By The BKONTHESCENE Team
We started our day for –Backspot, a virtual Canadian film by D.W. Waterson From the minute the film starts we see Cheerleading as a sport. And a difficult one at that. These girls are athletes. Competitive athletes. And this film shows this. The relationships between the girls, the drive to be the best and to be successful on the best cheerleading team. What stands out? The junk food they eat! Wow, but it’s obviously working for them as they are the top in their sport. Strong and fit. Extreme anxiety. Perfectionism. Accidents… the danger of the sport are all covered in this action-packed film. You don’t have to be a cheerleading fan – being interested in sports, competitiveness, group dynamics are enough to get you hooked on this film. Great film. Canadian Elliot Page one of Executive producers
Next we attended-Fitting In – A Canadian film by Molly McGlynn-Director
Film about a teenager who doesn’t has a rare reproductive abnormality diagnosis. Her struggles with learning this and how she deals with it, she has to learn how to deal with her new reality while her friends are doing the teenage thing – having boyfriends and having fun, parties, sports, while she isn’t. We see her friendships, her frustrations and her support system. Her relationship with a good friend is a highlight. A wonderfully made film with superb acting. The audience was honoured to have the following at the Q & A after the screening. “As the inaugural Sloan Science on Film Showcase selection, Fitting In tells a coming-of-age story shaped by medical science. Following the September 12 screening, the Sloan Science on Film Showcase will feature a Q&A with writer-director Molly McGlynn and an expert in reproductive health.”
Rustin- The true story of the flamboyant controversial oppressed homosexual civil rights leader Bayard Rustin, convincingly portrayed by Colman Domingo, who organized the peaceful 1963 March in Washington for Jobs and Freedom, in front of the Lincoln Memorial and surrounding the Washington Monument, where MLK Jr. had his iconic “I have a dream” speech amongst over 250,000 peaceful protesters, the largest peaceful demonstration to date at the time, the forerunner of more recent Million Man Marches. This was the defining moment in the history of the American civil right movement when “peace without violence” eventually led to the subsequent passing of the Civil Rights Act in the US.
Many people worked tirelessly behind the scenes to make that moment possible but Bayard Rustin was the pivotal person despite being hidden from the limelight, especially due his prior conviction related to his sexuality. George C. Wolfe’s now tells Rustin’s story, as the activist who brought together a diverse alliance of civil rights, labour, and religious organizations.
NYAD-NYAD is the remarkable inspirational story of marathon swimmer Diana Nyad’s multiple attempts to swim the treacherous 103 miles from Cuba to US. “Never ever give up!” was her motto even at the age of 64.
With stars Annette Bening and Jodie Foster as Diana Nyad and her best friend Bonne Stoll, NYAD tells the true story of the persistent attempts of heroine marathon swimmer Diana Nyad to be the first person to swim from Cuba to the US without a shark cage, despite shark- and jellyfish-infested waters, decades after her retirement from marathon swimming.
Flora and Son is the wonderful story of a young single fun-loving mother, Flora (Eve Hewson) with a emotionally-detached 14 year-old son, Max (Orén Kinlan), in a magical relationship with her handsome on-line musician guitar teacher, Jeff (Joseph Gordon-Levitt) despite being a thousands of kilometres away from each other. Having bought her son a guitar in an attempt to be closer to him, Flora eventually eagerly takes to the guitar, not just to get closer to her handsome on-line teacher, but also because Max is more interested in electronic dance music on his computer just like his estranged father.
Flora and Son shows us that music can make the heart grow fonder.
RU Red Carpet at Royal Alexandra Theatre as they arrived for film screening
Vietnamese Canadian Kim Thuy Writer/Producer of RU her cast walked the Red Carpet and were congratulated on their wonderful film.
RU Red Carpet at The Royal Alex Theatre and Q n A after screening
RU is a very moving film. It takes place in Quebec with flashback clips to Vietnam – before leaving on the boat, on the boat and arriving in Quebec. Quebec is snowy and cold – the Vietnamese family with parents and 3 children (2 little boys and a 9 year old girl) are introduced to the Quebec culture though the two girls’ friendship met at school. The families become friends. Tinh is learning English through archaic isolated English lessons at school (although a lovely friendly teacher) and through her new friend from school and neighbourhood. The story is told through 9 year old Tinh. Acting is brillant. Scenes of Quebec at the Cabane à sucre and the flashbacks to the boat people trip are spectacular. The understanding of the Quebec family of Tinh’s family’s suffering is beautiful and emotional. A very kind and understanding family for the Vietnamese family to have met. A beautiful film in French and Vietnamese.
Q & A with Kim Thuy and the cast followed… after the loud applause!
We attended the WIFT Toronto’s annual reception during the Toronto International Film Festival returned to celebrate the spirit and creativity of our screen-based community and raises funds to support initiatives of the Foundation for Women in Film & Television–Toronto.
This year the committee were excited to welcome members, sponsors, partners, visiting filmmakers, and special guests such as Toronto mayor Olivia Chow to a catered networking reception that honoured the contributions of Canadian women+ to the worldwide entertainment industry.
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