This past Monday, Katya and I took a breather from our pile of HOTDOCS Film Festival screenings and was invited to the very fun Kaiser Ball - the big event that celebrated the World Premiere the documentary of FELIX AUSTRIA! Felix Pfeifle himself was in attendance at the invite-only Viennese … [Read more...]
Hot Docs Interview: “Blood Brother”
Winner of the Grand Jury Prize and the Audience Award for US Documentary at Sundance, Blood Brother is a deeply moving film about how one person with steely determination and limitless love truly can make a difference in the lives of others. The film tells the story of Rocky Braat who decided to … [Read more...]
HotDocs: Free The Mind
We all probably know at least one family with a child who has been diagnosed with ADHD. Friends I know are determined to find ways to cope on a daily basis and, if possible, with minimal or no meds. This year, HotDocs, The Canadian Documentary Film Festival, includes the world premiere of FREE THE … [Read more...]
Chatting up filmmaker Rob Stewart, REVOLUTION.
It's just past 11 o'clock in the morning and I've made my way to Cafe Diplomatico or "The Dip" we've often referred to. It's a main-stay along College Street where everyone from suits to moms with strollers and old timers like to hang out. It's one of those joints where you can just be yourself. … [Read more...]
Flight of the Butterflies
One of the most incredible migrations on earth has now been captured on film in the latest IMAX documentary adventure, FLIGHT OF THE BUTTERFLIES. This story is inspired by Canadian scientist, Dr. Fred Urquhart who spent his life dedicated to unravelling nature's mystery of the monarch … [Read more...]
Lost & Found
In March 2011, we witnessed the devastation in Japan made from one of the world's worst tsunamis. Thousands lost lives or left homeless. Businesses and houses were washed away into the ocean. An unbelievable force of nature. The ocean waves have been carrying the debris across the waters and … [Read more...]
Perfection: Jiro Dreams of Sushi
If you're a sushi lover you may be interested in the documentary Jiro Dreams of Sushi: Portraits of a Perfectionist. At almost 90 year old, Jiro Ono is a sushi chef with celebrity-like status who runs Sukiyabashi Jiro - a three-star Michelin rated restaurant in Japan. It's not a fancy … [Read more...]
Hot Docs: Adopted ID looks at inter-racial dynamics
There is no shortage of films to enjoy in Toronto, it's a cultural advantage to living in a big city. Aside from the blockbusters splashed across every major theatre, there are some very interesting films that are also well attended. Housed in the Bloor West Annex area, the Bloor Cinema showcases … [Read more...]
BABIES
Who doesn't love babies? When a new baby is introduced into a group of women, we usually take turns passing the baby around and just staring at the baby's newness.Last week, Jen and I were lucky enough to see the sneak preview of BABIES, the amazing new film by French fimmaker Thomas Balmes, which … [Read more...]
Food, Inc.
It's January again (wait, let me check...yep it's still January), & my movie mind starts to wander toward documentaries. It happens every year. Whether it is the exposure documentaries get this time of year with the lead up to all of the big awards shows or it is a form of movie new … [Read more...]