Review: ‘Recruiting for Jihad’
Recruiting for Jihad is a Vice-style profile of Norwegian Islamist Ubaydullah Hussain, but is ultimately a bit of a missed opportunity.
Review: ‘The Genius and the Opera Singer’
The Genius and the Opera Singer (UK, 70 min.) Dir. Vanessa Stockley Programme: World Showcase (World Premiere) Grey Gardens meets What Ever Happened to Baby Jane? in the intimate and unsettling The Genius and the Opera Singer. The doc chronicles the lovingly toxic relationship between 92-year-old Ruth and her 55-year-old daughter Jessica as they share a New York apartment of claustrophobic chaos. Part documentary, part verité-style horror show, this film by Vanessa Stockley depicts one of the most uncomfortable, gruelling, and revealing mother-daughter relationships ever caught on film. The film opens with Jessica bringing her dog, Miss Angelina Jolie,
Review: ‘Blurred Lines: Inside the Art World’
Blurred Lines: Inside the Art World (Canada, 80 min.) Dir. Barry Avrich Programme: Artscapes (Canadian Premiere) Oh, this business of art. The world of fine art often has a tenuous relationship between commercial value and cultural worth. Blurred Lines tackles the slippery nature of the culture/commerce divide as director Barry Avrich (Quality Balls) weighs the values of the two sides of the art world and finds the scales out of balance. Avrich explores the art world from a multitude of angles in this engaging and entertaining doc that boasts an impressive breadth of insight and access to top players
Review: ‘Hobbyhorse Revolution’
A compelling film on the phenomenon, Hobbyhorse Revolution celebrates its subject matter with enthusiasm.
Review: ‘Pecking Order’
There's trouble at the henhouse in the pun-laden Pecking Order.
Review: ‘Quiet Zone’
The Quiet Zone looks into the lives of a few of the people in the electrosensitive community.
Review: ‘Thank You for the Rain’
Thank You for the Rain (UK/Norway, 87 min.) Dir. Julia Dahr Programme: International Spectrum (North American Premiere) Kenyan farmer Kisilu Musya has a life-changing revelation when the clouds part in Thank You for the Rain. Musya experiences the consequences of climate change firsthand when his small farm endures severe drought followed by a near-Biblical storm of rain and winds that crash down on the land like the wrath of the Old Testament. This natural disaster is appropriately followed by a plague of (humanoid) locusts, which come in the form of the world’s leaders as they convene for the COP21
Review: ‘Nobody Speak: Trials of the Free Press’
Brian Knappenberger's Nobody Speak stands out as an exceptional work with big ideas about democracy and free speech.
Review: ‘Meuthen’s Party’
Marc Eberhardt shows us the early warning signals. “Something is happening in Germany!” Meuthen proclaims. Feel free to read it as a threat.
Review: ‘David Lynch: The Art Life’
David Lynch: The Art Life lets audiences get inside the head of the acclaimed auteur.