I love movies and the entire cinematic experience, including hitting up the Vancouver International Film Festival (VIFF). It’s different from just hitting up the cineplex to watch the latest big budget, popcorn movie. Film festivals helps to broaden one’s worldview, and gives audiences access to films that they might otherwise have the opportunity to see. It also previews movies that will be in wide release later on. Every year, I make it a point to watch at least one film at VIFF.
This year I was fortunate to work at VIFF, creating content and managing their social media. I was hella busy with work, but I did make it to some films that I wanted to see, and I attended or worked at some pretty rad events.
Because of limited screenings and demand for tickets, staff weren’t allowed to sit in on some of the bigger budget, soon to be theatrical releases (unless you paid for a ticket), like Parasite, Jojo Rabbit, Ford v. Ferrari, and The Lighthouse. Other movies that were screened, like Marriage Story, The Irishman, The Two Popes, and In the Tall Grass, would show up soon enough on Netflix. And therefore, I wanted to focus on the films that might only be seen at the festival.
I made an extensive list of the movies that I wanted to see, but workload and conflicting schedules made me miss out on Terrence Malick’s A Hidden Life, Checkered Ninja, Sometimes Always Never, Paradise Hills, Martha: A Picture Story, Extra Ordinary, and Lunana: A Yak in the Classroom.
The films I did get to watch, I really enjoyed. I’m not sure if it’ll get a wider release or show up on streaming services, but if it does, I totally recommend the following:
Yuli is based on Cuban-born Carlos Acosta’s memoir No Way Home. Acosta is the first Black person invited to join England’s Royal Ballet. This dance and documentary film is full of pluck and passion and will have you cheering and crying happy tears.
Not as good as Yuli, but still interesting is Cunningham, a documentary of iconic American choreographer’s Merce Cunningham and his boundary-obliterating work. If you dig on modern dance, this film is for you.
Master director Yonfan makes his animation debut with No. 7 Cherry Lane. The story takes place in Hong Kong,1967. Set against a backdrop of demonstrations against British colonial rule, the film revolves around a university student’s feelings for a girl he’s tutoring, and her worldly divorcée mother. The story can be a little ass-draggy, but the visual style with its layered, hand-drawn animation is the draw.
School girl Ruka befriends two boys, Umi and Sora, at the aquarium where her father works. The boys were raised by dugongs (mamatee-like creatures), and possess special powers connected to enigmatic events emerging around the world. This aquatic odyssey is trippy and dense with symbolism to say the least. It has been called the anime equivalent to 2001: A Space Odyssey, and may very well might go over your heads (like me!), but it gorgeous to look at. Children of the Sea is based on Igarashi Daisuke’s beloved manga. Music is by Miyazaki’s go-to composer Hisaishi Joe and character design is by former Ghibli animator Konishi Kenich.
I enjoyed this one A LOT. This prequel to Legend of the White Snake is Warner Bros.’ first Chinese animation co-production and based on the Chinese fable of the white snake. It was a huge box office success in China, grossing $67M. The heroes of the film are Blanca, a snake demon who can take human form, and Xuan, the mere mortal she falls in love with. Together they face off against military rulers, violent creatures, and other evil forces. Although the visual arts style might make one think of Disney or Pixar, it really is gorgeous – especially the natural landscape. Frickin’ dazzling animation.
My favourite film from this year’s VIFF has to be Stuffed, a documentary about taxidermy, featuring acclaimed taxidermists from around the world. With the precision of a scientist and an artist’s sensibilities, they use meticulous and intricate techniques to breathe life back into their animal subjects. The results are absolutely astonishing. I particularly love the work of Allis Markham and artists Jaap Sinke and Ferry van Tongeren. The film is not morbid or gruesome. At all. These artists love animals (they don’t kill them). They understand the importance of preserving nature and taxidermy is a form of archiving. Director Erin Derham’s film overflows with reverence for the beauty of nature while shedding light on this long misunderstood subculture and art form. Stuffed is also certified 100% fresh on Rotten Tomatoes.
There you have it, this year’s VIFF films that I found enthralling, absorbing, educational and delightful. Catch them if you get the chance. If you have seen any of these, please feel free to share your thoughts. Happy viewing.
Photo credit: Stuffed
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