Sunday, February 11, 2018

OH LUCY - Victoria Film Festival 2018

Boys, girls, women, men, romance, sex, joy, breakup, sorrow.  Universal themes, old as time. We "fall in love," and we do ridiculous things.  We get hurt, so we hurt others. 

OH LUCY lets us peer into a funhouse mirror.  We can laugh out loud.  We can yell "NO!, what are you doing?!"  Maybe we can make some peace with ourselves, our families, our friends.  Or, like Lucy, we can simply let go of what no longer serves us.

OH LUCY screens Sunday February 11th at 6:30 pm at The Vic Theatre.  You can buy tickets HERE.





Saturday, February 10, 2018

Cardinals - Victoria Film Festival 2018

For the #metoo initiated it's often, if not always, a damned if you do and damned if you don't scenario. 

At the risk of giving too much away, suffice it to say that we can only hope the day will arrive when the Cardinals storyline (and those like it) will be relegated to the annals of history.

Cardinals screens Friday February 2nd at 9 pm and Sunday February 11th at 9 pm at SilverCity.

You can search for tickets HERE.




Edie - Victoria Film Festival 2018

If you're elder, fit, and able, with too many years in an abusive relationship behind you, why not choose an adventure in the Scottish Highlands over a forced trip to a nursing facility?  Sometimes you've just got to follow your heart and trust that the universe will help you be where your soul needs to be.  And maybe, like Edie, serendipity will gift you in sometimes confusing, but often amazing ways.

This film is inspiring, encouraging, nurturing.  Show me an elder person who doesn't want to hear a younger person say "if only I was a bit older."  Yeah, the plot is a bit faulty and unrealistic in parts, but it's fun to witness Edie's determination, real or imagined.

Edie screens at the Victoria Film festival Friday February 9th at 7 pm at Sidney's Star Theatre, and Saturday February 10th at 6:30 pm at The Vic Theatre.

You can buy your tickets HERE.




Friday, February 9, 2018

AUDIO: Stephen Campanelli, Director, 'Indian Horse'

Stephen Campanelli’s Indian Horse received the Calgary Film Festival’s Audience Award for Narrative Feature, and was People’s Choice winner at last year’s Vancouver International Film Festival. Indian Horse is an adaptation of the Richard Wagamese’s widely acclaimed novel about an Ojibway boy, and his abduction into Canada’s residential school system.

Campanelli is a Canadian director, and long-time Hollywood camera operator, working within legendary actor/director and producer Clint Eastwood’s rarefied filmmaking circle. Among others, he’s collaborated with Eastwood on the films: ‘Million Dollar Baby’. ‘Gran Torino’, ‘Sully’, and their latest, and 21st collaboration, ’15:17 to Paris’. Indian Horse is Campanelli's second film in the director’s chair, following 2015’s ‘Momentum’.

CLICK HERE FOR A 20 MINUTE RADIO INTERVIEW


Indian Horse screens Sunday February 11th at 6:15 pm at SilverCity.  Buy your tickets HERE.




Monday, February 5, 2018

Romantic Road - Victoria Film Festival 2018

If ever a couple of elder friends tell you they're going to circumnavigate the Indian subcontinent in their 1936 Rolls Royce, grab your camera and film the heck out of their journey. That's what Oliver McGarvey did.  This is his first feature film, and it's fantastic.

Be thankful for the opportunity to live vicariously along this great adventure.  If Oliver hadn't been there to document, it's doubtful some of these exploits would be believed.  It's certain that it was a once in a lifetime enterprise, something that can never quite be reenacted. Definitely a story Rupert and Jan's family will pass along for many generations.

Romantic Road screens Friday February 9th at 6:15 pm at SilverCity and Sunday February 11th at 3:30 pm at Sidney's Star Cinema.

Watch a trailer by going to this WEBSITE HERE.



And buy your tickets HERE.



Sunday, February 4, 2018

The Swan (Svanurinn) - Victoria Film Festival 2018

Sometimes the best way to survive is to "just get used to it."  Other times we go against the grain and reject what doesn't make sense.  It's not easy to forge that independent path, especially if you're a young girl living in a remote environment, isolated from a supportive peer group.

Sol's journey reminds us to stay true to ourselves, to hold onto courageous youthful insight.  Because perceptions are unique to the individual and where some experience monsters, others find only beauty.

The Swan screens Monday February 5th at 6:30 pm at The Vic Theatre.  You can buy tickets HERE




The Untold Tales of Armistead Maupin - Victoria Film Festival 2018

It's unlikely that the culture of San Francisco circa 1970 will ever exist again anywhere ever.  Young Armistead Maupin found his way there, he found himself there, as did so many beautiful creative souls.  And together they changed the world.

If you relate to the current movement towards a more fluid sexual identity you'll want to know Armistead.  After you watch this film, you will.

If you feel like you already know Armistead, you've got this film on your list of must sees at this year's festival.  

Whoever you are, you won't be disappointed.

The Untold Tales of Armistead Maupin screens Sunday February 4th at 7 pm at Sidney's Star Theatre, and Tuesday February 6th at 9 pm at SilverCity.





Let Yourself Go (Lasciati Andare) - Victoria Film Festival 2018

Chris Cook's review of 

Let Yourself Go (Lasciati Andare)
Francesco Amato
Italy 2017 (subtitles)

Let Yourself Go to Francesco Amato's breezy film of the same name. Its final screening at this year's Victoria Film Festival is 4pm Friday, Feb. 9th at The Vic theatre downtown.

Amato pays homage to La Grande Bellezza, and the Romans making it grande, in this throwback to the heyday of Italy's Commedia All'Italiana. Though the modern incarnation lacks the style and raw sex appeal of Marcello, Gina, and Sophia (and who could hope to match that!) Let Yourself Go does capture the essential spirit of the genre audiences on both sides of the Atlantic found irresistible.

As with the films of Monicelli, Ettore Scola and the rest of the Commedia retinue, Francesco Amato includes just enough real world grit and honest pathos to make the film funny, without being silly.

So go ahead and laugh out loud with Let Yourself Go.


Saturday, February 3, 2018

Radiance - Victoria Film Festival 2018

Able bodied people take so much for granted.  We just do. 

We might think abstractly about whether it'd be worse to be born blind, or to lose our eyesight.  We can blindfold ourselves and try to get around for an hour, or an afternoon, to show some empathy.  But we'll never really know what it is to live in a world that still hasn't realized accessibility as a basic human right. 

Naomi Kawase's film, Radiance, is beautiful.  Radiant.  It's brilliantly filmed, and scripted, and it's simple while offering the opportunity for complexity.  The play within the play, the art imitating life motif, themes of loss and intrusion, insights into what happens to the brain within the darkness.

If you have a sight impaired Japanese speaking friend, you could bring them to a screening.  They'd probably have a lot to say about it afterwards.  If you're gifted enough to be able to read, perhaps think twice before complaining too loudly about subtitles.

Radiance screens Saturday February 3rd at 1:30 pm and Thursday February 8th at 9:15 pm at Capitol 6.  Buy your tickets HERE.

Our People Will Be Healed - Victoria Film Festival 2018

This title could read "Our People ARE BEING Healed"! 

What a wonderfully inspiring film. Who knew that the small but powerful community of Norway House offers such a positive example for healing and reconciliation. 

Music, music, and more music.  An annual Music Jamboree with more violins in one room than could even be thought possible.  Publically funded classrooms that include special needs kids, a safe place to learn about First Nations history, plus 'European' and contemporary teachings too.  Experiential learning, outside, in canoes, along rivers, camping and honouring the traditional ways of the ancestors while considering the realities of the now.  Encouraging each individual to find their talent, their niche, and nurturing their confidence to reach for and achieve their goals.

This film is beautiful.  Uplifting.  Inspiring hope.  Don't miss it.


Our People Will Be Healed screens Saturday February 3rd 9:00 pm at The Vic.  Buy your tickets HERE.





Friday, February 2, 2018

Radio Interview with Charles Officer, Director of "Unarmed Verses"

Unarmed Verses chronicles the imposed relocation of residents of Villaways, a low-income Toronto neighbourhood, through the eyes of aspiring poet, Francine Valentine. 
It’s already received a string of awards, including: Best Canadian Feature Documentary at Hot Docs, The People’s Choice Award at the Toronto Film Festival, and the Vancouver International Film Festival’s choice as Best Canadian Documentary of 2017. 
Unarmed Verses screens on the first day of the festival, Friday night at 6:30pm at the Capitol 6, and in a matinee on the VFF’s final day, Sunday February 11th at the Vic Theatre.
CLICK HERE to listen to a radio interview with film director Charles Officer, from February 1st 2018 (starts half way through).