So, I’ve seen the most controversial movie of the year. TIFF bigwig Cameron Bailey said the Danish director of Antichrist “isn’t trying to shock or offend,” with his “very personal film,” but I’d dispute that. Lars von Trier is a shit-disturber. He helped found the Dogma cinematic movement, both a rigorous aesthetic and a genius […]
Atlantic Film Festival
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Atlantic Film Fest: Monday’s Picks
Sadly, the work week may be on, but there’s still lots of AFF fun. Here’s where we are: Wings of Desire (Dal Art Gallery, 5pm): Wim Wenders’ beautiful film is an all-time classic, also inspiring one of the worst remakes ever, starring Nic Cage and Meg Ryan. Atlantic Shorts (Park Lane 8, 7pm, 9:20pm): Stomp, […]
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AFF review: Funday Sunday!
L-R: Josh MacDonald, Sherry Smith, Don Ritchie, Michael McPhee, Sara English and Scott Simpson Coast coverboy, Nathan Fielder’s doc (and that is a loose description of it) Love and Cameras in America has the gloss, feel and tone of an ambitious experiment, and often feels like a success, though some elements keep it from greatness. […]
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AFF Day 3: Ladies come out on top of docs
Already one of my highlights for the festival, Become a Microscope, is a short doc about 1960s pop artist Sister Corita, an inspiring nun who taught at a Catholic LA college, and who became an influential force in the art world, making friends with the Eames brothers and Hitchcock. The doc’s by Aaron Rose (with a soundtrack by Money Mark), who is best known for the Beautiful Losers art movement, and it’s gorgeously shot, with brilliant-hued archive footage and photos. Corita’s serigraphs, which Rose animates, wouldn’t look out of place beside a Yo Rodeo or Seripop poster on a
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Atlantic Film Fest: Sunday’s Picks
It may be day of rest for some, but not us! Here are a few picks for Sunday: Atlantic Shorts || (Park Lane 8, 2pm): See our story on Ariella Palka’s short film Burning Rubber, about the connections between rural car culture and contemporary art. Ten points if you spot the arts editor. Love and […]
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AFF: Back and forth through time
As film curator Ron Foley MacDonald explained before this afternoon’s screening of Wim Wenders’ Paris,Texas, Wenders is the German director with the most international vision—with Werner Herzog a close second. Wenders is fascinated with the creative impulse—he’s made documentaries about other filmmakers and musicians, including his award-winning film about the Buena Vista Social Club—and a […]
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AFF Day 2: French separatism and British music parties
Les Colocs get the crowds into a frenzy. I started the film fest off with a healthy dinner—let’s see how the diet deteriorates over the week—and then it was off to Dédé, à travers les brume, a Quebec film, directed by Jean-Philippe Duval and produced by Roger Frappier, who introduced the movie. The mostly francophone […]
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Once more unto the breach…
Though I share some of Hillary’s sentiment about Crackie, I don’t think I enjoyed it quite as much as she did. I did like its grit and unglamourous view of life ‘round the bay. The performances were excellent, especially from Maghan Greeley in her first film role. Joel Thomas Hynes as bad boy Duffy reminded […]
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I Killed My Mother n’avec pas English Subtitles
I killed My Mother, J’ai tue ma mere en francais, the multiple prize winner at the Cannes Film Festival from Quebecois wunder-kinder Xavier Dolan, is apparently without English subtitles, as both a volunteer and the box office manager told me. This is frustrating as I was excited to see this film. Please, if you attended […]
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Parallel Universes
Parallels in tone, motifs, stories, etc. is emerging as a recurring theme among the films I’ve already seen at this year’s Fest (4 so far). Today, I saw the the gritty yet beguiling entry from NFLD, Crackie. Following young Mitsie (Meaghan Greely, not ‘Kristie’ Booth as it says in the AFF guide. Kristen Booth makes […]
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Photo gallery: Atlantic Film Fest gala
Last night’s Atlantic Film Fest was an odd affair, but definitely memorable. You still had your sparkle-gowned ladies and skinny-suited men, but they were eating chips under the halo glow of trailer lights. Some looked confused; others, relieved to be let loose in an arena (someone suggested a few were helped by cocaine, but I know that doesn’t happen in Halifax, right?), and the familiar smells of ice, zamboni trails and male musk. I agree with my blogging peeps Carsten and Hillary that the removal of the VIP area was really great, in terms of seeing more people and making
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Atlantic Film Fest: Friday’s picks
How are you going to spend your first full day of the Atlantic Film Fest? Here’s where you’ll find us: Act of God (7pm, Park Lane 4): Lightning only needs to strike once to have a life-changing impact. Jennifer Baichwal (Manufactured Landscapes) speaks to survivors in this gorgeous documentary. Dede, a travers les brumes (7:15pm, […]