September
23
Day#6 Of TIFF-Tues.,Sept.13th,2022
We were off to our first screener of the morning at the TIFF Bell Lightbox.
TIFF22-Raymond and Ray
2 dysfunctional half-brothers’ (starring Ethan Hawke and Ewan McGregor) journey to their long-estranged abusive but libidinous father’s funeral full of shocking surprises.
The divorced Raymond (McGregor) convinces his half-brother, Ray (Hawke), former musician and addict, despite despising his absent and now deceased father, to attend his funeral. In this journey to their father’s final resting place, they encounter their father’s ex-lover, nurse, and other unexpected persons and deeds while rejuvenating their bond to each other.
We arrived to watch a documentary that is dear to our hearts as journalist and press.
THE FILM BY VINAY SHUKLA IS A POWERFUL AND NEW MUST SEE: WHILE WE WATCHED, SHOWS A SENSE OF HOPE IN A UNCERTAIN TIME FOR JOURNALISTS AND MEDIA.
WHILE WE WATCHED is documentary about broadcast journalist Ravish Kumar of India’s NDTV, and a newsroom drama that showcases what it’s like being an Indian TV personnel, with the film set in India.
Kumar is in trouble while being distinguished for his spotlight in showcasing corruption of the ruling establishment during his long-running primetime news hour. But time has taken a toll on the media personality. Ravish is receiving endless intimidation, harassment threats to his life and uttering violence against his family. Free speech of the press has dwindled and self-censorship becomes the new normal. Kumar struggles to stay steady in his own network’s gambit of problems. In the public eye, Ravish’s drive for truth in journalism has gotten him in trouble before and now, but with a fan base and being in the spotlight for along time.
The ongoing troubles at the station and his personal life has Ravish transforming into a worrisome soul who has to keep his head above water for his family, himself, his country and the media agency he is employed by.
The trend of misinformation fact-based news could apply to any number of countries from Russia to the United States and Canada.
Amplify Voices Award: While We Watched, dir. Vinay Shukla.
Next we attended part 2 of Ontario Creates at The CBC building inside The Glen Gould Studio.
The night time screener was next on our agenda and we arrived on time for Women Talking.
TIFF22-Women Talking
Sarah Polley’s dramatic depiction of the struggle of suppressed women plotting their escape to safety from a perilous pure patriarchal religious colony with its pervasive sexual violence.
Rooney Mara, Claire Foy, Jessie Buckley, Judith Ivey, Ben Wishaw and Frances McDormand, star in this adaptation of Miriam Toews’ acclaimed novel of the plight of women in a Mennonite colony.
In their world of persecution without rights or education, their strong will and togetherness ultimately prevail.
The TIFF 2022 People’s Choice Award winner
The first runner-up was Women Talking dir. Sarah Polley.
The Q&A for the cast of Women Talking & dir. Sarah Polley.
BKonthescene 