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Movie Review by Sergio Martínez
The selection of international films has been one of the
factors that makes the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) appealing to
such a diverse audience. Below are some of the titles—in addition to the Latin
American and Spanish productions—that we had the opportunity to see.
THE HOUSEWIFE
Dir. Ben Shirinian
United States
Based on a true story, the film centers on Hermine (Naomi
Watts), a typical housewife who, in 1964, shares a home with her husband,
Russell (Luke Evans), in a middle-class New York neighbourhood. Everything
changes when Joseph Lelyveld (Tye Sheridan), a New York Times reporter,
begins an investigation into a possible former Nazi officer living under a
false identity in the city. However, the outcome of the investigation will
surprise everyone.
The film successfully builds suspense around the subject of
the investigation, while showing the kind and helpful housewife as her world is
turned upside down.
FAITH
Dir. Paul Andrew Williams
United Kingdom
A strangely crafted film in which mysticism and tragedy
intertwine, though not always coherently. Some loose ends in the narrative
leave the viewer somewhat uncertain about the plot and the story itself.
THE JULIA SET
Dir. Niki Byrne
United States
Women and mathematics haven’t always been a good match;
however, that’s not the case for Julia (Chase Infiniti), an undergraduate
student who is truly brilliant when it comes to working with numbers and
equations. Of course, as is to be expected with young students, a romantic
relationship will emerge that could throw the whole situation into disarray.
Julia catches the eye of Pascal (Christopher Briney), a teaching assistant to a
demanding professor. When the two take the famous Putnam Exam, new facets of
their relationship come to light, along with social-class factors that will
affect her. A film with a highly dynamic narrative and compelling performances.
It also celebrates women’s role in mathematics.
CLOSING NIGHT
Dir. Cody Fern
Australia, Canada
When a famous stage actress invites her family to what turns
out to be her final performance on Broadway, she sets off a chain of events
that culminates in the revelation of a long-kept secret. This new knowledge
will affect everyone’s life.
This is a film that stands out above all for its excellent
performances: Sarah Paulson as the theatre star about to face a harsh reality;
Naomi Watts as her emotionally impulsive and fragile sister; Toby Wallace as
the nephew, who also has acting aspirations; as well as Odessa A’zion and
Dianne Wiest.
ONWARD AND DOWNSIDES
Dir. John Madden
United Kingdom
Without a doubt, it was one of the most moving films of the festival,
and it also raised awareness about Parkinson’s disease and how to cope with
it—both for those who suffer from it and for those who share their lives with
someone living with the condition.
Excellent performances by Rhys Ifans, as the elementary
school teacher who is suddenly diagnosed with the disease, and Laura Linney,
who is diagnosed that same day and meets him at the clinic.
THE BETRAYERS
Dir. David Bezmozgis
Canada, Ukraine
Apparently, the plot revolves around members of the Jewish
community—who were dissidents in the former Soviet Union at the time—whose
friendship was eventually destroyed by an act of betrayal that the film does
not explicitly explain.
Baruch (Michael Aronov) has left Israel and is in Yalta with
his lover Leora (Kaelen Ohm); the couple is enjoying their new life after
leaving their jobs behind. That atmosphere of joy, however, is interrupted
when, while walking through the city, they encounter a man (Simon McBurney) who
brings back painful memories for Baruch.
The story, however, is not well told and leaves many loose
ends.
IN WAVES
Dir. Phuong Mai Nguyen
France, Belgium
An animated film with beautifully rendered imagery and a
story that weaves together the bonds of friendship, love, and the pain of loss.
All of this is set against the backdrop of the protagonists’ passion for
surfing, whose origins in the practices of the native Hawaiians are highlighted
through imagery that alludes to history, featuring characters from the time
before white settlers arrived on the islands. A very good film that highlights
the value of friendship.
ALL ABOUT CORINNE
Dir. Marc Fitoussi
France
The great French actress Isabelle Huppert surprises us as Corinne, who works as an extra in a series of films, hoping that one day she’ll be promoted to a leading role. In her eagerness, she tries to befriend a famous actress, which she manages to do at one point, though this also creates new problems for her. It’s an enjoyable comedy that also offers a glimpse into the maneuvering and power plays of the world of cinema.
POSSIBLE LOVE
Dir. Lee Chang-dong
South Korea
For some time now, South Korean cinema has been surprising
us with wonderful dramas and comedies. In this case, it’s a story that combines
elements of both genres, along with social commentary.
Documentary filmmaker Ye-ji (Cho Yeo-jeong) is interviewing
people affected by the closure of a factory, which had led to a long strike
that was brutally suppressed by the police. The married couple Ho-seok (Sul
Kyung-gu) and Mi-ok (Jeon Do-yeon) are one of the families who lived through
that traumatic experience, which marked their lives forever. When Ye-ji
contacts them to tell their story, they have reservations, but in the end they
agree and even develop a closeness with both the documentary filmmaker and her
husband, the young tycoon Sang-woo (Zou In-sung).
A strong film that also addresses the observer's ethical
responsibilities—in this case, the documentary filmmaker.
THE AGE OF GOODBYES
Dir. Edmund Yeo
Taiwan, Malaysia
A well-developed story despite the interplay of different time periods and the film’s focus on various characters. A tale of love and misunderstandings. Well crafted, with excellent performances, especially Vivian Sung as the lead, Du Li An.
INK
Dir. Danny Boyle
United Kingdom, France, United States
The film focuses on the early days of the rise of the
notorious media mogul Rupert Murdoch in 1970s London. The story begins with
Murdoch (Guy Pearce) persuading editor Larry Lamb (Jack O’Connell) to take on
the challenge of turning The Sun, a newspaper with mediocre circulation,
into the best-selling paper. This goal will be achieved through sensationalism
taken to the extreme. Despite an incident that directly affects the tabloid, the
pursuit of this objective will have no ethical restrictions.
The film undoubtedly provides a good account of Murdoch’s
career; to this day, he maintains his power as a media mogul, using more or
less the same formula.
ATONEMENT
Dir. Reed Van Dyk
United States
A good idea, but with weak dramatic execution and
unconvincing performances, despite the fact that the cast includes none other
than the renowned Kenneth Branagh in the role of the journalist who had covered
an attack in Iraq by U.S. soldiers on a vehicle carrying three generations of
Iraqi civilians. More than ten years later, at the request of the soldier who
killed the civilians, the journalist will try to arrange what will be an
emotional encounter between the perpetrator and the victims.
THE IDIOT(S)
Dir. Małgorzata Szumowska, Michał Englert
Poland, Germany
A highly unorthodox and likely largely fictionalized account
of what Fyodor Dostoevsky’s life might have been like while he was attempting
to write what would become his magnum opus, The Idiot. Consumed by
gambling and alcohol, the writer is said to have led a very tragic life. The
novel was indeed published, but it did not achieve significant success until
after the author’s death. It is not a particularly interesting film, either in
terms of its story or its narrative.
THE AWARDS
Some of the major awards presented by the festival this
year:
PEOPLE'S CHOICE AWARDS
GENERAL FEATURE: La
bola negra (Dir. Javier Calvo and Javier Ambrossi, Spain)
INTERNATIONAL: Elsinore (Dir. Simon Stone, United
Kingdom)
DOCUMENTARY: Darlene Love: I Know Where I’ve Been
(Dir. Barry Avrich, Canada)
MIDNIGHT MADNESS: Ladies and Gentlemen, Brian Mulroney
(Dir. Matthew Rankin, Canada)
PLATFORM
Angh (Dir. Theja Rio, India)
FIFRESCI
Ancestors (Dir. David Turpin, Ireland, United
Kingdom)
NETPAC (ASIAN FILMS)
Thirteen in Gaza (Dir. Hosam Abu Dam, Palestine)
NEXT EDITION
The 2027 edition of TIFF will take place from September 9 to
19 next year.
