Day 9: September 13

Friday the Thirteenth, how spooky. The festival continues to be quieting, with much of the momentum already taken out of it. While the star power may be slightly diminished, there's still plenty to see. The last few day tend to be a time for experimentation, combined with that lovely sinking feeling that you've missed a bunch of flicks that you might never get a chance to see again.

Woman of Water
Directed by Hidenori Sugimori

An absolutely marvellous film, Woman of Water drenches its audience with incredibly captivating imagery. A truly bizarre and complicated love story, this is one of those festival films that you just shake your head at in wonder, with scenes that you've never even thought of taking place (ever see a flick where a guy fried by lightning on a TV antenna, and it be a good thing?). A primal, elemental tale, it's a film with big ideas and a compelling simplicity. Top notch.
Grade: A-

The Trials of Henry Kissenger
Directed by Eugene Jarecki

The strange and engaging tale of this deepvoiced (deep-throated?) diplomat. From celebrity parties to the bombing of Cambodia, a case against him is layed. Given the conservative climate these charges are likely to fall on deaf ears. Still, the film avoids being overly pedantic or ideological, and has some great clips of HK being the celebrity stud, models on each arm. Not much new in terms of historical fact, but a well packaged Doc, and will play well on TV. And, say what you will, it was refreshing to see that HK shows up and tells his own side. He may be a criminal, but at least he's at least partially a mensch.

Grade: B-

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Chaplin Shorts
Directed by Charles Chaplin

Another glorious silent-era presentation with the festival orchestra at the Elgin. This selection of Chaplin shorts, projected at the right frame rate, was an absolute privilege to see. Screened were The Adventurer, The Cure and Easy Street, all from 1917. Fantastic in their originality and scope, pure pleasure to see presented so well.
Grade: A+

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Volcano High
Directed by Tae-gyun Kim


A kung-fu version of 90210 with a Harry Potter twist, this is an ass-kicking teen flick, complete with CGI augmentation to the Hong Kong-style fight choreography that American studios have successfully mined for the last several years. Light on story (the McGuffin's a scroll, dontcha know) the fight scenes are energetic and often quite refreshingly silly.
Grade: B+