Day 6: September 14

Catcontroversy day. The public screening of Casuistry came complete with a rabble of demonstrators chanting across the street from the Cumberland. I was standing with a couple journalists, the press director of the festival and a couple of the technical directors and Reel-to-Reel gents when a small commotion broke out. Suddenly, a man in white was led away in handcuffs from the other side of the road and placed into custody.

Wouldn't you know it, but the guy taken away wasn't a protester but one of the key subjects of the film itself, "artist" Jesse Power.

With the Humane Society apparently on board with the film, the demonstration seemed a little silly. There was even a guy with a rambling placard that said something about the fact that Jesse should have taped a tiger, and the tiger would have fought and eaten him, and it would have been better, etc., etc. Reports from the inside indicate that, as expected, the film was very well received, the questions from the audience were respectful, and there was a general agreement that the film was an important contribution to this year's slate.

Meanwhile, I didn't have any protestors at the film where a 12 year old girl is fucked in the ass.

Generally my days have been pretty damn packed, with 20 minute breaks between screenings running from morning to early the next morning. On this, the second half, I do have to sometimes remind me why I'm doing this. Then, of course, I see something like Palindromes, and it all makes sense again.

Palindromes
Directed by: Todd Solondz

I'm still quite shaken by this film, a pretty amazing assembly of performances by a series of actresses playing the same 12 year-old girl as she, in no particular order, runs away from home, gets adopted by a Christian signing group, hits the streets to hitchhike, has anal sex with a trucker, and, well, you'll see the rest. It should be so terrible and exploitational, but Solondz directs with such dexterity and sensitivity that the whole film works quite well. There's a tremendous amount of humour in the bleak film as well, much like his previous works Happiness and Welcome to the Dollhouse. Certainly a unique vision for a filmmaker, this is not a flick for everyone. Stick with it, however, and you just may thoroughly enjoy what is at the heart an incredibly sweet tale.
Grade: A

The Sea Inside
Directed by: Alejandro Amenábar

The performances are heartbreaking, the story both tragic and uplifting - Amenábar has crafted yet another movie that's sure to please many. For no good reason it didn't connect with me the way it did for some in the audience (there was weeping even in the press screening) but I certainly can appreciate the film's craft. Would no doubt work significantly better for me outside the context of the six movie-a-day crunch of the festival. One to rewatch and reevaluate after much sleep...
Grade: B+

Be Here To Love Me: A Film About Townes Van Zandt
Directed by: Margaret Brown

A pretty straightforward music doc looking at the celebrated singer-songwriter. Kristofferson shows up for yet another doc, making this, I believe, the most Kristofferson out of any festival to date. While the film lacks polish, there's enough good material and good performances to keep everything on track.
Grade: B

A Way of Life
Directed by: Amma Asante

Can't really say that this portrait of the lower class comes across as enjoyable, but, if the intent is to show really annoying, crass people doing really mean things to one another (and their neighbours) then the film succeeded. Broadly its a tale of racism and poverty, but it's certainly not something to sit down and enjoy over some tea and crumpets.
Grade: C-

Kung fu Hustle
Directed by: Stephen Chow

This obviously would be the pinnacle Midnight Madness film had the distributors decided to allow it to be placed in its appropriate spot. The crowd was a bit muted, the audience just not sure what to expect. For genre fans, this is an absolute riot, building nicely upon the success of Shaolin Soccer. Giant action sequences, funny characters, and, my favourite, a giant hand carved into the earth, whomping the bad guy into submission. So much fun.
Grade: A

Calvaire
Directed by: Fabrice du Welz

A genuine creepy horror movie, employing some good ol' camp themes to great effect. A car breaks down in the middle of nowhere and the protagonists are forced to contend with a bunch of crazy local yokels. Sure, the plot's right out of Rocky Horror, among a billion other flicks, but this one's done with enough ickyness and creep-out factor (the square dancing is priceless, let alone the pig plooking) that it makes up for any plot shortcomings. A worthy MM film, but no Kung fu Hustle.
Grade: B