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MOGUL MOWGLI – ★★★☆

Films can resonate with you for any number of reasons. Obviously seeing parallels to your own life, or experiences, or maybe even just the mood on the day. I’ll admit after 20 minutes I was worried that I wouldn’t make it through, as I’m not much into hiphop, but I’m glad I stuck with it. A film about the demons a British rapper of Pakastani descent facing a severe medical condition on the cusp of a break in his career. Very nicely filmed, and excellent portrayal of the need to be at peace with what the universe delivers.

SOME KIND OF HEAVEN – ★★★

Documentary about some of the residents in a large retirement village in Florida. It pitches itself as the perfect place for people of a certain age to spend the rest of the days, and this followed the lives of some of its residents. Somewhat depressingly, it seems that even in the golden years, you can see the same problems that young people face – for many of these residents, they are still trying to find the meaning of life, looking for love or companionship, or in the case of one less than likeable Californian, “a chick with money”.

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FIRST COW – ★★★☆

The latest film by Kelly Reichardt, who did Wendy and Lucy at MIFF 2008. First Cow is a story set in the 1880s Pacific Northwest, of two men who become friends and try and plan for their future betterment. This involves stealing milk from the only cow in the region to meet the demand for their popular baked goods. It was slow, sometimes in good ways, sometimes in less good ways. I seem to be in the minority in not liking Wendy and Lucy, so the good news is that this one was better. Would I see it again? Probably not.

Finally had a chance over the weekend to look into the films available for viewing at the upcoming MIFF 2020. Lots of good potential here! It’s obvious that this isn’t a full MIFF (and this wasn’t surprising), but I am excited about how many films are on offer. Here’s my list of films I’d like to see:

  • 9to5: The Story of a Movement
  • Atlantis
  • Black Bear: Program Spotlight
  • Bloody Nose, Empty Pockets
  • Bombay Rose
  • Born to Be
  • Boys State: Program Spotlight
  • Coded Bias
  • Corpus Christi
  • Digger
  • Ellie & Abbie (& Ellie’s Dead Aunt)
  • Ema
  • Exile
  • Farewell Amor
  • First Cow
  • The Go-Go’s
  • Hong Kong Moments
  • Identifying Features
  • Just 6.5
  • Kala Azar
  • The Killing of Two Lovers
  • Kuessipan
  • Lara
  • Last and First Men: Program Spotlight & Performance by the MSO
  • The Leadership
  • The Letter
  • Looky Looky Here Comes Cooky
  • Maddy the Model
  • Marona’s Fantastic Tale
  • Mayor
  • Mogul Mowgli
  • On the Record
  • Paper Champions
  • Perfect 10
  • Prayer for a Lost Mitten
  • Servants
  • Shiva Baby
  • Some Kind of Heaven
  • Suk Suk
  • Sweet Thing
  • The Trouble With Being Born
  • Welcome to Chechnya
  • Wet Season

SHIRLEY – ★★☆ – the preview film for MIFF 68 1/2. Well made biopic set in the late 1940s about Shirley Jackson, an author, and the young couple that come to stay with her. It becomes obvious early on that Shirley and her husband are leading somewhat unusual lives with a dash of dysfunction. Elizabeth Moss is, as usual, excellent. Unfortunately though, not really my cup of tea.

“MIFF 68 1/2” is coming this August, and will be online. I’m looking forward to seeing how it’s all handled. Coming tonight, is a preview test screening. It appears that it will be a browser based steam, which should be shareable to the big (TV) screen. Not expecting that it will be as smooth as a dedicated app, but we’ll see.