Toronto International Film Festival Archives - Page 4 of 10

Toronto International Film Festival 2022: Interview With Director Michal Blaško Of VICITM

TORONTO INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL 2022: NORTH OF NORMAL & VICTIM

While the North of Normal and Victim both revolve around motherhood, its central protagonists could not be any more different from one another.

Toronto International Film Festival 2022: TRIANGLE OF SADNESS, DE HUMANI CORPORIS FABRICA & PACIFICATION

In the first report from the 2022 Toronto Film Festival, Soham Gadre reviewed Triangle of Sadness, Pacification and De Humani Corporis Fabrica!

A melancholic immigrant story As someone who was born and raised in Scarborough, I can say that Brother isn’t meant to be a complete representation of one’s experience living in the suburb. It is, however, a ballad of the immigrant experience and the confined opportunities that often come with that experience. Despite being in a country with relative freedoms, the film’s characters are forced to make decisions that are circumstantial at best. The idea that they have to choose between one thing or another – whether it’s family over true happiness, power over safety – is such a powerful statement and really underscores the entire narrative. Even if the story itself isn’t what every immigrant might experience, the collective struggles of making imperfect decisions helps establish a commonality for viewers. And having elements of a typical narrative documenting a world of racially charged violence, Virgo finds a way to elevate the film’s narration by creating an overly somber tone that constantly evolves with the story's alternating timelines. From the very beginning, there’s something ominous with the way Virgo establishes the film. Whether it’s Guy Godfree’s muted cinematography or Todor Kobakov’s melancholic score, Brother feels almost like a modernized Greek tragedy on a smaller scale. There’s a sense of grandeur seeping through its narrative core, creating a sense of purpose in what the film is trying to say. This becomes particularly apparent with the film’s emphatic detailing of police brutality, which always feels weighted, but never exploitative. Virgo knows how to deliver a strong message, and does so without signs of sensationalism.

Toronto International Film Festival 2022: BROTHER

Flexing his filmmaking prowess here, Clement Virgo’s Brother is a striking example of narrative storytelling that reaches a high emotional altitude.

TIFF 2021: Scarborough

Scarborough follows the lives of three families and expands on their struggles and triumphs as they navigate through adversity.

TIFF 2021: FLEE: Animation as Therapy

Jonas Poher Rasmussen’s Flee uses animation as a form of therapy for both its central subject and the audience.

TIFF 2021: THE HUMANS

With The Humans, director Stephen Karam uses cinematic space and language to transform his play into one remarkable film.

TIFF 2021: BERGMAN ISLAND

Just like the movie-within-a-movie style Hansen-Løve uses to tell the story, her latest film is a layered, intelligent work full of reflection about art, life, and relationships.

TIFF 2021: Interview with Director/Writer Blaine Thurier and Actress Alanna Bale of KICKING BLOOD

Film Inquiry sat down with Blaine Thurier and Alanna Bale sat down to their latest film, Kicking Blood, as part of TIFF 2021.

TIFF 2021 Report 4: ZALAVA, SUNDOWN, THE GOOD HOUSE & SILENT NIGHT

Kristy Strouse gives us her final report from this year’s Toronto International Film Festival with her last four film reviews.

TIFF 2021: WHERE IS ANNE FRANK: Creative Animation Vs. Wonky Plot

Ari Folman’s latest Where Is Anne Frank is a kaleidoscope of beautiful visuals and good intentions, even if some of them don’t exactly land.

TIFF 2021: Director Penny Lane for LISTENING TO KENNY G

Listening to Kenny G is an examination of what art is or should be, and details it through the lens of an artist who is not given the credit he deserves.

TIFF21 Report 3: The Mad Women’s Ball, Out of Sync & I’m Your Man

Kristy Strouse shares her third report from the 2021 Toronto International Film Festival with reviews for The Mad Women’s Ball, Out of Sync & I’m Your Man.

TIFF 2021 Report 2: SILENT LAND, ENCOUNTER & DUG DUG

With Kristy Strouse’s next report she covers Silent Land, Encounter and Dug Dug!

HIFF Report 1: SPENCER, NINJABABY, FACELESS, & BEING BEBE

TIFF 2021: SPENCER & THE EYES OF TAMMY FAYE

In the latest report from TIFF 2021, Wilson Kwong reviews the unique biopics films Spencer and The Eyes of Tammy Faye.

TIFF 2021 Report 1: ALONERS, VIOLET & THE HILL WHERE LIONESSES ROAR

Kristy Strouse shares her first report with three films from Toronto International Film Festival, all female and directorial debuts.