INTERNATIONAL
All We Imagine as Light
This stunning film follows flatmates Prabha and Anu, nurses at a hospital in Mumbai whose lives are in an unending conversation. Anu, young, heartsick and idealistic, constantly pulls at the boundaries of the world around her. She shows up to work late, struggles to pay her rent, and goes to great lengths to see her secret lover, eventually sparking chatter among the other nurses. Prabha by contrast is kind but rigid, unflinchingly pragmatic, and seemingly unable to escape the expectations foisted upon her. As their lives continue to rub against one another, a tender space of friendship, compassion, and appreciation forms.
Pedro Páramo
If you like Mexican magical realism, full of ghosts and drama, this dreamy film set a century ago is for you. It’s based on a novel read widely in high schools in Mexico and beyond, about a man searching for his past, and the haunted town of his powerful father. It’ll be on Netflix soon.
Mother Mother
Written and directed by Rexdale’s own K’naan Warsame (formerly of mainstream music fame) and set entirely in Somalia, the film follows a camel-herding family dealing with a life-and-death decision that attracts international attention. There are great culture shock moments when a young Somalian man who grew up in North America winds up on the camel ranch.
Editor’s Note, Oct 3, 2024: After publishing this review in the Oct/Nov print edition, news broke that Warsame had been charged with sexual assault related to an alleged incident in 2010.
UNAPOLOGETICALLY TORONTO
Shook
A love letter to Scarborough, this film about an aspiring writer (played by Saamer Usmani) drives by tons of familiar spots and heavily features the TTC, including the Line 3 SRT (R.I.P.). From the highs of partying downtown, dating and Hakka food, to the heaviness of family drama and his father’s new illness, this film will have you feeling a way about Toronto.
Matt and Mara
How far will the infidelity go? Deragh Campbell gives the serious, contemplative performance, and Matt Johnson captivates with his trademark blundering goofiness. Set convincingly in Toronto’s literary and arts scene.
Really Happy Someday
A trans musical theatre performer has to find his voice again, literally, because the testosterone he’s taking changes his vocal range. There are tons of Toronto scenes and messy romances in this ultimately joyful story. And no joke, this film will help a lot of people understand trans issues better.
Your Tomorrow
The archival footage of Ontario Place in its prime is reason enough to watch, and following the staff and quirky characters who use the place in its last year (2022-23) is a treat. A slow burn, it shows what we lose when we stop investing in public spaces and sell them off.
CANADIAN FILMS
Universal Language
Set in a Canada where Farsi and French are the two official languages, director Matthew Rankin playfully twists and turns through an absurd yet familiar world. Follow elementary school students Negin and Nazgol on their journey as they seek to liberate a frozen dollar bill (a “Riel”) from the frozen ice and, in the process, encounter several strange and quirky characters along the way. Wonderfully paced, beautifully shot and charmingly quirky, Universal Language is an absolute delight.
Aberdeen
Gail Maurice gives an amazing performance as a troubled grandmother in Winnipeg trying to get her grandkids out of foster care. But that system is stacked against her as an Indigenous woman, and she has lost all her IDs. At times hilarious and absurd, Aberdeen is ultimately a story of loss and recovery.
40 Acres
Calgary-born director R.T. Thorne’s debut feature, 40 Acres, drops viewers into a world (shot around Sudbury, ON) where a fungal plague has eradicated all animal life and collapsed the food chain. The Freemans inhabit a family farm dating back to the Civil War and spend their time harvesting, shooting targets, and practising hand-to-hand combat. When a group of roving cannibals breach the perimeter of the farm, the family’s training and trust in each other are pushed to the limit. The gore is not for the faint of heart, but the story telling, cinematography and performances should not be missed.
Editor’s Note, Oct 3, 2024: Film unions IATSE and ACTRA have called out the producers of 40 Acres for “significant outstanding payments to employees and vendors.” According to a joint letter, the unpaid invoices have compromised the well-being and financial security of the film’s cast and crew. The Grind team missed this context before publishing this review in the Oct/Nov print edition, and we echo the call to prioritize getting people paid for their work on the film.
DOCUMENTARIES
No Other Land
Set in the mountainous Masafer Yatta area of Palestine’s West Bank, this much-anticipated documentary follows two journalists documenting the Israeli military’s repeated demolition of Palestinians’ homes between 2019 to 2023. It’s relentless and heartbreaking, but is ultimately a story of optimism, patience and the love people have for each other and the land. Despite playing to sold-out crowds, it doesn’t have a North American distributor yet. If you hear about a screening, don’t miss it.
Fanatical: The Catfishing of Tegan and Sara
After years of cultivating deep connections with their fans, Tegan and Sara are forced to confront the dark side of fandom and “stan” culture when Tegan discovers that her personal information has been hacked. Unsure how to handle the breach, Tegan learns that a fake Tegan has been catfishing (a.k.a. scamming) some of the band’s most devoted and vulnerable fans. Fanatical is a timely commentary about parasocial relationships and the eerily thin line between fandom and fanaticism.
Sudan, Remember Us
The revolutionary poetry being spoken in the streets of Khartoum is reason enough to check this doc out. Sudan, Remember Us captures the overflowing optimism — especially in the music, songs and poetry — of the 2019 civilian-led revolution. It follows some of the organizers and their unbroken resolve as they are confronted with the 2021 military coup that stole power. It’s not an explainer doc, but a great on-the-ground look at significant moments for the troubled nation.
Controversies at TIFF
Russian films and filmmakers were again banned from TIFF this year, due to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. However, the film Russians at War, which was not supported by the Russian government and is about demoralized Russian soldiers fighting on the Ukrainian front, showed at TIFF. But its run was cut short following immense pressure, including from Canadian Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland. TIFF put out a statement saying they also received threats related to showing the film. It was shown again at the TIFF Lightbox after the festival.
On opening night of TIFF, several people disrupted the proceedings to denounce festival sponsor RBC for its investments in fossil fuels and weapons companies, including those supplying the Israeli military. A small number of filmmakers denounced RBC as a festival sponsor for the same reasons while introducing their films to audiences.
And a protest was held at the international premiere of an Israeli film made with government of Israel support, making it a target of the Palestinian cultural boycott of Israel. Palestinians, members of Jews Say No To Genocide and others picketed outside the entrance to TIFF before the film but did not block anyone from entering. Inside the theatre, four people briefly disrupted the programmer’s introduction to the film, then left. The Grind asked TIFF whether it has considered banning films supported by the government of Israel given the International Court of Justice recently found Israel to be responsible for the crimes of occupation and apartheid, and is “plausibly” accused of genocide. TIFF did not respond.
This article appeared in the 2024 Oct/Nov issue.