Northern Exposure

Groggy after nearly two weeks of wall-to-wall political saturation, I'm ready to shift gears ... and what better way than attending a film festival, an immersive alternate universe where the disturbing visage of Rudy Giuliani can be wiped from one’s brainpan in a matter of moments?

The 33rd Toronto International Film Festival opens this week, armed with another smorgasbord of intriguing works from across the globe. A quick glance at the festival’s 249 films reveals new efforts from the likes of Darren Aronofsky, the Coen brothers, the Dardenne brothers, Terrence Davies, Claire Denis, Arnand Desplechin, Jia Zhang-ke, Spike Lee, Mike Leigh, Richard Linklater, Paul Schrader, Steven Soderbergh and Agnes Varda. And that's just a taste.

Anticipation is just as high for the works of lesser-known directors, including Matteo Garrone’s Gomorrah, Kelly Reichert’s Wendy and Lucy, Steve McQueen’s Hunger (no, not that Steve McQueen) and Ari Folman’s Waltz With Bashir, all of which arrive in Toronto after debuting at the Cannes Film Festival in May.

Two other films that divided audiences at Cannes make their North American premiere: Charlie Kaufman, the singular screenwriter of Adaptation and Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, unveils his directorial debut, Synecdoche, New York, an acutely dour metaphysical mindfuck with Philip Seymour Hoffman as an emotionally and physically battered theater director in Manhattan. And perhaps most curious of all is Soderburgh’s Che, an experimental two-part (two hours each) biopic of Che Guevara with Benecio Del Toro as the Latin American revolutionary. Reaction from Cannes ranged from ecstatic to disastrous.

Check this blog for festival updates in the coming days.

— Jason Gargano

Comments

[Phil]

Excellent. I look forward to your reports, JG.