Monthly Archives: September 2009

TIFF ’09 | Partir

Déjà vu. Another French movie with Kristin Scott Thomas being actually present again at the same venue, the lovely Winter Garden Theatre. This time, she passed right in front of us in the chicest black dress — a close brush with celebrity, you might say! Last year, I was so thrilled to see her, one of my favorite artists in the movie industry, at the screening of “Il y a longtemps que je t’aime“, which I consider as one of my all-time favorite movies. This year, she appeared again at the screening of “Partir” by director Catherine Corsini.

In “Partir”, Kristin plays the passionate character as mother of two, who falls in love in a dramatic fashion. At times, you may consider her as a cruel mother and a cheating wife, but at the same time, you wish you had the guts she had and to sacrifice everything to make her heart happy.

Once again, Kristin stole the whole movie with her amazing acting. Being bilingual, she mentioned during the Q&A session that she loves working in movies based where she actually lives and luckily has the advantage of being able to accept roles in both English and French. She is probably one of the coolest and the most confident people I have seen, and not just among actresses. She is just so comfortable in her own skin behind and in front of the camera.

What a great TIFF experience!

S

“I find I’m so excited, I can barely sit still or hold a thought in my head. I think it is the excitement only a free man can feel, a free man at the start of a long journey whose conclusion is uncertain. I hope I can make it across the border. I hope to see my friend, and shake his hand. I hope the Pacific is as blue as it has been in my dreams. I hope.”

Ellis Boyd ‘Red’ Redding (Morgan Freeman) in The Shawshank Redemption (1994)

TIFF ’09 | Chloe

Chloe“, by the famous Canadian director Atom Egoyan, was the second movie on my list at the TIFF this year. In fact, it was the gala night as well as the world premiere, so I had the privilege to see (though not meet) my favorite redhead, actress Julianne Moore, who sported a beautiful emerald-colored dress on the red carpet. Among the cast and crew were also Mr. Egoyan who made a brief introduction to the film and Amanda Seyfried, who plays the character of Chloe. Too bad Liam Neeson couldn’t make it!

The movie showcases many feelings which can indeed happen in anyone’s life. Suspicion and desire; jealousy and seduction; cheating and love. Reminded me somewhat of another movie in a similar genre, “Fatal Attraction”, which I watched in my teenage years.

“Chloe” was shot in the beautiful city of Toronto (aha!), showing famous landmarks, streets, hotels and cafés. At times I found it distracting to watch a movie in the city you know like the back of your hand.

I wouldn’t necessarily call “Chloe” ‘festival material’, but a great Hollywood suspense-drama.

S

TIFF ’09 | Irène

What a brilliant way to start off this year’s festival with “Irène.”

A beautiful memoir put into film by the elderly French director, monsieur Alain Cavalier, who used a handheld video camera to shoot his old journals filled with memories of his beautiful wife “Irène”, their deep relationship, while spanning the rooms of the house they were staying at before her sudden death. The random pictures of Irène scattered around the place and the narration of the director with his aged and at times vulnerable voice were truly heartfelt; talking about those hidden images, the forbidden ones and the ones in his own mind as opposed to those frozen in frames. My favorite quote, however, was when he mentioned, if love happens, it’s silly for it to end.

I left the theatre with a strong feeling of satisfaction and anxious to watch it *again* next week to round off my 2009 festival experience with a movie I totally loved.

S

“Yes, women are stronger than us. They face more directly the problems that confront them, and for that reason they are much more spectacular to talk about. I don’t know why I am more interested in women, because I don’t go to any psychiatrists, and I don’t want to know why.”

Pedro Almodóvar

TIFF ’09 | Green Porno: Scandalous Sea

The famous Italian actress, Isabella Rossellini, was in the city yesterday on behalf of *Green Porno: Scandalous Sea*, an art installation and a series of short films written by and starring the actress that will be on display at the ROM during the TIFF ’09.

Isabella’s voice is featured in the animated film *My Dog Tulip*, which will be also screening at the Toronto International Film Festival.

Stay tuned for more on the festivities…

S

TIFF ’09 | September 10 – 19, 2009

OK gang… The TIFF 2009 will be kicking off tomorrow with tons of wicked movies in the house… Once again, Toronto will be experiencing an AHHH-MAZING atmosphere, welcoming the 34rd year of one of the most famous movie festivals in North America… Many stars, including mister heart-throb Matt Damon, George “Handsome Dude” Clooney, Oprah Winfrey, and my favorite Kristin Scott Thomas will be hitting the red carpet over the next week…

I personally have a very special guest, Bob the Great (!), arriving this afternoon all the way from Munich to share his movie-loving experiences with his Torontonian friends… We all have many films on our agendas this year — I’ll be sure to share them with you once I get a chance…

Salute to all the movie lovers out there… Stay tuned for more…

S