TIFF. Till next year

As the 43rd annual Toronto International Film Festival sadly came to a close, so did another year of drama, another year of controversy, and another year of great films. The surprising bit is that some individuals are completely unaware of what I am referring to. As someone who has indulged themselves in these festivities for the past three years, it’s hard to believe that many people still don’t know what the festival is or what it even has to offer. With that being said, what is it that keeps this 21-year-old aspiring filmmaker returning to the festival year after year? Sure it’s the movies (seeing them a few months in advance is quite the perk) and yeah, the celebrities (seeing Emma Stone last year was a highlight), but it’s the community that Toronto encapsulates year after year, that has had the biggest effect on me; this time was no different.

here’s something enticing about the atmosphere of the festival. Seeing a film premiere in a room packed full of strangers may seem daunting, but everyone at the festival is joined through their love of movies, so chatting to the stranger next to you prior to the screening, is normal, in fact, I encourage it. And all of this is of course, culminating with the movies themselves; the real stars of the show.

This year I was attended three film screenings: Vox Lux, The Old Man & The Gun and First Man. I would have liked to have seen more, but I guess I’ve learned my lesson from trying to buy tickets online; if you’re going to do it, buy festival packages! This will give you a bundle of tickets— usually guaranteeing 6, 10, 12, or 20 tickets. From there, you may choose the movies you desire based on availability, which considering you get to choose a week prior to members and two weeks before the public, there is a good chance of seeing the films you want. In hindsight, this would have been my best move but oh well, we all have to learn somehow. There’s no need to dwell on the past, so let’s look at my choices and whether they lived up to the hype.

My festival officially kicked off with Vox Lux, a movie that snuck into scheduling last minute but still had the promise to deliver, thanks to the talent of Academy Award Winner, Natalie Portman (Black Swan 2010). There was no other movie on the festival circuit that stirred up more controversy than this. On the surface, Vox Lux is the tragic uprising of a child’s talent that turns her into a glamorous pop star. The director, Bradley Corbet, turns this into a social satire on our ‘celebrity’ run lives and shows us just how much power we give to those in the media. Sounds somewhat pretentious, right? For some, it will certainly come across as such, but with the film surrounded in such a dark, immensely disturbing tone, yet at the same time being glamorous and thought-provoking, you can’t do anything but continue to watch. Corbet’s work does something that can’t be said about many films nowadays; it stirs up conversation. Honestly, I think it’s just what the festival and film industry need.

In many ways, I like to look at it as this year’s Mother!, which was Darron Aronofsky’s metaphorical telling of the Bible (premiered at last year’s festival). Many reviews criticized the overly preachy themes, yet some (including myself) praised it. There’s no denying that people spoke about it though, and even if you didn’t appreciate the direction, you have to congratulate it for that. I think the same will go for Vox Lux.

Whether it be for the strong fascist motifs, the dramatic shift in tone halfway through the movie, or the controversy of the entire film itself, Vox Lux is a definitive must see. It’s a modern-day thinking piece of where the world has gone today, and whether you like to admit it or not, it shows just how far we still have to go.

Next up was The Old Man & The Gun (the sole premiere I was able to attend this year). Although, as stated above, much of this year’s talk surrounded Vox Lux, this movie had quite the buzz around it as well, albeit for a different reason. This was rumored to be the last work of the famous Robert Redford, so as you can imagine, I took advantage of the opportunity to attend a potentially historic event, and not only watch, but experience everything from the third row—I guess seeing a movie on your own does have some perks.

The film is as charming of a swan song as it’s lead. Robert is truly the standout here, playing the charismatic lead in a heist movie… where he never even fires a gun. That’s no easy task for an actor, yet he does it as though it's second nature. When a movie like this (something with very little ‘literal’ action) can keep you interested from start to finish, you have to give it credit. It doesn’t just belong to the incredibly well-rounded cast, but also to the director, David Lowery. What I respect so much about David is that he can bounce back and forth between genres depending on what the film or story desires. His previous work, A Ghost Story (2017), which initially put him on my radar, has a drastically different mood compared to the smooth-talking entertainment of his latest work. David’s range is perhaps his most useful talent, making me look forward to his work for years to come.

A great aspect of premieres is that not only do you get to enjoy the film, you also get the red-carpet experience, which is packed to the brim with camera crews, interviewers/ interviewees and insightful Q&As with the cast following the movie. Seeing these ‘stars’, as not only the big onscreen presence but as real-life creatives, is incredibly humbling. As an aspiring filmmaker, there is nothing more satisfying than listening to the words of industry professionals. To me, the premieres are the ideal way to see a movie at the festival.

Naturally, it helps if the film itself is great, but the premiere is the full package—a must for any movie buff. If you’re still trying to justify that extra bit of money for a premiere ticket, I’ll add this; being there for potentially the final standing ovation of the great Robert Redford is something that no one can ever take away from me, so thank you TIFF.

My final movie at this year’s festival was perhaps my most anticipated. With Damien Chazelle at the helm, who is quickly becoming one of my favourite directors (Whiplash and La La Land), and the star power of Golden Globe Winners, Ryan Gosling and Claire Foy, this movie had everything to make it one of the year’s best, and it did not disappoint.

Most people know the story of the first ever moon landing. In fact whenever anyone brings it up, the famous words, “That’s one small step for man, and one giant leap for mankind.”, come to mind. What First Man does is not only tell the captivating story widely known, but adds layers of sacrifice and accomplishment to it that makes you look at this historic event in a new light. Both Ryan and Claire demonstrate a subtle level of intensity in every scene, with such ease. The confrontations between the two characters have you siding with both arguments, which is a challenge, but with the incredible script and superb performances, the movie captivates from beginning to end.

In my opinion however, the true star is Damien, who's directing choices of using close-up shots in conjuntion with shaky and handheld camera work literally puts you in the pilot’s seat—apologies, I mean the astronaut’s seat. At the mere age of 33 (just 32 when he won the Academy Award for Best Director, which made him the youngest to do so), Damien knows how to approach each of his works from a unique perspective, gratefully it’s the angle that helps his audience get the most out of every scene.

First Man has everything, which makes me believe there will be significant Oscar buzz coming its way, and rightly deserved. Although the movie did not win the Grosh’s People Choice Award (the noblest award at the circuit—best film of the festival voted by the people), it earned my vote and the votes of countless others around me in the packed auditorium… if that counts for something.

That was my festival, just the three films this year, would have liked to see more, but there’s always next year. I will say though, I was thoroughly impressed with all my choices, they all brought something unique to the table and all left me with something to think about – that’s more than I can say about previous years.

I think that’s what makes TIFF as successful as it is, the sum of all its parts. From the creatives that bring their work there each year, to the generosity of the volunteers, and to the setup of each venue, it encapsulates everything the film industry strives to be. And that is why I will continue to go for many years to come.

So, I’ll leave you with this, the promise of celebrities and world-class films may entice you to give the Toronto International Film Festival a try, but trust me, it’ll be the community of film lovers that will keep you going year after year. I think that’s something special.

Marco Pereira

Photographer.

Cideographer.

Magician.

Film Lover.

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