After watching, frankly, an unhealthy number of movies over the past week, your Weekender is here to share their five favourite films of the 50th Toronto International Film Festival!
A Useful Ghost: Thailand's official Oscar submission is a wonderfully original ghost story about a dead woman who possesses a vacuum cleaner to be with her husband. What starts as a ribald comedy morphs into an allegory about political memory and personal sacrifice.
Blue Heron: Hungarian-Canadian short film master Sophy Romvari breathes new life into the autofiction genre with her exquisitely crafted and emotionally devastating feature debut — an analysis of a family tragedy that’s intellectual without losing humanity or sentimentality.
It Was Just an Accident: Despite repeated arrests by the state, dissident Iranian director Jafar Panahi won’t stop making movies, and the world of cinema is better off for it. His latest masterpiece is a righteous, darkly funny morality tale. Think Coen brothers, but set in Iran.
Nirvanna the Band the Show the Movie: One of the hottest tickets of the fest was the feature-length culmination of Toronto trickster Matt Johnson’s cult series. And for good reason! It is, perhaps, the funniest movie of the year. It’s also unabashedly Canadian.
The Secret Agent: This gripping political thriller from Brazil is nothing short of transportative, taking the viewer to the bustling, dangerous city of Recife, circa 1977. Filled with stylistic flair, bravura storytelling, and top-notch performances, this one is not to be missed.—QH