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The Falling

Dramatic, Capitol 6, Sat. Jan. 30, 10 am & Sun. Jan 31, 9:30 pm

Raul Sanchez Inglis, BC, 1998, 95 min.
An affair turned love triangle, turned separation, told from the various points of view of the participants. It's not just a cookie cutter variation of Well, everybody sees things differently so I guess we'll never know what really happened idea. Here the stories overlap to create real plot points of understanding with the individual stories helping to illuminate character viewpoints indirectly but beautifully. Good lighting and cinematography bordering on experimental in the use of colour. The Falling has been nominated for a Genie for Best Cinematography.
Tidbit: Director Raul Sanchez grew up in Victoria and co-wrote the script for Crash.

Under Heaven

Dramatic, Capitol 6, Sat. Jan 30, 3:00 pm & Thurs. Feb. 4, 7:15 pm

Meg Richman, USA, 1998, 113 min., Canadian Premiere
Following a cough syrup hallucination of God, a young woman, Cynthia (Molly Parker of Kissed & Twitch City) leaves Buck, the man she is supposed to be destined to love to work in the house of a dying woman. Buck follows her and the three develop a a genuine bond until Cynthia decides that life would improve considerably if only the dying Eleanor would fall in love with Buck. Under Heaven is eerie in that you sense no evil from our pair but this peek into the human soul is disturbing. This contemporary reworking of Wings of the Dove packs much more emotional punch than its original costume drama. The screenwriter & director give the viewer more in terms of psychological motivation & context.

Print: Motion International
33 Yonge St. Suite 1020
Toronto, Ontario M5E 1S9

Dancing at Lughnasa

Dramatic, Capitol 6 Sun. Jan. 31, 7:15 pm & Tues. Feb. 2, 9:30

Pat O'Connor, IRELAND/USA, 1997, 95 min.
Set in a quaint 1930s Irish farm home, it would be easy to believe that Dancing at Lughnasa is just a tale of conflicting times and growing into new technologies. Of course, this is not the case for it is the tale of five sisters and the family they are trying to hold together. Problems are brought to the forefront when their brother returns home from years as a missionary in Africa, bearing dark secrets that spark controversy in the church and town. The central conflict to all these stories is the struggle to be together, and to dance and celebrate life. But in the unfolding of that one theme, their story crosses the lines of politics, war, religion, ideology, and love. See this one on the big screen before you're only chance is to watch it on video. Stars Meryl Streep who turns in an unsurprisingly great performance. Based on a play by Tony Award Winner Brian Friel and directed by Pat O'Connor (The January Man, Circle of Friends, Inventing the Abbotts)

Print: Behaviour Distribution
2221 Yonge Street, Suite 400
Toronto, Ontario M4S 2B4

Earth

Dramatic Sun. Jan. 31, 12:30 pm & Tues. Feb. 2, 7:15 pm

Deepa Mehta, INDIA, 1998, 100 min., Western Canadian Premiere
From the director of the controversial Fire. As 1947 India teeters on the brink of self-rule, a young woman falls in love with one of her many suitors in this passionate and heart rendering love story. Director Deepa Mehta follows up "Fire" (the first in her trilogy on the elements) with Earth, a beautiful crafting of political and personal themes that are seamlessly woven into a complex organic whole. Earth is brimming with wonderful metaphors and an exhilarating musical score.

Print: Behaviour Distribution
2221 Yonge Street, Suite 400
Toronto, Ontario M4S 2B4

Summer's End

Dramatic, Conference Centre Theatre, Sat. Jan. 30, 9:30 pm

Helen Shaver, ONT., 1998, Canadian Premiere
Starring James Earl Jones and the perennial Canadian favourite Al Waxman this film is actress Helen Shaver's feature debut. Summer's End is a coming of age story in which a 12 year old boy comes to terms with his father's death, after he befriends a black man whose own father was lynched in front of him.

Extraordinary Visitor

Dramatic, Capitol 6, Mon. Feb. 1, 9:30 pm

John W. Doyle, NFLD., 1998, 86 minutes
John the Baptist is back.
He has seven days to save the world.
Why is he in Newfoundland?
Filmed all on location in the only east-coast cod-catching land that matters.
Stars Andy Jones and Mary Walsh of Codco and This Hour has 22 Minutes.

Print: Cinema Esperanca International
96 Spadina Avenue, Suite 301
Toronto, Ontario M5V 2J6

Heart of the Sun

Dramatic, Capitol 6 Sat. Jan. 30, 7:15 pm & Sun. Jan 31, 3:00 pm

Frances Damberger, ALBERTA, 1998, 93 min.
Nightly in the news, there are land treaties settled and formal apologies issued from governments and churches. These incidents are rarely told in the narrative structure in this country yet Germany continues to deal with its past in its themes. This aspect seems strangely lacking in Canadian cinema. Heart of the Sun, concerns itself with the issue of Canada's forced sterilizations under eugenics legislation (condemned in the 70's) and how it relates to issues of power. If state and church have us in their stranglehold will people use these institutions to impose their will on others or circumvent one by using the other. It all seems to come down to the issues of want and desire. The main character wants only a child with the man she loves; her husband wants to love, protect and raise a family; her mother wants only to do right with God and society and the priest needs a vessel for his repression of fears and desires.
What is ultimately done in the film is a crime against the main character's body. It is a crime that can not be forgotten and it can never be repaired. It was a crime which cannot be seen in her face and it was a crime that she could not fathom, at first, how it had affected her body and spirit forever.

Zacharia Farted

Dramatic Capitol 6 Mon. Feb 1, 7:15 pm & Wed. Feb 3, 9:30 pm

Michael Rohl, BC, 1998, 110 min.
This year's hot road movie. Two buddies on a fishing trip stumble onto an apparently unmarked grave and it's not long before the sensitive one is insisting they find a name to put on it. Thus begins a long and necessary trip for both of them, where the real discovery is that the truth is not always the most important thing. This often wacky film manages to throw in a kleptomaniac, a shaman and a misfit trying to find a rocketship with a pot of gold. Zacharia boasts a really strong cast. Look in particular for the mystic who is HILARIOUS.
Part of this movie's great charm is to keep you guessing while keeping you guessing if the guessing really matters. The other part of its great charm is in that it manages to maintain a fantastic and fascinating universe. Too often, independent film can find itself ruled by the limitations of its budgets. Zacharia Farted instead gives you a feel that you could just leave the frame and walk around into some other part of the world and have an interesting story of your own.

Mr. Aiello (La Deroute)

Dramatic Capitol 6 Sat. Jan. 30, 12:30 pm & Wed. Feb. 3, 7:15 pm

Paul Tana, QUEBEC, 1998, 111 min.
Joe's a guy who emigrated from Sicily and has worked hard all his life for his family. Then his wife dies and Joe becomes more possessive of Bennie, his daughter, a young woman who has always tried to please Dad. Their relationship takes a turn for the worse and Bennie disappears and begins to choose a different life which includes a young male from South America. This story about paternal love gone awry also looks at racism and the perception of who are the original insiders in a cosmopolitan Montreal community. Dark and lushly photographed with great care and skill in direction this film features Genie award winner Tony Nardi as a man slowly losing control..
French with English subtitles

A Woman of Grace..Blanche

Documentary Conference Centre Theatre Sun. Jan 31, 9:30 pm & Thurs. Feb 4, 9:30 pm

Fiona Jackson, BC, 1998, 73 min, Canadian Festival Premiere
Born of a white father and native mother in a northern Alberta fishing village, Blanche MacDonald ran the risk of being a forgotten Canadian icon when she died in 1985 from cancer. Fortunately though, this fate was destined not be. Director Fiona Jackson worked ten years towards making a film of her friend. Blanche lived a life that encompassed a modeling career in Los Angeles, owning the first modeling school in Vancouver (which grew into a career school), being a social activist, and having a great love of her ancestry.
ÒBlanche MacDonald achieved extraordinary success at a time when First Nations people were certainly not accorded a place of respect in mainstream society. Born before the current age of "victimology" her life's journey and the generosity she practiced along the way, seem to me to be exemplary for all of us." - Fiona Jackson

The Vigil

Dramatic Conference Centre Theatre Fri. Jan 29, 7:15 pm

Justin MacGregor, BC, 1998, 86 min.
A rather charming Canadian film about a bunch of young people from Lethbridge trying to drive down to Seattle to take part in a vigil for Kurt Cobain. This being a Canadian film, they don't quite make it on time, which not only allows for a thematic celebration of failure. It's a well acted character piece, decidedly low-key but with a good feel to it. -Steven Scobie

Everyone's Child

Dramatic Conference Centre Theatre Sun. Jan. 31, 7:15 pm

Tsitsi Dangarembga, ZIMBABWE, 1996, 96 min.
This film tells the story of two children's abrupt journey into a world of adult responsibility following the death of their parents. Alone and abandoned by their neighbours and friends the two children, Tamari and Itai, take different paths to find a home again in Africa's growing population of orphaned children. It's the story of love and triumph of human spirit in the face of tragedy. The director is Zimbabwes first black woman to direct a feature film. This is a wonderfully cast, well-acted, beautifully constructed narrative which serves also as a critique of contemporary Zimbabwe, treatment of people with AIDS, and their orphans.

Slaves of Hollywood

Dramatic Conference Centre Theatre Sat. Jan. 30, 7:15 pm & Wed. Feb 3, 7:15 pm

Terry Keefe, USA, 1998, 80 min, Canadian Premiere
"A sly skewering of the entertainment industry that is sure to bring a smile to anyone."
-Chris Kosluk (Hollywood Reporter/Movie times Magazine/Blockbuster Movie & Video guide). It's easy to understand why this film is playing festivals from Australia to Rhode Island to Portugal with all points in between. SLAVES OF HOLLYWOOD is a great primer for anybody trying to climb the ladders of big business as well as a hilarious examination of a series of hellish environments which make "Dilbert" look like a walk in the park. Even more than that though is its appeal to anyone wondering about those equations that help make the "Hollywood formula". So what decent and upscale festival with nothing less than total integrity could turn it down?
Stars Hill Harper (Hav Plenty, Spike Lee's He Got Game, and Get On The Bus).

The Grey Fox

Dramatic, Phillip Borsos, BC, 1983, 92 min.

Phillip Borsos Tribute, Saturday, Jan. 30, 9:30 pm
see notes under Phillip Borsos Tribute

The Company of Strangers

Dramatic Capitol 6 Sun. Jan. 31, 10:00 am, Cynthia Scott, CANADA, 1990, 100 min.

NFB Retrospective
See notes under NFB Retrospective

Print: National Film Board of Canada
3155 chemin de la CÕUte de Liesse
Ville Saint-Laurent, Quebec H4N 2N4

Clutch

Dramatic, Capitol 6 Fri. Jan 29, 7:15 pm & Sat. Jan 30, 5:30 pm
Chris Grismer, ONT., 1998, 85 min., Western Canadian Premiere
Some days you wish you never got out of bed. That's the kind of day Martyn is having. A botched attempt to steal a rare book ends in murder. But if you think that sounds like the stereotypical Hollywood movie you're in for a great surprise because there's Spit who enjoys dealing with the cadaver, Larry, the brother who wants to call the cops and an acerbic mechanic who just doesnÕt understand the hurry Martyn's in. Clutch is a hip, upbeat comedy filled with unique characters who are often working against each other. This is Chris Grismer's directorial feature debut and he packs an urban wallop that looks at our modern symbols and wonders about the necessity of it all.