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Film Friday: Reassemble The Tracey Fragments
If there’s one thing Torontoist likes to do, it’s moan about stuff, but on the face of it, that Palme d’Or winner 4 Months, 3 Weeks and 2 Days receiving a theatrical release here is something that should be received without complaint. After all, journalists have praised the film, including Norm Wilner at Metro, who calls the film “marvellous filmmaking.” But really, it just gives us a chance to moan about the lack of a theatrical release for Reprise (also distributed by Mongrel Media) again. Nice to see they have faith in a Romainian flick about abortion that won an award in France, but not, you know, just about the best film ever that won an award right here in Toronto.
But we digress. Romanian films are “hot” right now, so it probably just made sense to them (plus, as we’ve said, the film really is supposed to be very good).
Best film of the week, however, by miles and miles, was produced right here in Canada. The Tracey Fragments has received mixed reviews, but forget that. We called it “a vital work” in our review during TIFF, so go and see it—or download all of the raw footage from the shoot at the film’s website and edit it into your own film. It probably won’t be as good, but that’s a pretty amazing opportunity.
The Tracey Fragments might be our top pick, but it’s from a strong selection this week, which includes TIFF hit Lars and the Real Girl (starring that dreamy Ryan Gosling), the first new interesting film from Ridley Scott in ages; American Gangster (even if it still stars Russell Crowe); another bloody CGI film about insects (we don’t even need to name it, because you’re probably as sick of Jerry Seinfeld’s constant pimping of it as we are); and more than one interesting documentary.
This week’s Doc Soup is Manda Bala (Send a Bullet), screening November 7 at the Bloor Cinema. Eye’s Jason Anderson calls it “one of the year’s most daring and captivating docs.” The Body Builder and I, which screened at this year’s Hot Docs and won Best Feature Length Canadian Documentary, is out too.
Also opening this week: Surviving My Mother, Acts of Imagination, The Bubble and Martian Child. Festivals this week: The Abilities Arts Film Festival and the Regent Park Film Festival.