Another Vancouver International Film Festival has come and gone, and we saw quite a few movies this time around. While there were tons to see, here are my five favourites of the twenty-plus I saw, presented in alphabetical order.
Pain & Glory
Pedro Amaldóvar is one of the most revered directors of our time, and with this film, he turns his gaze inward. Following an ageing filmmaker through an examination of his own life and lifes work, Pain and Glory is one of my favourites from the festival.
Portrait of a Lady on Fire
A slow and sensual story of two women mutually attracted to one another, Portrait of a Lady on Fire is one of the most beautiful films of the year. With two powerful performances and a gorgeous, minimalist filmmaking style, this one will get under your skin and into your heart and is one of my favourites from the festival.
The Realm
A taut political thriller about a corrupt politician fighting desperately about being made the fall guy for a recent scandal. By the time the end rolls around you will find yourself rooting for him, but should you be? The Realm may leave you feeling conflicted, but that’s the point, and it was one of my favourites of the festival.
White Lie
How far would you go to maintain a lie? How many more lies would you have to tell in order to keep it going? How long is that even feasible and how would it affect your life and relationships? White Lie takes a look at these questions, and while it’s not a perfect film it is one that I haven’t stopped thinking about since the festival.
Who You Think I Am
Basically Catfish but in reverse, Who You Think I Am follows a lonely woman through all the twists and turns of building a persona and developing a relationship with a young man at a distance. There are twists and turns and laughs and revelations, and it is one of my favourite films from the festival.
The End
In addition to these five films we saw around 20 more, and just in case you missed it you can find all of that coverage right here.
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