TIFF, Day 1

Techincally, I guess its day 2, but this is my first day, and it's all about me.

My first film was Achilles and the Tortoise, by Takeshi Kitano. The film follows the life of a would-be artist, from childhood to late middle age. After having been told at a young age that he should become an artist because he paints a great deal, Machisu slavishly devotes the rest of his life to doing so. While he has the technical skills, his work lacks the emotion needed to transcend the ordinary. When the art dealer with whom he consistantly tries to get to represent his work suggests he try a certain style, he slavishly copies that style, producing second-rate copies. Along the way he gets married and has a child, which only seem to complicate the issue.

Kitano has produced a bittersweet sort of film here, with constant difficulties being thrown at Machisu (none of which slow him down) that he accepts with almost Keatonlike stoicism. While ultimately uplifting, things will assuredly get worse before they get better.
7.5/10


Next was The Sky Crawlers, by Mamoru Oshii. This animated film deals with a group of fighter pilots, employees of a company who fight other companies in a sort of war by proxy that has replaced full scale wars. The pilots are all "Kildren", genetically engineered to remain in their late teens forever. When a new pilot shows up to replace one who has died, things begin to take on a somewhat disturbing and familiar trend.

Oshii is dealing with his themes of humanityand the idea of the self again, although in a somewhat less dense way than in the Ghost in the Shell movies. Nonetheless, a very entertaining, engaging film with flawless anime from start to finish.
7.5/10

The day's final film was Me and Orson Welles, by Richard Linklater. This film tells the story of Welles' production of Julius Caesar in the fall of 1937 seen through the eyes of a high school student who manages to get himself a speaking role in the play almost by accident.

Based on actual events and people, the movie captures the flavour of the time quite well, and the performances are all quite good. Christian McKay is exceptional as Welles, and if you close your eyes its hard to tell that it isn't really him. Another solid film from Linklater.
7/10

On for Tomorrow: Sauna, Pontypool, and Deadgirl.