BKonthescene

BY THE BKONTHESCENE TEAM

Our early morning day began with the film screening – Les Indésirables (Batiment 5)  at the Scotiabank Cinema.

A moving French film  by Director Ladj Ly set in an underprivileged suburb in Paris. The film deals with the racist policies forcing the poor into unsafe and unfortunate living conditions.  With a strong cast of newcomer actress Anta Diaw, the film deals with the most divisive social themes of present day.  The Mayor suddenly dies leaving family doctor – actor Alexis Manenti as interim mayor.  Challenges ensue with the dealings of the public housing association for which Haby (Diaw) is strongly advocating for all immigrants. The Interim Mayor is over his head.  Viewers feel his stress and inability to manage things and we see Haby’s resilience in dealing with the housing issues. Demolitions. Riots. Corruption. Government. Immigration. These are all issues in this film. And it’s brilliantly done.  Acting and film plot are wonderful.  Magnificent film. 

Day 3-
Lee-RTH-Gala screening

Lee is the film on the life of one of the most important wartime photojournalists ever, Lee Miller, who happens to be a woman. The film, with Oscar Winner Kate Winslet starring as the great American war correspondent, starts pre-WWI, in the south of France, where she is vacationing with her artistic friends. Despite being a former model for photographic great, Man Ray, she pursues her desire to be a ground-breaking war photographer for British Vogue. Braving the horrors of war, she was one of the first photographers to document the atrocities of Nazi Germany. After Lee gains US war accreditation, she returns to Europe, initially alone. Lee eventually joins forces with close friend and fellow photographer David E. Scherman (Andy Samberg), with whom she goes on to capture on film the atrocities of war, at the expense of her personal emotional self.

Next we were off to Barbarian Steak House for the 2023 All Stars Lunch,as we were surprised with the great hospitality of the staff and host of the event.It was a little break for noon time to energize and have a network session at this historical steak house.

Next we attended SWAN SONG  Premier Film screening at Roy Thomson Hall  

We could call this documentary film by director Chelsea McMullan ‘the Karen Kain Story’ – retelling the story of Canadian ballerina Karen Kain and celebrating her 50 year career.  This World Premiere takes us into the National Ballet of Canada’s 2022 production of Swan Lake which is directed and staged by Canada’s own, Karen Kain.  She started her ballet career in 1971. Swan Lake was chosen by Kain as her retirement project. With 50 years of ballet career experience we see Kain viewing the aging and new ballet artists. We see rehearsals, performers, choreographers – and more – all who participate in a major production. Principal dancer Jurgita Dronina shares much insight into the ballet experience.  Executive producer Neve Campbell, began her career through stage and screen when she enrolled at the Canada’s National Ballet School.  Interesting how Karen Kain changes the white tights of ballerinas to no tights so natural skin colour can be seen. A wonderful documentary for those to learn more about Karen Kain, ballet, big productions, ballet in Canada and to celebrate the 50 year career of Canada’s own. An honour to have Karen Kain share her life and career with us.  Q & A followed the film screening at Roy Thomson Hall. 
Then we were off to King St.for The Boy In The Woods event. We were invited to a special reception and a Q&A with Jett Klyne, Maxwell Smart, and director Rebecca Snow
moderated by author Margaret MacMillan.

There were heartfelt speeches and the cast was on site to meet and greet the guest,plus a book signing by the special guest.

Our next destination was-the Press,Media and Industry Cocktail at Artscape Sandbox and it was just a block away from the TIFF Bell Lightbox. Another chance to meet other Press,Media and Industry people and share TIFF plans,energize,mix,mingle over some light beverages.

We arrived at the Screening of the film -TAUTUKTAVUK  (What We See) 

By Carol Kunnuk, Lucy Tulugarjuk  Canada  2023 | 82m | Inuktitut

A real life tale from directors Carol Kunnuk and Lucy Tulugarjuk about two siblings’ attempts to heal and overcome trauma during the pandemic.With a documentary feel, Tautuktavuk (What We See) draws from its filmmakers’ lives to tell a powerful story and  present a relationship between two sisters far away from each other – Montreal and Nunavut — who each deal with trauma in their own way.The film is told almost entirely through video chats. In Tautuktavuk (What We See),the contrast between the older sister Saqpinak (Kunnuk) often surrounded by grandchildren in a small community and younger sister Uyarak (Tulugarjuk) with her daughters who lives in a Montreal apartment, and gets a traditional hand-poked tattoo.The film deals with  domestic and childhood sexual abuse. Questions are answered in person in Igloolik when the sister visits from Montreal to share her own story. A beautifully made, moving Indigenous film.

The Red Carpet for LIL NAS X: LONG LIVE MONTERO  was held at- Roy Thomson Hall  for the  Premier Screening.  The fans were there!… waiting patiently at the VISA Fan Zone at Pecaut Square.  Finally Lil Nas X arrived!  On the Red Carpet were Directors Carolos Lopez Estrada and Zac Manuel. Editor Andrew Morrow, many producers and executive producers. Special guests were the father of Lil Nas X, Robert Stafford. Lil Nas X loved having pics taken with his two nephews – adorable! An exciting time on the Red Carpet with this charismatic guy, Lil Nas X.  Film is a concert documentary of Lil Nas X’s sudden rise to fame.The review of this screener would be on September 16.

HWN ended its highly successful expanded programme of events at historic Campbell House with its French Cinema and Culture Day and Night. We attended throughout the day between screenings before hanging out with Ethan Hawke at Clio.

We arrived atThe Wildcat Party with Ethan Hawke at Clio on King St.

We ended a very busy Day#3 for TIFF2023 with the Party at Escape Manor, with axe-throwing, escape rooms, costumed characters, open bar, delicious Korean and bar foods, to celebrate the Korean thriller series “Bargain” on Paramount+, which started in 2023.