Category: Film Fests
TJFF 2012: Watching ‘The Prize’ in totality is an unsavory Pyrrhic victory
The Prize Written and directed by Paula Markovitch Mexico, 2011 After winning an essay contest at her school, seven-year old Cecilia (Paula Galinelli Hertzog) is showered with praise. Her teacher has the entire class form a line, and one-by-one, she … [Read the Rest]
TJFF 2012: ‘We Need to Talk About ‘Dorfman’
Dorfman Directed by Bradley Leong Written by Wendy Kout USA, 2011 After her mother dies, Deb Dorfman (Sara Rue), a timid accountant, has to live with her perpetually grumpy father (Elliot Gould) in the San Fernando Valley. A hopeless … [Read the Rest]
TJFF 2012: ‘Off-White Lies’ is a lyrically offbeat comedy
Off-White Lies Directed by Maya Kenig Written by Maya Kenig and Dana Diment Israel/France, 2011 As a parent, you can’t prepare the world for your children; the best you can do is prepare your children for the world. So what … [Read the Rest]
TJFF 2012: ‘Let My People Go!’ is a cheerfully fun film that’s sadly unfunny
Let My People Go! Directed by Mikael Buch Written by Mikael Buch and Christophe Honoré France, 2011 While confiding with his Rabbi, Ruben (Nicolas Maury) begins checking off his laundry list of foibles. From his precarious relationship with a schoolteacher … [Read the Rest]
Hot Docs 2012: ‘Meet the Fokkens’ offers a charming, unusual personal narrative
Meet the Fokkens Written by Gabrielle Provaas and Rob Schröder Directed by Gabrielle Provaas Netherlands, 2011 There is a long tradition in documentary film of personalizing unusual individuals. In fact the entire genre of first-person narrative documentary has largely revolved … [Read the Rest]
Hot Docs 2012: ‘The Ambassador’ a brave, darkly funny exposé
The Ambassador Written by Mads Brügger and Maja Jul Larsen Directed by Mads Brügger Denmark, 2011 As strange as it might sound to some people, documentary filmmakers are often exceptionally brave individuals. They are people who are at least willing … [Read the Rest]
TJFF 2012: ‘Naomi’ is a study of incurious people being unlikeable for unknowable reasons
Naomi Directed by Eitan Tzur Written by Edna Mazia Israel/France, 2010 If prostitution is the world’s oldest profession, then tales of infidelity must be one of the oldest forms of storytelling. From the bible to Nabokov, Adele’s entire discography to … [Read the Rest]
TJFF 2012: ‘Something Wild’ is an exhausting, glib, and outdated look at sexual assault
Something Wild Directed by Jack Garfein Written by Jack Garfein and Alex Karmel USA, 1961 For an era as socially untactful as the 1960’s, Jack Garfein’s Something Wild, a story about a young rape victim struggling with the aftermath of … [Read the Rest]
Fantasia Film Festival announces the selected projects of the Frontières International co-production market
Montreal’s Fantasia International Film Festival, (also known as Sound On Sight’s favourite film festival world wide), as well as widely acclaimed as one of the largest and most influential genre film festivals in the world, is embarking on its 16th edition … [Read the Rest]
TJFF 2012: ‘The Day I Saw Your Heart’ magically conciliates its flaws with French charm
The Day I Saw Your Heart Written and directed by Jennifer Devoldère France, 2011 In Richard Linklater’s Before Sunrise, Julie Delpy prophetically describes what it means to be French. Delpy’s Celine, while philosophizing with Ethan Hawke’s Jesse, says, “Each time … [Read the Rest]
TJFF 2012: ‘My Australia’ is morally facile, tonally capricious
My Australia Written and directed by Ami Drozd Israel/Poland, 2011 In the social and economic fallout that followed World War 2, ten-year old Tadek and his older brother Andrzej become victims of the decaying zeitgeist in post-war Poland. They benightedly … [Read the Rest]
Sundance London 2012 – you did good, Mr Redford.
29th April saw the last day of the Sundance London Film and Music festival, which took place at the O2 Arena. Sundance London was a highly-anticipated event. As the first Sundance festival to be hosted outside of its home in … [Read the Rest]
‘Miss Judy’ is a remarkable story in an unremarkable film
Miss Judy Directed by Eyal Tavor Israel, 2011 Judy Feld Carr, third from the right, with her family Judy Feld Carr is a Toronto housewife, mother of six. She is a musicologist and a president at her local synagogue. But … [Read the Rest]
TJFF 2012: ‘A Bottle in the Gaza Sea’ is a half full, half empty experience
A Bottle in the Gaza Sea Directed by Thierry Binisti Written by Thierry Binisti and Valérie Zenatti France/Canada/Israel, 2011 Friends who want to stay friends don’t discuss religion or politics. Contentious and divisive, discussions about these hot topic issues … [Read the Rest]
TJFF 2012: ‘The Last Flight of Petr Ginz’ highlights the best qualities of humanity
The Last Flight of Petr Ginz Directed by Sandra Dickson and Churchill Roberts USA, 2012 An old adage stipulates how history is written by the winners, so it’s extremely rare when it’s told by someone who has suffered the ultimate … [Read the Rest]
