I’m very disappointed in the list this year; the majority of the most interesting films at Cannes and/or Venice did not make it, and I bet you that these films would have made it last year. I definitely feel like TIFF is much more commercial than it was last or even the year before. The visions program only has 11 films this year, whereas in previous years it had around or over 20. Special Presentations (which is where the most popular films, other than the galas, are) has much more than what it had in previous years. I’m still very excited and all, but now I’ll have a close to zero chance of seeing these films.
Here are the films that peak my interest:
35 Rhums (Denis)
Still Walking (Koreeda)
Achilles and the Tortoise (Kitano)
JCVD
WAVELENGTHS 1 (Films by Nathaniel Dorsky and Jean-Marie Straub)
Un conte de Noël (Desplechin)
Tokyo Sonata (Kurosawa)
24 City (Jia)
Of Time and the City (Davies)
Liverpool (Alonso)
Ashes of Time Redux (but this is apparently coming out on September 19th so there is no point really in seeing it here except for WKW’s appearance)
Terrence Davies’ Trilogy introduced by Davies
Pointe Courte introduced by Varda
My Own Country (Bayan Ko)
Nuit de Chien
The absent names/films:
Lav Diaz
Grandieux
Garrel
Hong Sang-soo
Soi Cowboy
United Red Army
Nevertheless, I am, of course, very excited!
So far:
1. Le Genou d’Artemide
2. 35 rhums
3. Films by Nathaniel Dorsky (Winter + Sarabande)
4. Still Walking
5. JCVD
6. Waltz with Bashir
7. Wendy and Lucy
8. Detroit Metal City
Nothing bad as of yet! Next on the agenda: RR and Of Time and the City.
Daniel Kasman
Here’s the line-up. What are you guys excited for? I’ve been waiting for a new Claire Denis film since her amazing last movie, L’Intrus, so if I could only see one it’d be 35 Rhums…