Dinner with Wayson Choy

Wayson Choy is the author of the acclaimed novel The Jade Peony, and also the writer who inspired me to find my voice.

"On October 15, 2012 at 11 am on the Southeast corner of the intersection of Pender and Gore, Project Bookmark Canada and Wayson Choy will unveil two plaques to highlight and commemorate the physical landscape so vividly rendered in Choy’s iconic novel, The Jade Peony. Members of the public are invited to attend the plaques’ unveiling and to hear the author read from his novel."

Tonight, there will be a special evening at Floata restaurant in Chinatown (180 Keefer St), a tribute dinner to Wayson.  Starting at 6pm, the night will feature stories and interviews from friends and family of Choy, as well as an 8 course Chinese dinner for $55.

Come and meet Wayson in person and have your books autographed by him! 

For more information, check out the webpage at RicePaper Magazine, or if you want to buy tickets, call Kristin Cheung at 778) 928-5408

VIFF: Holy Motors

Holy Motors!?! HOLY @#$#@#@$! !?


What in the world did I just watch??? I mean, what a way to end off the Vancouver International Film Festival but with an amazing yet completely bizarre French film that starred Kylie Minogue in it!?

Seriously though, WHAT THE HELL?

I think I have an idea of what this film was about, but then I think I kinda don't. It was awesome and I loved it, but I have no idea what the heck I watched!!

Thank you VIFF for bringing such a wonderful and original and creative and crazy and insane film to Vancouver!! And if you get a chance to see HOLY MOTORS, definitely do so as it will probably blow your mind or make you want to leave the theatre!

Little Shop of Horrors - Jericho Arts Centre

I had a date last night.

I don't think it worked out. I mean, I liked him. But I didn't feel like he was all that into me.

Oh well. I really should just go and get that cat I've been eyeing, right?

On the bright side of things, I got to go see Fighting Chance Productions' opening show of the season, Little Shop of Horrors!

This is the perfect treat for Halloween, so get a group together, bring your kids, and enjoy this musical horror comedy with catchy tunes and a hilarious story of a blood-thirsty plant, a nerdy botanist, and a psycho dentist! 

Kerry O'Donovan's shy but strong Seymour shone brightly, as did his co-star, Melissa Maxine, who as Audrey, belted out the numbers like a true stage diva. Greg Delmage - you can be my dentist any time!  Delmage juggled several hats, but none as delightful as the menacing Orin. The three ladies who made up the singing trio of Chiffon, Ronette, and Crystal had fabulous chops and helped add humour to the already funny show. 

Little Shop Of Horrors plays at the Jericho Arts Centre now until October 27! Go suddenly see more shows this Fall! Don't miss out! 

VIFF: Closing Gala tickets available!

I'm exhausted. I have VIFF fatigue. That's what happens when you're not prepared to do film after film after film. I'm not a pro like some of the folks who go to this, taking time off work and packing their breakfast, lunch, and dinner with them. Good on ya, and I'm envious at all the films you get to see. It's winding down already, with the Closing Gala a few days away.

 

Vancouver International Film Festival has recently released more tickets for the closing gala. For the first time ever they are presenting a film on the huge 50 foot screen of The Centre in Vancouver for Performing Arts, and doing so with newly installed digital image and sound. The large capacity of The Centre also allows us to open this closing awards gala event to the general public.

Here's a unique chance to see one of the most highly anticipated films of the year in high style! The film is Holy Motors, and Vogue magazine recently called it "An exhilarating tour de force... The most astonishing film at Cannes."

Holy Motors closing gala event is Friday, October 12, 7 PM, at The Centre in Vancouver for Performing Arts, right across from the library.

VIFF: Rust and Bone

On this past Thanksgiving weekend, I was thankful to the Vancouver International Film Festival for bringing this amazing movie from France to our city. Starring the incomparable Marion Cotillard, Rust and Bone is a love story between a underground ultimate fighter and a killer whale trainer who suffers a serious accident.



Beautiful and tragic and sexy and romantic. Cotillard's delivers yet another must-see performance.

VIFF: Any Day Now

I first noticed Alan Cumming when I saw him years ago in Romy and Michelle's High School Reunion. He showed up in X-Men movies, blew Broadway away as the Emcee in Cabaret, and has appeared on multiple TV shows, most recently reuniting with Romy & Michelle's Lisa Kudrow for her show Web Therapy.





In the film, Any Day Now, Cumming puts in a tour-de-force performance. His portrayal of a drag performer who winds up fighting for custody of his neighbour's Down syndrome son is tender and moving. His drag act could be spiced up a bit, but he shines when he's showing off those Broadway chops of his in three scenes that feature him singing.

Heartbreaking and frustrating, this is a fact-based movie about a gay couple in the 1970s trying to gain custody of an unwanted mentally challenged 15 year-old.

Winner of the Audience Award: Narrative at the Tribeca Film festival.

Any Day Now plays at the Vancouver International Film Festival on Monday, Oct 8 at 9:30pm.

VIFF: Laurence Anyways

Montreal's golden boy Xavier Dolan (Heartbeats, I Killed My Mother) returns with his third feature length film, Laurence Anyways.

 

This two hour and forty minute epic tells the story of a relationship between Frederique and Laurence. When Laurence tells Frederique that he is transgendered and wants to become a woman, so begins the long and tumultuous journey that the two begin together.

Shot with Dolan's unique and aesthetically pleasing camerawork, with an inspired soundtrack to accompany the events on screen, this is an ambitious film that successfully tackles a sensitive topic while making you feel compassion for both of the lead characters, despite them being on opposite sides of the issue.

Unlike his other two films, Dolan does not feature in this one, though I do think I caught a cameo of him in the party scene where Frederique escapes to.

Laurence Anyways plays today, Sunday Oct 7, at 1:30pm at the Vancouver International Film Festival.