Toronto 2019: Nobadi

An elderly Austrian man requires the services of an Afghan refugee in Nobadi so that he can bury his late dog in the backyard. Heinrich Senft (Heinz Trixner) is north of 80 years old and his dog just died.  The dog’s death wasn’t sudden or anything but it was merely a case of age.  Unfortunately, local services aren’t able to dispose of the carcass without paying a nominal fee.  As a result, the old man…

"Toronto 2019: Nobadi"

Toronto 2019: White Lie

A university student gets caught in a White Lie about being diagnosed with cancer when her father outs her on social media. There’s nothing worse than turning to crowdfunding to raise money because of a disease that you’re not facing.  On the one hand, it’s utterly disgusting to take money under false pretenses.  However, this is exactly what university student Katie Arneson (Kacey Rohl) does in the film.  She would have gotten away with it,…

"Toronto 2019: White Lie"

Toronto 2019: Calm With Horses

Calm With Horses is certainly one of Toronto’s strongest contenders among the films that are not playing in the Gala or Special Presentations programs. Horses may appear in the title but they don’t really have much to do with the film’s plot.  Oh, we’ll get some glimpses here and there but if you’re expecting them to play a major role, you’re going to be disappointed. Douglas “Arm” Armstrong was once a boxer but now he’s…

"Toronto 2019: Calm With Horses"

Toronto 2019: The Lighthouse

The Lighthouse features two very strong performances from both Willem Dafoe and Robert Pattinson in this beautifully shot movie. Thomas Wake (Willem Dafoe) and Efraim Winslow (Robert Pattinson) are lighthouse keepers in this period piece set off the coast of 1890s New England.  When a four-week period is over, a storm hits the island.  This means that their ride back to the mainland will never arrive.  One could already feel the tension in the room…

"Toronto 2019: The Lighthouse"

Toronto 2019: Daddio

Daddio stars Casey Wilson and Michael McKean in a short film depicting how father and daughter approach grief differently. Based on real death events, Paul (Michael McKean) and Abby (Casey Wilson) have very different approaches to loss.  For example, Paul treats his late wife’s funeral as if it were a Hollywood production, requiring another take of Abby’s eulogy.  This doesn’t quite sit well with Abby (or anyone else, I would imagine).  What really shows is…

"Toronto 2019: Daddio"

Burbank 2019: Relish

Relish offers a contemporary take on The Breakfast Club with poignant commentary while even factoring in today’s standards for inclusion. After flipping back 48 hours, we meet the five teenagers before a group therapy session at the Deacon Treatment Facility.  This isn’t going to be a film where they’re going to stay in one room all day.  Instead, Kai (Tyler DiChiara) is plotting their escape.  The other five include social media influencer Aspen (Hana Hayes), …

"Burbank 2019: Relish"

Toronto 2019: Murmur

Murmur offers a taste of bold experimental filmmaking surrounding the connections between humans and the animals in our lives. Documentary-narrative feature hybrids are starting to become more of a thing.  The main focus in this film is Donna (Shan MacDonald).  Donna is an alcoholic and following a recent DUI charge, she’s been ordered to perform community service.  Her community service obligations find her serving or time at an animal rescue shelter.  While putting in her…

"Toronto 2019: Murmur"

Toronto 2019: The Rest of Us

When a single mom invites her ex-husband’s wife and daughter to live with her, a rather interesting family dynamic begins to form in The Rest of Us. Aisling Chin-Yee makes her feature directorial debut with a story about a complex relationship.  When Cami’s (Heather Graham) ex-husband, Craig, tragically passes away, she invites Rachel (Jodi Balfour) and her young daughter, Talulah (Abigail Pniowsky) to move into her house.  If it must be said, Rachel is much…

"Toronto 2019: The Rest of Us"

Toronto 2019: The Barefoot Emperor

The Barefoot Emperor is a satirical film about forming a new Europe and is very fitting given the current political climate. Nicolas III (Peter Van den Begin) is so close to being able to get back home to Belgium.  The only thing standing between him and members of the Belgian military retrieving him is a re-enactment of Austrian Archduke Franz Ferdinand’s 1914 assassination.  Anything that can go wrong will go wrong!  Of course, he gets…

"Toronto 2019: The Barefoot Emperor"

Toronto 2019: American Son

American Son makes the transition from the stage to screen with a powerful performance from Kerry Washington while still feeling theatrical in scale. Kendra Ellis-Connor (Kerry Washington) is a worried mother.  Her son, Jamal, has been missing for a few hours.  As she sits in the Miami police state, the anger begins to start flowing.  How is a mother expected to stay calm when the calms hardly tell her anything.  Forget a missing persons report…

"Toronto 2019: American Son"