MOVIES
From summer to winter, it’s all on view at VIFF
A teenager is at the emotional centre of the South Korean family drama Moving On; Montrealers search for more than just missing belongings in Jean-François Lesage’s documentary Prayer for a Lost Mitten; a Filipina caregiver wonders if another presence is in the house in the thriller Sanzaru; two teenagers on the Normandy coast become inseparable in the French queer romance Summer of ’85.
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here’s one week left to catch selections at the 2020 Vancouver International Film Festival, which continues until October 7. Here’s a sampling of what’s on offer, with all titles below available at viff.org/ , unless noted. FATHER (Serbia/France/Germany/Croatia/Slovenia/Bosnia and Herzegovina) When Nikola (a thoroughly committed Goran Bogdan) learns his wife is injured, he bolts from his worksite to reach her, ignoring an offer to be driven there. This action encapsulates his character—he’s wilful to a fault but driven by deep familial devotion. That fuels his 300-kilometre journey on foot from his impoverished village to Belgrade to appeal a decision by a corrupt ministry that took his children away from him. Along the way, he faces numerous adversities, with many being predictable but introduced in clever, unexpected ways. Writer-director Srdan Golubović crafts an austere depiction of the extent to which this powerless individual will go in order to be heard. If actions speak louder than words, then what Nikola develops is a superhuman voice. > Craig Takeuchi MOVING ON (South Korea) The languid flow and episodic nature of this unassuming but keenly observed domestic tale evokes the feel of summertime as a separated father takes his two children to move in with and care for their ailing grandfather. It’s daughter Okju (Choi Jung-un) who inhabits the emotional nexus of the drama as she contends with adolescence and a strained relationship with her distant mother. Writer-director Yoon Danbi’s sensitively articulates the impact that living arrangements and intergenerational relationships can have upon youth facing the basic challenges of growing up. > CT
PRAYER FOR A LOST MITTEN (Canada) The lost-and-found department of Montreal’s Metro becomes a starting point for documentarian Jean-François Lesage to observe people seeking missing items. From the search for these mundane items, Lesage delves into the stories behind them. From there, elliptical jumps take viewers across the wintry city and into the dining and living rooms of homes where people exchange stories about what they have lost, much of which revolves around the theme of love. Light, artful touches frame these life lessons that help to illuminate and illustrate, whether you’re in gloomy Raincouver or snowy Montreal, that what provides the most enduring warmth are stories about the human spirit. > CT SANZARU (USA) More atypical suspense than conventional horror, the meditative Sanzaru is replete with patient observations of everyday life. Filipina caregiver Evelyn (Aina Dumlao) moves into an isolated home in rural Texas to look after the aging Dena (Jayne Taini). When Evelyn’s nephew Amos (Jon Viktor Corpuz) moves in, tensions arise. Writer-director Xia Magnus builds the growing unease effectively: as electric devices malfunction, Dena’s condition deteriorates, and Amos develops strange symptoms, Evelyn is uncertain if she’s imagining things or if there’s another presence in the house. Everyone here has secrets, with one particularly dark truth that has cast a pall over the house. Although the conclusion may not satisfy, there’s much to appreciate, particularly the cast and directorial talent. > CT SUMMER OF ’85 (France) Boys, boats, beaches… and Bananarama songs. Adapting British writer Aidan Chambers’s 1982 YA novel Dance On My Grave, prolific director François Ozon has made a fi lm that is equal parts queer romance,
psychological thriller, and meta mystery. After the capricious, charismatic 18-yearold David (Benjamin Voisin) rescues the 16-year-old Alex (Félix Lefebvre) from a capsized boat, the two become inseparable during the summer of ‘85 on the Normandy coast. Hovering over this relationship,
however, is the fact that we know David dies and that Alex had something to do with it. It doesn’t all quite come together, but the fresh performances, spot-on costumes, and gorgeous cinematography offer lots of pleasures. Vancity, October 4 (6 p.m.) > Glenn Sumi
VIEW FROM THE SPIT VIII
DAVID A. HAUGHTON ISLAND PAINTINGS III
VISUAL SPACE GALLERY, 3352 DUNBAR ST, VANCOUVER, BC SEPTEMBER 24–OCTOBER 7, 2020 – NOON TO 5:00 DAILY EXTENDED HOURS WEDNESDAYS AND FRIDAYS UNTIL 8:00 VIEW PAINTINGS AT WWW.HAUGHTON-ART.CA OCTOBER 1 – 8 / 2020
THE GEORGIA STR AIGHT
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