This is one of my favorite films from the festival, right up there with Her Master’s Voice and Despite The Gods. Set against the backdrop of the 2010 World Cup, we are introduced to Steven, his oldest daughter, nicknamed Moskito, his mentally ill wife and his youngest son, the scene sealing Thabang. Steven has…
Author: TD Rideout
The Kid and The Clown – Ida Gron, Denmark
In a wonderful little feature, the axiom “laughter is the best medicine” is proven whole-heartedly with the humorous, innocence and honesty Kid & The Clown. It has won a number of family awards in festivals and there’s a reason. It’s an honest look from both perspectives, to see the joy of little Tobias in…
Mr. Christmas – Nick Palmer, USA
Paired with the endearing Kid and The Clown, this short introduces us to Bruce Mertz, better known around Concord, California as Mr. Christmas. A widower living with his cat Trixie, Bruce is a retired electrician who needed a way to make people happy, and make himself happy by proxy. So beginning in August every year…
Where Heaven Meets Hell – Sasha Friedlander, USA
Saturday morning on a day that is going to be spent in theaters began with a presentation of Where Heaven Meets Hell from director Sasha Friedlander. Gorgeously shot in East Java, Indonesia the film follows a group of miners who work in Kawah Ijen, a sulfur mine. From its opening shot of the men…
Her Master’s Voice – Nina Conti, UK
I’ve always been fascinated and delighted by puppetry, muppets and ventriloquism, so when I read the blurb on this film, I knew I had to make the effort to see this one. Having done so, I can’t recommend it enough. As I said in my Documentary post, a good one can make you laugh, cry,…
Brooklyn Castle – Katie Dellamaggiore, USA
I like chess. I’ve been known to play it, and I own a couple of novelty sets, a Harry Potter one and a Lord of the Rings one, but these kids would mop the floor with me in moments… I’m not an extremely skilled player, but I do enjoy it. The documentary, brought to…
Ryan Goldhar
Sigh. It wasn’t til after we parted ways, that Sue and I realized that we hadn’t snapped a pic for our chat with Ryan Goldhar. Ryan is The Guy, he works at Characters Talent Agency, has contributed to the upcoming Sex After Kids, from our good friend Jeremy Lalonde, has a fun podcast of his…
Shadows of Liberty – Jean-Philippe Tremblay, UK
Knowledge is power, and that power is far to great to be only in the hands of a few who don’t concern themselves with their countries, their societies, their species, their planet only their wallets… I knew this one would make me mad. Phew. Mad doesn’t begin to describe. Those who know me know…
A Safe Bet
I’m a Jason Statham fan. Have been since I saw Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels. When you go into one of his films, well, anything after the first Transporter movie (an admittedly guilty pleasure series for me), you know exactly what you’re going to get. Statham is the action star of the new century….
Hot Docs 2012 – Thoughts On Documentaries
Documentary – (dŏkˌyə-mĕnˈtə-rē) adjective Consisting of, concerning, or based on documents. Presenting facts objectively without editorializing or inserting fictional matter, as in a book or film. noun pl. doc·u·men·ta·ries A work, such as a film or television program, presenting political, social, or historical subject matter in a factual and informative manner and often consisting…
