VIFF: Everything Will Be

Julia Kwan's Everything Will Be is a strikingly moving and beautifully shot documentary about Vancouver's changing Chinatown.

Perhaps I was moved by it because of my own connection with the neighbourhood, recalling my childhood when I would go down there with my parents every Sunday to grocery shop and get a haircut at the corner shop barber. The film showcases the very many stories that are thriving right now in the area, from an upstart artist trying to make his way to a club of senior citizens coming together daily to form a singing group.

There is no one narrator, as the film suggests that Chinatown is more about the parts that make the whole. Even real estate guru Bob Rennie is featured talking about the changing neighbourhood and what he's tried to do to preserve what he can. It's a gorgeous film that will guide you through all the hidden nooks and crannies of Vancouver's historic Chinatown - perfect for any local who wants to rediscover its lost magic.

Poignant, touching, and charming, Everything Will Be plays on Sept 29, Oct 1, and Oct 3 at the Vancouver International Film Festival.

VIFF: Foxcatcher

There is Oscar buzz surrounding this film about the true life story of US Olympian wrestler Mark Schultz (Channing Tatum) and his brother Dave (Mark Ruffalo), and their relationship to John E. Dupont played by a very creepy Steve Carrell.

The performances are great in this film, especially Carrell, who will likely be giving me nightmares for weeks to come. It's an intense experience, dramatic but with points of humour. I had no idea who any of these people were before this film, nor had I heard of the famous Dupont family before either. However, isn't that one of the marks of a good movie going experience? That you want to find out more about these characters after it's done? Especially since it is a true story. Ruffalo delivers as always, and Tatum once again proves he's more than a rom-com/action hero/StepUpMagicMike trick pony.

Catch Foxcatcher at the Vancouver International Film Festival on Oct 2 (3:15pm) and Oct 10 (9:30pm) at the Centre For Performing Arts.

VIFF: The Vancouver Asahi

This one is gonna be a sell-out, so get your tickets quick! I was lucky enough to attend the media screening and even that was a full house. Perhaps it's because of the local interest - the film is set in and about Vancouver! Or perhaps it's because it's the powerful true story of a local Japanese-Canadian baseball team that bridged communities, fought against all odds, and provided hope amongst a backdrop of racism, World War II, and an impending black mark on Canadian history - the internment camps.

Gorgeously shot, this film is a joint effort from Japan/Canada and is heartbreaking as much as it is heartwarming. With anti-Asian sentiment at a high these days in Vancouver, perhaps this film is timely and relevant and a good reminder about the ugliness of humanity and the strength and fortitude of individuals and community.

The Vancouver Asahi shows on Sept 29 (6:30pm) and Oct 4 (2:30pm) at the Centre for Performing Arts, and on Oct 10 at 1pm at the Vancouver Playhouse. Don't miss this extraordinary feature!

Find out more information about the real life Vancouver Asahi here at the Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame.

VIFF: Trespassing Bergman

I don't really know who Ingmar Bergman is. Apparently he's a famous film director, that a lot of the greats look up to, including Woody Allen, Martin Scorsese, Lars Von Trier, and many more who are all featured in this documentary about Bergman's secluded life in Sweden.

If you are a film buff and know who he is, you might have caught Liv & Ingmar which showed at last year's film festival. This provides a good bookend to that, which I also saw and also didn't quite understand having no previous knowledge of his backstory.

Trespassing Bergman did provide more of a background on his film work and life, so I found that helpful in getting to know who he was and why he was so famous. After seeing this, I'm now more intrigued to see some of his work, including Persona, The Seventh Seal, and Fanny and Alexander.

Trespassing Bergman shows on September 25, Oct 1, and Oct 5 at the Vancouver International Film Festival.

Vancouver International Film Festival !!

Are you ready for it?? It's that time of year again! Nothing says Autumn better than the Vancouver International Film Festival! VIFF opens its doors this week, September 25 and runs to October 10, so pick up a free program (yes it's totally free this year!) or head over to their website online and click around to browse through the films you want to go see! Fun Fun Vancouver will be dedicating the next two weeks to VIFF, so stay tuned...!! Happy Film Festing!

Word Vancouver

Sept 24 - 28

"This is Word Vancouver, Western Canada’s largest celebration of literacy and reading. Held during the last week of September at various venues throughout the city, our festival promotes books and authors with free exhibits, performances, and hands-on activities for a wide range of ages and interests."

Check out WordVancouver.Ca for more!

The 39 Steps

Opening up its 52nd season (!) last night was the Metro Theatre, bringing its 486th show to audiences with the classic play The 39 Steps, by Patrick Barlow. If you've never seen this Hitchcock meets Monty Python theatre noir farce, it's wonderfully done here at the Metro, with Tom Parkinson, Jenny McLaren, Trevor Roberts, and David Wallace pulling off a multitude of characters as they charge through the revolving door of victims, police officers, villains, and heroes.

The 39 Steps is on now until October 11th at the Metro Theatre.