and literally tied the felines to her apron on weekends, as he wants his parents join him. the crea tion of this superb banquet. strings and dragged them to safety in the house. But he is fired by an embarrassed employer who Throughout the planning of the menu (left As in the best of fairy tales, all ended happily admits he is an excellent cleaner, but says that somewhat loose to accommodate the current WATCHERS exec. p. Roger Corman p. Damian lee, with hot baths, warm drinks and everyone David Mitchell co. p. Mary Eilts d. Jon Hess sc. Bill Freed, people working in the building ha ve com- availability of produce), the day's marketing, snuggled under a feather comforter. Damian lee; based on the novel by Dean R. Koontz d.o.p. plained. But Tuan is a survivor. . . the preparations, and the actual cooking and Adelightfull y gentle little animated tale that's Richard leitermanaddnl. cam. Curtis Petersened. Bill Freda, jennifer is loathe toadmit prejudice exists, but serving, the chefs' comments and observations Carolle Alain, Rick Fields mus. Joel Goldsmith p. mgr. a pleasure to look at. Doris and her cats have George Grieve 1st. a. d. lee Knippelberg 2nd a.d. Rachel her teacher, Mr. Lizard - complete with heavy, enliven and illuminate. The drama of the distinct personalities, and the voice-over of the leitermanloc. mgr. Christine Haebler p. exec. (CarolcaICar! scaley mask and long red fingernails - is always cooking, the knowledge and love that flows into storyteller is just right. Borack, Robert Misiorowski cast. d. Trish Robinson extras putting her down. He nags on - she has an the beauty of the presentations, reveal artistry of Anilll.ld. les Drew. Storyteller: Enuna Levine. 7 mins. cast. Zahn Douglas p. des. Richard Wilcoxart d. Tom atrocious attitude towards the learning process; a high level. Duquette graphics Gary Myers set dec. Marti Wright assl set Na tional Film Board. dec. Mary Lou Storey set buyer David Birdsall set dresser Lin she's lazy; she's a smart-ass. Jennifer wants to Kennedy's and Stadtlander's disarming MacDonald props master Chris Wright asst. props master Bob try for university. "You don't have what it personalities add great charm to a witty film Levesque props buyer Bryan Korenberg cost. des. Monique takes," Mr. Lizard snarls. When Jennifer does where the various courses are announced on THE WANDERER Stranancost. sup. Christina McQuanie makeup linda A. get into an academic program, Mr. Lizard is all hand-held cards and chanted by a vocal group; Brown hair Janet Sala cam op. Harvey laRocque, Robert l Mclachlan 1st. asst. cam. Andy Wilson, Ian Preston, delight. "I always knew you had itin you " But where the chefs move calmlybut firml ybetween he devil comes to a small village in the guise William Waning 2nd assl cam. Tim Moynihan stills photog Mishu Vellani (Phiroza Mehta), Robert Lee (Wong Tuan Hung), and Karen of a personable traveller. He buys drinks at Phil Hersee sd. mix. Frank Griffiths boom op. Bill Skinner Johnson (Jennifer Malcolm)_ Tthe local tavern, produces tables of food by gaffer John Scott best boy A. W. Davidson genny op. Steve magic, and hands out money and goods. The Vincent key grip Nick Kuchera matching k"ls R. K. Hill, Ron MacLeay, best boy grip Robin Jobin dolly grip Tom Wa llace villagers are entranced , and dance and sing, and grip Dave Riopel, Rob Bojeck craft servo Gerri Kuhn cant. drink and make merry ... and eventually begin to CandiceField3rda.d. Robert Lee a.d. trainee lisa Weinstein covet their neighbours' possessions. The devil asst. lac mgr. James Sallis p. coord. Linda Sheehyp. a lynn nudges things along by turning the pot boy's Barr, Caroline Hardon, Kevin Parks, Michelle Futerman, Monique Savin, Pauline Crawford, Jeff Falyn sp. Ix coord. broom into a rifle, and the killing and pillaging Dean Lockwood const. coord. Rick Stranan loreman Bob starts. The devil contemplates his work, Nicholson carpenters Gary York, Al Rourke, Glenna Elving, changes into a huge bird of prey and flies over Rob Maier, Lou Bolio, Peter McGregor 211d ullit: d. Damian the village . Lee 1st. a.d. Brett Dowler loc. mgr. James Sallis p. coord. JeanneGrund! steadicam op. John Clothier 1st asst. cam. Joel The heavy black-and-white drawings give a Ransom, David Pelletier gaffer Einar Hansen best boy Wayne specially brooding, menacing quality to this Robinson. I. p. Corey Haim, Barbara Williams, Michael age-old story of the poor being tempted by the Ironside, Lala, Christopher Carey, Graeme Campbell, Dan devil ,vith material possessions and money. O'Dowd, Dale Wilson, Blu Mankuma, Colleen Winton, Duncan Fraser, Lou Bollo, Sandy the dog. ARose and Ruby Design/at,im .ld. George Ungar. orig.mlls. /sp.fx. Normand Films Production. Roger. 11 mins. National Film Board.

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