It’s finally fall! Although this summer was too short and much too rainy, the crisp change in weather is greatly appreciated. With the changing fall colours, I can hardly wait for the crunching sound of the leaves beneath my boots when I stomp over a freshly raked pile. (As long as I don’t have to do the raking part myself).

Once again I feel like I should be combining ten updates in one as so much time has pass since I last wrote, but one – I’m too lazy to type up an extended entry; and two – my memory is becoming more muddled with each passing day. Regardless, I still remember enough from TIFF08 to warrant a full entry.

*****

To start off, for some obscure reason all the films I picked this year turned out quite depressing and morbid. The first film I saw as a Russian movie about a writer who befriends an assassin. He uses the assassin as inspiration for his new novel. Little does he know, the assassin is actually planning to frame him for one of the murders. The concept sounded kind of cool at the beginning, but the film’s dark camera angles and the daunting music more or less creeped me out. Not to mention the whole movie centered around the idea of murder.

*****

The second screening I went to were for some Canadian shorts. I must say I wasn’t as pleased with the selection this year as I usually am in most other years. Usually in the 6-8 films they play, I gravitate towards one or two that I really enjoy. Unfortunately I didn’t find that this year.

One of the earlier shorts they played was one called ‘Next Floor’. It was shot in a soon-to-be-demolished building, so basically the director had total freedom to destroy the set. The actors in the film were all creepy looking with pale skin and dark eyes. The diningroom setting was equally creepy and all these grotesque animals like porcupines, anteaters and armadillos were placed on dishes in front of the guests. Far from the typical dinner party. But then again, as this was the dinner from hell we’re talking about, it’s to be expected.

So as they are eating, the floor suddenly starts to shake and then gives way completely. The dining party plunges down onto the next floor. There’s a few seconds of silence as everyone examines the aftermath of the near-death drop. Then, as if nothing happened, everyone starts eating again and the newly reassembled orchestra begins playing anew.

After a few more floor-dropping repetitions, the building apparently cannot withstand further damage, so the dining party completely plunges downwards towards their death. Or to hell. They don’t really elaborate at the end.

Again, not too impressed considering it was like 11:30 in the morning. Much too intense mid-morning.

*****

I saw another film called Afterwards on the last day of the festival. The cast seemed quite impressive and the film was suppose to be an edge-of-the-seat, psychological thriller. Surely enough, within the first five minutes, a young girl plunges into the lake after the deck collapses. The boy with her immediately runs back to the cottage to get help, only to get run over by a speeding car himself. Hm, this surely sets up the rest of the movie.

There was a crucial plot twist somewhere at the end of the movie, but if you had half a brain you could have probably seen it coming. Needless to say, it was far from my expectations. Worst, I think I’ll be scarred by all the gruesome images in the film – people getting run over in cars, committing suicide in front of a subway, getting electrocuted while fixing a blown fuse. Did I miss anything else?

Moving onwards.

*****

Of course I had to save the best for last! Although the last film is equally unsettling with the theme of suicide and abandonment, it was just utterly brilliant to the core. C’est pas moi, je le jure! (It’s not me, I swear!) was just a breath of fresh air amidst the bloody gore of the previous films. Considering the sensitivity of the subject matter, the film was very light-hearted throughout.

The story is centered on a 10 year old boy named Leon. Growing up in a dysfunctional family in the 70’s, his life is full of ups and owns. Most of the time he gets into mischief, but always manages to worm his way out of situations. Though he is lying and manipulative and gets into more trouble than humanly possible, you become totally smitten by his boyish charisma. It was almost like he could do no wrong.

Of course, his suicidal tendencies often got in the way of things, but if you can look past that, you begin to feel an insane amount of compassion for this little devil. Heck, I would adopt him if I could. This kid was too amazing for words.

*****

All in all, not the best year I’ve had at the filmfest. Surely it can’t get any worse than this, so I should be moving up from here on. I would love to watch C’est pas moi again. I hope I’ll have a chance to catch the other works by the same director. The filmfest was only two weeks ago but it already feels like an eternity. September seems to be passing by far too slow for my taste. Oh well, another two weeks and I’m on vacation! =)