“Tove” is Finnish gem. Impeccable as to acting, writing, cinematography and direction. As a reviewer of films, I have little interest in the big Hollywood “blockbusters” although I will admit “Sound of Metal” which received a few Oscar nominations was a welcome break from the Hollywood blockbusters one sees 70% of Air Canada passengers watchingContinue reading ““Tove”: Finnish Entry for Best International Feature Film at the 93rd Academy Awards””
Category Archives: film
“Socks on Fire”: A Poetic and Lyrical Journey into the Past
“Socks on Fire” is a very highly pedigreed documentary winning the Tribeca 2020 Grand Jury Winner Award for Best Documentary. It played again at Tribeca 2021. It will be showing at select locations in the United States now but I await word how you can see it throughout the world. A wider distribution deal isContinue reading ““Socks on Fire”: A Poetic and Lyrical Journey into the Past”
Brazilian Movie “Half Brother” (“Meio Irmão): A Bloodhound Critic Refusing to Be Taken off the Trail
As a reviewer of films, I have a network of distributors and producers that send me films for review purposes. At this point in time it is feast or even “La Grande Bouffe”. I am being recognized as a film critic. Strange considering that Toronto Film Critic’s Association refuses to admit me to their hallowedContinue reading “Brazilian Movie “Half Brother” (“Meio Irmão): A Bloodhound Critic Refusing to Be Taken off the Trail”
“Stateless”: Dominican Racism Against Dominicans of Haitian Descent and Haitians
“Stateless” (”Apátrida”) simply put is a documentary chronicling racism by Dominicans against Haitians and Dominicans of Haitian descent. Haiti and The Dominican Republic share the island of Hispaniola in the Caribbean Sea. Haiti is one of the poorest countries in world governed by a seemingly endless stream of corrupt leaders. The Dominican Republic (DR) isContinue reading ““Stateless”: Dominican Racism Against Dominicans of Haitian Descent and Haitians”
“Marry Me However”: Israeli Religious Community Struggles With Homosexuality: Toronto Jewish 2021 Film Festival
This documentary grapples with homosexuality amongst the religious community in Israel. The story is not new about “coming out” but it is new within a religious community where the gays are living within. The mainstream rabbinical community seems to ignore homosexuality and says get married, have a family and end of story. But the documentaryContinue reading ““Marry Me However”: Israeli Religious Community Struggles With Homosexuality: Toronto Jewish 2021 Film Festival”
“Forgiveness”: A Subtle Israeli Comedy: Toronto 2021 Jewish Film Festival
Yes Israeli criminals can be big bunglers as we see in “Forgiveness”. I would say it is a low toned comedic film full of subtleties you might easily miss if you are not familiar with Israeli society. At times its premise is delightfully absurd. Shaul and Nissan are robbing a post office safe. Shaul isContinue reading ““Forgiveness”: A Subtle Israeli Comedy: Toronto 2021 Jewish Film Festival”
“Asia”: Israeli Academy Awards Winner and the Inevitability of the End: Toronto 2021 Jewish Film Festival
After several years of reviewing Israeli films there is nothing second rate about them. Sure I have seen a few clunkers but such are very rare! No more than in the North American film industry. If one pays attention to the introduction of the film on the TJFF website one might be left with theContinue reading ““Asia”: Israeli Academy Awards Winner and the Inevitability of the End: Toronto 2021 Jewish Film Festival”
“Hors Normes” (The Specials): The 2021 Toronto Jewish Film Festival
“Hors Normes” leaves you a bit dazed when it begins but let it run and the pieces fit in very nicely. While in many senses it is a sort of tragedy about how the most difficult mentally challenged youth and young adults in France have no place to go for treatment. And treatment in theContinue reading ““Hors Normes” (The Specials): The 2021 Toronto Jewish Film Festival”
“Being Thunder”: Sometimes Interesting But Mostly Meandering: 2021 Inside Out Film Festival
The 2021 Inside Out Toronto LGBTQ Film Festival features many “LGBTQ” films one of which is “Being Thunder”. The promo material indicates the documentary is about Sherenté Harris, a two-sprit genderqueer teenager from the Narragansett tribe in Rhode Island in the United States as she “boldly challenges the status quo of what it means toContinue reading ““Being Thunder”: Sometimes Interesting But Mostly Meandering: 2021 Inside Out Film Festival”
“Thunderbird”: A Complex Film Packing a Wallop and Leaving Tantalizing Questions Unanswered
The last 6 minutes of the film will leave your head spinning and if you are looking for a clean resolution of the conflict and mystery it as if you are being taunted to use your imagination to glue together the pieces. This is solid and complex filmmaking and aside from a few awkward linesContinue reading ““Thunderbird”: A Complex Film Packing a Wallop and Leaving Tantalizing Questions Unanswered”
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