Not every film at TIFF is for everybody. Depending on your mood or the person who happens to be your movie-going partner, you'll want to be a bit choosy. Here are some preview notes to help fit your selection to the occasion.
On a date
Closing the Ring
From Richard Attenborough, a tragic story of a woman (Mischa Barton) whose love (Stephen Amell) dies in the Second World War. Before his death, though, he gives a friend his gold ring, which he says must be brought to her in honour of their eternal love. In other words, if you liked Cold Mountain....
On a date with a foot
fetishist
Provestrompe (Foot Sox)
A short film from Norwegian director Mathis Stale Mathisen about a budding romance between two co-workers in a shoe store.
With your family
Terra
TIFF programs aren't loaded with family-friendly comedies, but anything in the Sprockets program is safe for the kids. The gala presentation for 2007 is this animated directorial debut from Canadian Aristomenis Tsirbas. Evan Rachel Wood voices an alien girl in conflict with the last inhabitants of a depleted Earth, and the film has too many celebrity voices to be listed here (Amanda Peet, Luke Wilson and Dennis Quaid are three of them).
with your sister
Atonement
In this film, based on the bestselling book by Ian McEwan, a bratty 13-year-old accuses her older sister's boyfriend of a serious crime that he did not commit. No, it won't exactly inspire sisterly love, but it'll put your own claim that your sister "ruined your life" into perspective. And that's a good first step.
Alone
Into the Wild
Solo moviegoers are not the only odd men out at TIFF screenings, what with all the unemployed cineastes whose friends are at work during the day. If you want to revel in your solo excursion, see this adaptation of Jon Krakauer's book about a young man who throws away everything he owns, leaves behind everyone he knows, and heads off on his own into the Alaskan backcountry.
If you're depressed,
or need to be inspired
The Diving Bell and
the Butterfly
TIFF comes at a difficult time for people who are sad to see summer end. To improve your mood, view Julian Schnabel's biopic about Jean-Dominique Bauby, the former editor-in-chief of French Elle who courageously overcomes the physical limitations that follow a stroke.
if you just want to see something good
4 Months, 3 Weeks
and 2 Days
This Romanian film won a little award called the Palme d'Or at Cannes. Heard of it?
No Country for Old Men
The Coen brothers plus a Cormac McCarthy novel equal something darkly funny.
Eastern Promises
David Cronenberg gets Viggo Mortensen to play a character with an even more violent history. Sounds promising.
Across the Universe
The Sixties. Sex. Drugs. Anti-war activism. And a soundtrack of 30 Beatles songs.
I'm Not There
This is the one for you if you like director Todd Haynes, Christian Bale, Cate Blanchett or Heath Ledger. The fact that all three actors play a version of Bob Dylan should intrigue almost everyone else.
For a TIFF film schedule,
visit http://www.tiff07.ca