CFTCA Digest: VIFF 2024

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Welcome to CFTCA’s monthly digest for September 2024, a roundup of recent reviews, features, interviews, and more by CTFCA critics. This month’s digest turns the spotlight towards a highly anticipated event in the Cascadia critic’s calendar: the Vancouver International Film Festival, which celebrated its 43rd edition this year. Read on for reviews of the films our critics watched.

Film Reviews

Disco’s Revenge | Reviewed by Leanne McLaren | Listen to the full review

“Prepare to get swept up in the music and rich cultural history of disco. Disco’s Revenge is a documentary that will have you tapping your toes or nodding your head to the tunes and leave you with a big smile.”

Leanne is a radio broadcaster on Move Radio in Vancouver. Find more of her reviews on iHeartRadio.

Rumours | Reviewed by Darren Zakus | Read the full review

“Guy Maddin and the Johnson brothers are back with an audacious and fantastical political satire about a G7 meeting descending into supernatural chaos and disaster. Luckily Canada’s PM (Roy Dupuis) is on hand to save the day…”

Find more of Darren’s work on Movie Scene Canada.

The Chef & The Daruma | Reviewed by Marta Djordjevic | Read the full review

“As I sat, eagerly prepared to indulge in a buffet of cinematic foodie bliss, I was delighted to discover that this documentary goes beyond Tojo’s creation of the California roll (or inside-out roll, as it’s known elsewhere). Baekkevold, his team, and Tojo offer us something deeper: a celebration of community, culture, memory, and the small yet profound moments that make life worth living.”

Find more of Marta’s reviews on her Letterboxd.

Black Dog | Reviewed by Michael Clawson | Read the full review

“A film of expansive visual power, of so many rolling desert vistas and desolate townscapes coated in metallic gray, Black Dog depicts the transformation of rural China in recent decades through the washed-out aesthetic of a charcoal painting.”

Michael writes for Drink in the Movies.

40 Acres | Reviewed by Matthew Simpson | Read the full review

“The limitations of the film (and a couple of story choices toward the end) hold 40 Acres back from being truly great, but it’s still a terrific glimpse into a future that hopefully never comes to pass.”

Find more of Matthew’s reviews on Exclaim.

Misericordia | Reviewed by Eric Zhu | Read the full review

“Despite a brief moment in the spotlight with Stranger by the Lake, Alain Guiraudie remains one of world cinema’s most under-appreciated masters. I’ve been eagerly anticipating his latest, Misericordia, eversince it was announced as part of the Cannes lineup earlier this year, and found myself devastated by it.”

Find more of Eric’s writing on The Insert.

Conclave | Reviewed by Dakota Arsenault | Read the full review

“This is a movie for fans of John le Carré, All The President’s Men, The Constant Gardener, Michael Clayton, The Insider and others. It is a nearly perfect suspense film with so many reveals you never know what will happen next. Edward Berger has shown that he is becoming a top tier filmmaker with back to back masterpieces.”

Find more of Dakota’s work on the Contra Zoom Pod website.

The Girl with the Needle | Reviewed by Tayler Baker | Read the full review

“The Girl with the Needle is one of the best films of the year and a surefire contender for Best International film during this year’s awards season. Just be sure you go see it before you read anything else about it.”

Taylor writes for Drink in the Movies.

Festival Podcasts

Contra Zoom Pod #287: VIFF 2024 Wrap-Up

On this episode of Contra Zoom Pod, Dakota is joined by Todd Pengelly⁠, ⁠Marta Djordjevic⁠ and ⁠Christopher Cross⁠ for a debrief on the festival. Films discussed include Anora⁠, ⁠Universal Language⁠, ⁠All We Imagine As Light⁠, ⁠Conclave⁠, ⁠A Different Man⁠, ⁠The Girl With a Needle⁠, ⁠No Other Land⁠ and ⁠Rumours⁠.

Find more episodes of the Contra Zoom podcast here.

Awesome Friday: Lucky Star & Conclave

Matthew Simpson and Simon Best review Lucky Star and Conclave on this episode of the Awesome Friday podcast.

Find more episodes of the Awesome Friday podcast here.

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