VIFF Picks

Yes, that time of year is nearly upon us: the Vancouver International Film Festival (Sept 29 - Oct 14), also known as "15 Days of 'Meh".

After a cursory look at this year's program guide, here are filmgurl's choices for what seems the least boring. I've also been doing some pre-reviews for Terminal City, so check out next week's issue for the first batch. I don't know how many of these I'll get to (if any), but I'll post reviews of the ones I do.


Takeshis [2005, Japan] -- Beat Takeshi is back, with a bizarrely self-referencial look at fame, identity and the nature of duality. Apparently one of his best to date.

Tale of Cinema [2005, South Korea] -- Romantic comedy of sorts starring Kim Sang-Gyeon from "Memories of Murder."

Beowulf & Grendel [2005, Canada] -- Local director Sturla Gunnarsson's ("Such a Long Journey") take on the classic Old English epic. Starring Gerard Butler & my fave Stellan Skarsgard as King Hrothgar.

Metal: A Headbanger's Journey [2005, Canada] -- Canadian doco that covers the both the political and musical histories
of that finest of musical genres.

Souvenir of Canada [2005, Canada] -- Film companion to the Douglas Coupland book.

The Dark Hours [2005, Canada] -- Low-budget psychological thriller that looks refreshingly gritty and deeply scary.

Linda, Linda, Linda [2005, Japan] -- High-school set movie about an all-girl punk band getting ready for a big competition.

Princess Raccoon [2005, Japan] -- Legendary auteur Seijun Suzuki takes on the period musical. A must see if ever there was one.

Blood Rain [2005, South Korea] -- Period detective thriller. Likely better than "Sword in the Moon."

Duelist [2005, South Korea] -- The other Korean period detective thriller. At least one of them will be better than "Sword in the Moon."

The Bridesmaid [2005, France] -- Claude Chabrol takes on Ruth Rendell. Sure to be stylish and twisty.

Dear Wendy [2005, Denmark] -- Thomas Vinterberg (the other name on the Dogme 95 manifesto) takes on America's obsession with guns. Starring my choice for the next Christian Bale: Jamie Bell as a pacifist gun-nut.