Cannes Directors' Fortnight in Toronto

From November 21 - December 9, Cinematheque Ontario presents a rather unique programming:  A FORTNIGHT AT CANNES: FORTY YEARS OF THE QUINZAINE

In short, a selection of mainly Canadian features (both French and English) from 40 years of the Directors’ Fortnight at Cannes.

For more information of screenings and show times, venue and ticket pricing as well as a brief history of the Directors Fortnight, click on the link to get to the Cinematheque web-site.

http://www.cinemathequeontario.ca

Cinematheque Ontario was kind enough to provide screenings and screeners for 5 of their films in the program.  Below are capsule reviews of 3 of them with the other 2 to appear shortly (of course prior to their screening).

Bon Cinema!

CELINE ET JULIE VONT EN BATEAU (France 1974)
Directed by Jacques Rivette

French auteur Jacque Rivette’s films have been known to be lengthy excursions into the art form.  My first Rivette film was LA BELLE NOISEUSE, running a full 4 hours and I cannot envisage the shorter 2 hour version.  My second was OUT 1: SPECTRE that ran 225 minutes.  But CELINE ET JULIE GO BOATING is Rivette in playful form, and the 192 minutes fleet by, just as the 2 main characters run and laugh themselves into a frenzy around Paris and help solve a murder mystery – Rivette style.

The film begins with the meeting of Julie (Dominique Labourier) and Celine (Juliet Berto).  Celine follows Julie who has dropped articles (like the rabbit in ALICE IN WONDERLAND).  They eventually meet with their roles interchanged.  It turns out that with the help of magic sweets, they can time travel and reminisce past memories.  They use these magical powers to help a little girl who they think is murdered in a mansion where Celine worked as a nanny.

Rivette plays with the narrative with great finesse.  Though the plot seems confusing, Rivette allows his film, through pacing for the audience to collect their thoughts and to enjoy this delightful adult fantasy.  The film takes its time to enchant, but the wait is well worth it.

Screening: Dec 7 - Sun 3 pm

ENTRE LA MER ET L’EAU DOUCE (Canada 1967) ****
Directed by Michel Brault

At the film’s start, the entire story is laid out in words for the audience.  Director Brault goes on to tale his simple yet effective tale of a young Claude (Claude Gauthier) who leaves both his rural life in a village on the north shore of the St. Laurent and his native wife for a song writing career in Montreal.  But times are just as hard in the big city as one acquaintance tells him: “There are so many songwriters here.” But Claude makes it through winning a singing contest and the help of his brother.  The love interest is played by a very young Geneviève Bujold.  Brault moves ENTRE LA MER ET L’EAU DOUCE effortlessly and watching his camera and actors is simply pleasure.  Brault takes his time revealing a film that is made from the heart.  The film is written by Brault, Denys Arcand, Claude Jutra and others.  The title revolves around the protagonist torn between the two worlds of the sea and the fresh water.
(Screening: Nov 21 – Fri 7 pm)

THE ERNIE GAME (Canada 1967) ****
Directed by Don Owen

What kind of game is Ernie playing?  Ernie flirts around with his former (Jackie Burroughs) and current girlfriend and he never takes life seriously.

For a film about restlessness, writer/director Don Owen’s film is precise, fresh, funny with a hilarious yet sad take on life.  What may seem as humour at the film start when Ernie (Alexis Tanner) claims that he is writing a book about a guy just out of the mental hospital turns out to be something quite true.  The audience laughs and finally sympathises with a young man who, in his own words is quite handsome if he did not have those pimples.

Owen’s film has a 60’s look, like the teen love stories that used to come out of Britain like HERE WE GO AROUND THE MULBERRY BUSH and POOR COW.  Yet, Owen’s film has the imprint of Canadania stamped all over it.  Leonard Cohen croons one of hi songs in it.  THE ERNIE GAME is an unexpected delight.

The film won the Canadian Awards for Best Film and Best Director.

(Screening: Nov 30 - Sun 6pm)

A MARRIED COUPLE (Canada 1969) ***
Directed by Allan King

A MARRIED COUPLE, writer/director Allan King’s early work, is typical of his cinema-verite style of filmmaking about real people with real problems in the real world.  His subjects are Billy and Antoinette Edwards, a middle-aged couple with a young son and dog.  Their married life is on the skids.  Though the sex appears ok for the couple, they argue over what King brings across as substantial issues for them.  She feels mistreated as a servant and he feels he should be left to do what he likes as he brings bread to the table.  Billy comes across as more dislikeable for his general attitude, ill-discipline and cuss-words like ‘***censored***’ and ‘***censored***’ while Antoinette tends more to be pitied.  Still, King’s film, though not enjoyable in the way of a feel good movie, has its pleasures in his keen observations on what two people go through when stuck within the institution of marriage.  And the film is most appropriately titled A MARRIED COUPLE as most couples will be able to relate to what Billy and Antoinette are going through.
(Screening: Nov 24 – Mon 7 pm)

REJEANNE PADOVANI (Canada 1973) *****
Directed by Denys Arcand

Arcand must really hate women.  In his movie, the wife of a Quebec politician and financier, REJEANNE PADOVANI gets shot in the back and another woman, a demonstrator gets thrown out the office window of the building.  This drama about corrupt practices among the major cabinet minister and other politicians extends down to their bodyguards and chauffeurs.  If it all sounds a bit boring, Arcand’s film is as lively and disturbing than anything else you would see on the screen in a year.  The dialogue is sharp and wicked, the characterizations accurate and believable and since the film was made 1973, Arcand’s film has (obviously) a very early 70’s look to it.  Personal and political, brutal yet subtle.  The best part of this powerful film is the host’s (Jean Lajeunesse) opening sarcastic opening speech to his guests.  The looks on each of the guest’s faces (especially the wives) as the words are delivered are priceless.
(Screening: Dec 2 – Tue 9 pm)