A black comedy starring Vancouver's Fred Ewanuick and directed by Newfoundland's Mary Walsh. Ewaniuk portrays Newfoundland Ranger Andrew Hepditch in something of a Dudley Doright fashion, being both naive and clumsy. He's the butt of his unit's jokes, and they figure that they really got him when he's sent out to remote Swyers' Harbour to investigate a sheep shagging incident.

This is a surprisingly charming film at this year's Vancouver International Film Festival. If nothing else, it's the height of this year's non-angst-ridden English language features. Mrs. Palfrey checks into the Hotel California Claremont, and she never leaves... She finds adventure and romance living in this hotel that has definitely seen better days.

I went into this screening expecting Close to Home to be another Israeli border patrol documentary, only pointing the camera at female recruits. This fictionalization follows two women in their required national service and depicts them as being pretty much normal people with normal concerns.

This sort of film is the sort of thing that makes people hate the French.

Technorati Tags: festival, film, international, movies, vancouver, viff

People have been calling this "Douglas Coupland's love letter to Vancouver" and going on and on about how this quirky film represents Vancouver in all ways. Well, that's what I was hearing from Toronto residents in the aftermath of the Toronto International Film Festival. As someone who has lived in Vancouver for the past decade, I'm not sure "love letter" is really appropriate.

By the sounds of some of the fan-written reviews I read before seeing this, I expected violent outbursts. I expected that there would be scenes of vocalist Charles, aka Black Francis aka Frank Black throwing things at bassist Kim Deal, screaming. There was nothing that overt; the mostly just didn't talk to each other much...

Hwang Dae-Woo is a thirty year old virgin likely because he's mostly afraid of women. A cute young girl named Mina moves in to his building and he's smitten by her; it takes a bit of outside influence by a friend to force a meeting.

Documenting the swift decline of a man diagnosed with ALS, and the painfully slow advance in medical research into the disease. Time is relative, and how fast you perceive its passing time seems to depend on which end of the wheelchair you're on.

Interviews with survivors give voice to much footage that has never before been publicly seen. Photos and audio recordings from early services right up to the very last sentences spoken by believers at the Guyana compound.

Meet John and Jane Doe; they are your average Americans as seen through the eyes of Indian call center employees. John and Jane are rich, and are concerned most with privacy, individuality, and patriotism. What the Does really need is someone who cares enough to help them save money on their long distance bills every month.

That's where the call center employees come in.

This is a fictionalized account of the interaction between then newly elected Prime Minister Tony Blair and Queen Elizabeth II. Shortly after Blair accepted office, the country was hit with something of a tragedy in the death of Diana Spencer.

This is a fictionalized account of the interaction between then newly elected Prime Minister Tony Blair and Queen Elizabeth II. Shortly after Blair accepted office, the country was hit with something of a tragedy in the death of Diana Spencer.

Going over the film noir checklist;

Tragic hero, retired cop or jaded detective? Check.
Femme fatale? Check.
The innocent girl next door; likely blond? Check.
The evil genius or corporate entity? Check.
Twist ending? Check.

Excellent, then we can begin.

This moved up to challenge the other films at the top of my favorites list. It's a pure fable featuring a boy who is extremely gifted, and something of a pariah because of it. Those his own age treat him like a freak, and when he's advanced to high school, things get worse. He just wants to be left alone to do whatever he wants...

Added Screening at VIFF 2006:
Sat, Oct 7, 11:00 am @ Vancity Theatre