[Reellife] Storms have cleared; VIFF shines brightly

[dave olsen]

The first weekend of the Vancouver International Film Festival is half over and 
the films are fresh and fun for everyone.  Here's four flicks for consideration:


Pudgie WudgieFrank and the Wondercat 
<http://www.viff.org/festival/films/f19050-frank-and-the-wondercat> is a doc 
about Frank Furko and the rescued cat he turned into a celebrity.  Pudgie Wudgie 
made the national headlines and talkshows south of the 49th parallel and the 
film shows many of his feline tricks and fancy outfits.

Frank is a classic civilian, helping where he can, doing the "right" thing, 
trying to shine light into other people's lives, and maybe stroking his ego at 
the same time?

The film could do a bit better in showing Frank at less than his best, but then 
maybe he really is always at his best.

Either way, it's a fun trip for cat and civilization lovers.

Frank and the Wondercat 
<http://www.viff.org/festival/films/f19050-frank-and-the-wondercat> plays 
Monday, Sep 28 @ 6:30 pm at theRio Theatre 
<http://www.viff.org/festival/venues/rio-theatre> and Oct 1 @ 4:00 pm at The 
Cinematheque.


Le Bruit des arbresThe Sound of Trees (Le Bruit des arbres) 
<http://www.viff.org/festival/films/f15462-the-sound-of-trees> is another 
wonderful Quebecois film, this one a feature debut by François Péloquin.

It's a man's film, with nary a couple of women in support roles. And 
predictably, these men, both young and old, don't know how to express themselves 
in a healthy way so the father's dysfunction can almost be seen to flow into his 
youngest son...the eldest married and ran off at the film's start.

The tension is palpable throughout with economic stress being the obvious 
psychological driver although the two families depicted show that economics are 
far from the only cause of tensions.

The English subtitles are easy to keep up with and seemed very accurate to me.

The scene I loved best was when the teen-aged Jay asked to be tucked in.  
Despite his desire to be a tough man, our psyches need what we need and if we 
don't get it, well, we don't develop.  As much as we may try to suppress our 
feelings, they just won't go away, Tabernacle!

The Sound of Trees (Le Bruit des arbres) 
<http://www.viff.org/festival/films/f15462-the-sound-of-trees> plays Tuesday Sep 
29 @ 9:00 pm atThe Cinematheque 
<http://www.viff.org/festival/venues/the-cinematheque> and Oct 1 @ 3:15 pm 
atInternational Village #8. 
<http://www.viff.org/festival/venues/international-village-8>


TopophiliaTopophilia <http://www.viff.org/festival/films/f17031-topophilia> is a 
stop-action film that has no narrative, just incredible cinematography, 
beautiful landscapes, and...a pipeline, the Trans-Alaskan pipeline.  The 
soundtrack includes birds, wind, breaking ice, and the relentless sound of 
petroleum flowing through a pipeline.

 From start to finish, the pipeline is surrounded by water: frozen, running, 
standing, raining.  And the questions: why does it zig here and zag there?  Why 
underground there but not here?  And the engineering that gets it over rivers!  
These 4 feet-in-diameter, 1300km metal snakes are no small undertaking.

The film could as easily be a testament to the zany creators as it may be a 
warning to others of the perils of pipelines, especially when they go through 
"the middle of nowhere."

Artist or activist, Peter Bo Rappmund may be both with his latest masterpiece.

Topophilia <http://www.viff.org/festival/films/f17031-topophilia> plays Monday, 
Sep 28 @ 1:30 pm atThe Cinematheque 
<http://www.viff.org/festival/venues/the-cinematheque> and Sep 29 @ 7:00 pm at 
the Vancity Theatre.


ContainmentContainment <http://www.viff.org/festival/films/f16796-containment> 
is a doc that I've been waiting for for years.  It examines the nuclear waste 
situation in the US and concurrently documents some of the fallout of Fukishima.

Much of the film focuses on the future, noting that nuclear waste will be 
radioactive for thousands of years regardless of where and how it is kept.

Not surprisingly, most of the waste generated is far from adequately stored.  
More surprising is that the US has spent much effort trying to find a way to 
warn generations thousands of years into the future that the waste it will have 
buried is dangerous.  It believes it has a "moral" obligation to do this.  It 
seems that there is no similar obligation to actually deal with the stuff or, 
dare I say, stop producing it.

The film confirms most alternative news reports of the fact that Fukishima was a 
thread away from destroying the state of Japan and likely much more.  Meanwhile, 
the great white hope in the US has been shut down and will cost $300 million to 
"fix."

This film will silence the nuclear power lobby in a mere 80 minutes.  Don't miss it.

Containment <http://www.viff.org/festival/films/f16796-containment> plays 
Wednesday, Sep 30 @ 9:00 pm atSFU Woodwards 
<http://www.viff.org/festival/venues/sfu-woodwards> and Oct 4 @ 10:45 am at 
International Village #9.
-- 

Warmly,
dave/
//
//Movie and Theatre lovers who know a saner world is possible may enjoying 
reading and sharing their thoughts on Reel Life, Real Ideas: Movies and more... 
<http://reellife.wordpress.com/>

Hit by a car at 60 km/h (40mph), a pedestrian has an 85 per cent chance of being 
killed; at 50 km/h (30mph) s/he has a 45 per cent chance of being killed, while 
at 30 km/h (20mph) the risk falls to 5 per cent. Source: British Parliamentary 
Advisory Council on Transport Safety (1996) //_Taking Action on Speeding_//

If you are expecting a baby soon...
...read Ina May Gaskin's insightful book, Ina May's Guide to Childbirth, packed 
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...consider Natural Infant Hygiene (aka Elimination Communication) and reduce 
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http://www.natural-wisdom.com

Did you know that in Scandinavia...
--> there are laws protecting children from all forms of spanking and bullying, 
even from parents
--> these laws do not imprison or punish parents but instead raise awareness 
(http://www.empathicparenting.org)
--> the elderly are able to remain at home thanks to programs that provide free 
meals, free transportation, and free care/

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