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.

VIFF: Keep The Lights On

Keep The Lights On is a movie about a film director named Eric who falls for Paul, a successful young man who also happens to be addicted to crystal meth. I liked this movie from the get-go. It began with images done by Boris Torres, a NYC artist that I am now totally obsessed with! Check out his artwork!

 

Then, it turns out the entire soundtrack for the movie is all Arthur Russell! Hello!!? Awesome!

The film also turned me onto the works of Avery Willard, whom I had never heard of before, but now am fascinated by!

Finally, the movie takes place in New York City, which is only my favourite place on Earth! So yeah, I was liking this film a lot!

 The story I could somewhat relate to, as I was once in love with an addict. It wasn't crystal meth, but I could see the whole dynamic of wanting to help out this person that you just love so much, and you'll make up all the excuses in the world for them and keep going back, even though the only thing they're wanting is their next fix. The film dragged in the end, only because it got frustrating and tedious to watch our main character Eric constantly keep returning to his crackhead lover. But I think that tedium may have been the point. Everyone else can see it, but when you're stuck in the middle of the storm like that, you only see what you want to see.  

Keep The Lights On is an official selection from Sundance and also the recipient of a Teddy Award at the Berlin International Film Festival. Check out the Vancouver International Film Festival website for more info!

VIFF: Call Me Kuchu

Another heavy and emotionally exhausting documentary (that's 2 in one day for me!) is Call Me Kuchu which documents the struggle for gay rights in Uganda. Wow. Holy shit. These people are courageous and brave and amazing. To be gay in that place sounds absolutely terrifying. I mean, the country was on the verge of passing a bill where it would be illegal to be gay and punishable by death! WTF people!! It wasn't until the international WORLD told them to STOP THAT SHIT.



Still, their plight is a heavy one. They've got an uphill battle but they are persistent and trying to make change and do right. This film is both inspiring and heartbreaking. I felt like I was literally watching the strength of the human spirit here at work. At times uplifting and hopeful, the documentary sheds light on what it is like to be gay in Uganda. For example, the local paper (whose editor is a total and complete ASSHOLE) likes to put photos of gay people on the front cover, outing them, and under the headline "Hang them!"  Great.  And did you know that if you participate in HIV testing (giving them or taking them) that this is seen as a "gay activity" and can cost you 7 years in jail!?? WHAT. THE. FUCK.



It was sad and infuriating at times to see what life would be like as a gay person in Uganda. Yet there were also celebratory scenes that included a drag show. However, the film takes a tragic turn when one of the main characters is murdered and the ensuing circus that takes place at his funeral is even more maddening. As a supporter from the USA says in the movie, "Uganda, WAKE UP!  STOP THE HATE!"



Call Me Kuchu has one more screening at the Vancouver International Film Festival. Catch it at 5pm on October 5th. You can purchase your ticket here.

VIFF: More Than Honey

 More Than Honey is a documentary about the collapse of bee colonies around the world, and how it will affect us. Mainly, because they are responsible for pollination, this would drastically affect the world's food supply. In this film, we are presented with a variety of reasons for why all the honey bees are dying out. It includes mixing of colonies by honey producers, which in turn spreads disease and infections. Unlike other films on the same topic, this one aims to provide a few solutions for us. We are shown at least two possible saviors to this critical crisis in nature. Will it be enough?

Find out on October 4th, by catching a screening of More Than Honey at the Vancouver International Film Festival at 6:20pm.

VIFF: Teddy Bear

Teddy Bear is a Danish film about a professional bodybuilder who lives with his aging mother and though physically imposing, is a shy introverted soul searching for love. The actor who plays Dennis does a wonderful job as the giant teddy bear, as does the actress who plays the Thai woman he eventually meets and falls in love with. It's a charming and endearing film, done from a very genuine place - no Hollywood rom com crap here.

VIFF: The Last White Knight

I had no idea that the director of this film also directed the documentary Prom Night in Mississippi, which focuses on a high school in the South that to this day, has all-white proms. The same director once went down to Mississippi back in the 1960s to help with the civil rights movement. While there, he was beaten up by KKK members. He has recently gone back down there and located one of his assailants, and has interviewed him and forms the basis of this documentary, The Last White Knight.




I had tears streaming down my face the moment the movie began. Watching these two older men talk about the incident that happened between them all those years ago, fighting for what they believed in and being on opposite sides of the issue. I hate hatred. It sucks. Watching this will definitely infuriate you. Interviews with Harry Belafonte and Morgan Freeman help balance out interviews with Klan members and the like.

It is a fascinating film that could very well be brought back for another screening! If so, try to catch it at the Vancouver International Film Festival!

Madonna MDNA Tour Vancouver - September 30, 2012

"Come on Vancouver, you stoned motherfuckers!" - Madonna

And so it was the 2nd night of Madonna's MDNA tour during her stop here in Vancouver! 
 
Well. It's just an embarrassment of riches. Not only did I get to go see Madonna two nights in a row, but I got to be in the coveted Golden Triangle area both times! Thank you so much Guy Oseary, who has been Twittering fans all over to give them these prized tickets!

 

Ok, Madonna was obviously pissed off at the Saturday night crowd, who (aside from the Golden Triangle) sat around and didn't dance or sing when she ordered them to. So people who were in the know came on Sunday ready to help redeem our city's reputation, for fear that she may shun us in the future! I mean, it ONLY took 20+ years for her to get here. We don't want to give her a reason to not come back, do we?

She began with Girl Gone Wild, with everybody singing along. I was all the way up at the front - second row, if there were rows - and could see the smile on her face and that she was indeed impressed with the Sunday crowd. At one point, we swear that she looked directly at us and stuck her tongue out in a cheeky manner.

Notably absent during the second show was Holiday and Like a Virgin. Was she punishing us for the previous night's lackluster audience? Or did she feel we were amped up enough already so didn't need to include Holiday? And I wasn't a huge fan of Like a Virgin the way she did it (very slow) so maybe they felt that it was too slow for us as there wasn't much reaction to it.

 

When she stripped down after Human Nature, on her back was the word "Slave" on Saturday night, but on Sunday night, it instead read, "Free Pussy Riot." There was a brief mention of smoking pot and she asked the crowd if it mellowed us out when we did it or if it made us all crazy, to which everyone cheered!

She also spoke about respecting one another. It went something like this:

Madonna: Do we care about whether the person beside us is black or white or another culture?

Vancouver: No!!!!!

M: Do we care what the person next to us believes in or what religion they belong to?!

Vancouver: No!!!!

M: Do you care if the person beside you is gay or straight?!!

Vancouver: No!!!

M: Do you care about what other people wear and the kind of clothes they have on!?!

Vancouver:  YES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

M: (laughing and smiling) Good. You can all work for me.

---------

 

She also asked where everyone was from. There were Brazilians to my left, and in front of me was a guy in a turban, whom she singled out and asked where he was from. His reply: Vancouver. That obviously wasn't exotic enough for her, so she continued, "But where's your FAMILY from!?" to which he replied, "India!" and that is what she was looking for, lol.

It was another awesome night with Madonna! Let's hope we managed to redeem our city's reputation with her and that this won't be the last time she visits!!