The Teacher' Lounge - Oscar 2024 Nomination and Our Sponsored Film VIFF 2023 now screening at VIFF Sat Feb 10th at 1:30pm to Thursday Feb 15th, 2024

The Teacher' Lounge - Oscar 2024 Nomination and Our Sponsored Film VIFF 2023 now screening at VIFF Sat Feb 10th at 1:30pm to Thursday Feb 15th, 2024

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VIFF’s December Holidays and Early January Special Series and Screenings

Special Holiday Series The Wonders: Fairy Tales, Folklore & Fantasy Dec 20 – Jan 4 Best of 2023 Dec 26…Read MoreVIFF’s December Holidays and Early January Special Series and Screenings

VIFF 2023 Additional Films we liked at the festival

David House The Rapture The Delinquents The Settlers Monster Fallen Leaves Ian Merkel Monster. Four Daughters Toll They Shot The…Read MoreVIFF 2023 Additional Films we liked at the festival

SAFFCanada 2023 – Our suggested top films with only 2 days left to view on Eventive.

In-Theatre Screenings at SFU Goldcorp Centre Wonderful Opening Night Gala and Screening of the documentary  RISE: The Siya Kolisi Story Also…Read MoreSAFFCanada 2023 – Our suggested top films with only 2 days left to view on Eventive.

VIFF 2023 Special Festival Reviews

Blackbird Blackbird Blackberry - Review Ian Merkel

Earlier last year, I came across Elene Naveriani‘s 2021 film “Wet Sand” and thoroughly enjoyed her style of film making, her attention to detail, her casting of characters and incredible storytelling. I was excited to be able to select her latest film to promote as a Community Partner for VIFF.

Based on a novel , by the same name, from Tamta Melashvili,  the film centers around Etero, (played by Eka Chavleishvili), a 48 year old single unmarried woman, managing a small store in an isolated village. Chavleishvili, who played a supporting role in “Wet Sand’ is perfect for this leading role.

Etero is content to remain unmarried and independent, until she has a near death experience while picking Blackberries at one of her favorite spots, on a steep ravine, gazing at a beautiful Bluebird. She loses her footing and falls. Exhausted, after scrambling back up to safety, she has a vision of herself lying dead at the bottom of the ravine with the villagers looking on.  She eventually makes her way back to the store and realizes that she is utterly alone. A transformation takes place from the vision, realizing her mortality and what she may have missed, never being married, and not having a family of her own. 

When Murmur (played by (Tempo Chichinadze), a delivery supplier who frequently supplies her with products for her store, arrives with a delivery and shows some affection towards her, she has a sexual awakening, and they have an affair. He is married and lives in a different village so they can keep the affair secret. However, she is not sure if she wants to give up her independence although the affair continues for a while.

 Most of the village women, married or separated, who shop at her store and occasionally invite her to join them for tea or to play cards, regard her as an oddity, and find her threatening.  They often talk behind her back and criticize her when she visits.

The story in the village is that her mother died after her birth. Her father blames her for causing her mother’s death and she has no support from her older brother, while she looks after them. The villagers believe that is why she has never married.  The actual truth is that her mother died from cancer.

Murmur subsequently decides to go to Turkey as he can make more money working in Transport than what he can earn in Georgia.  He returns but the affair is over. However, the story of Etero continues.

There are many interesting subtleties with wicked wit and observations from Etero, in these various discussions with her so-called friends and customers of the store. On one of her trips to purchase supplies in a nearby city, there is a wonderful interaction with a male customer in a café scene.

 Elene Naveriani’s last 2 films have focused on small villages in Georgia where the locals are suspicious of outsiders and non-conventional norms This is what makes her films and storytelling so interesting. I can’t wait to see what she will do next!

View On VIFF SiteBlackbird Blackbird Blackberry - Review Ian Merkel

Animal -Review Ronen Liebman

"Animal," directed by Sofia Exarchou, defies traditional cinematic conventions, offering a unique and unconventional viewing experience. It challenges the usual standards of what makes a "good" film by presenting a storyline devoid of dramatic twists and a neatly wrapped conclusion. The absence of clear villains and extraordinary events may leave some viewers feeling bored, but the film's portrayal of the unadorned aspects of life is its essence.

The narrative centers around Kalia, a dancer and leader of an entertainment team stationed at an anonymous hotel resort on a Greek island. These resorts are a dime a dozen, where the staff entertains guests during the day and lets them loose at night, occasionally performing as exotic dancers at a local nightclub. Everything seems harmonious, with the staff enjoying their work, and the guests simply seeking sun-soaked fun. Each person understands their role.

However, as the film unfolds, an unconventional atmosphere permeates the scene. The beach loses its golden allure, the singing wanes, the dance routines lose their shine, and the entertainment team's smiles become perfunctory.

The story takes an unexpected turn when Kalia forms a deep connection with Eva, a timid newcomer from Poland, through their dance performances. As the film, and her friendship with Eva, progress, Kalia begins to unveil her disillusionment with her life, the only life she has ever known, and struggles to maintain it. The film reaches its climax as the group prepares for another season, but this time, Kalia is absent, and Eva takes center stage.

"Animal" eschews conflicts and high drama to focus on subtle details. The characters become relatable and poignant, with their vulnerabilities expressed through gestures, glances, or simple hand movements. This deliberate pace encourages viewers to reflect on the protagonist's life and prompts introspection about their own.

I loved the film. Although not easy to watch, I found “Animal” touching and sad. The pain doesn’t derive from evil but from the banality of life, from the gloom present and lack of future. The film serves as a commentary on the decline of Europe and the Western world, as well as the capitalist culture that engulfs its workers. There's no glamour or ambition here, just a group of people grasping at life, yearning for emotional connections, and striving to survive in a world that often overlooks them.

View on VIFF SiteAnimal -Review Ronen Liebman