A PLACE IN HEAVEN Among TIFF's World Cinema Line-Up
By: Caryn Robbins Aug. 13, 2013
The Toronto International Film Festival has announced its Contemporary World Cinema lineup today, featuring films produced by countries from around the world.
The line-up is as follows:
A Place in Heaven (Makom be-gan eden) Yossi Madmony, Israel North American Premiere. Jewish religious law permits the trade of a seemingly non-transferrable concept: another person's place in heaven. This is the story of a highly-decorated retired general who, in a moment of arrogance during his youth, sold his place in heaven to an army cook for a plate of shakshouka.
A Wolf at the Door (O Lobo atrás da Porta) Fernando Coimbra, Brazil World Premiere. A child is kidnapped. At the police station, Sylvia and Bernardo, the victim's parents, and Rosa, the main suspect and Bernardo's lover, give contradictory evidence which will take audiences to the gloomiest corners of desires, lies, needs and wickedness in the relationship of these three characters. Starring Leandra Leal and Milhem Cortaz.1979: Cousins Carole and Jérôme Go On an organized trip to Odessa, behind the Iron Curtain. During the day, posing as tourists celebrating their engagement, they visit monuments and museums. In the evening they slip away from the group and meet "refuseniks", Jews persecuted by the Soviet regime for wanting to leave the country. While Carole is motivated by political commitment and a taste for risk, Jérôme's motivation is Carole. Giselle Toa Fraser, New Zealand International Premiere. Giselle is acclaimed director Toa Fraser's interpretation of the Royal New Zealand Ballet's production of Giselle. The classic story of love, eroticism and death has been reinterpreted by Fraser to include both the onstage performance of the ballet, and an offstage romance that tells of two itinerant dancers, separated by time, distance and their abiding love for each other. Heart of a Lion (Leijonasydän) Dome Karukoski, Finland/Sweden World Premiere. Teppo falls in love with Sari but this is no ordinary love affair. Teppo is a central figure in a neo-Nazi group and Sari's son Rhamadhani is black. When Sari gets pregnant, Teppo decides to make peace with Rhamadhani. When his brother and the Nazi group threaten their peace, he is forced to make a choice between love and hate. Starring Peter Franzén and Laura Birn. Honeymoon (Líbanky) Jan Hrebejk, Czech Republic/Slovakia International Premiere. The arrival of an uninvited guest casts a shadow over an idyllic wedding celebration in this wonderfully fraught meditation on guilt and forgiveness, directed by prolific Czech filmmaker Jan Hrebejk (The Holy Quaternity). Starring Ana Geislerova, Stanislav Majer and Jiri Cerny. Hotell Lisa Langseth, Sweden/Denmark World Premiere. Mentally bruised Erika starts group therapy and enters a new world with new acquaintances. In the pursuit of a life-changing adventure, the group seeks a place of absolute anonymity. Starring Alicia Vikander, David Dencik and Mira Eklund. The Immoral (De Umoralske) Lars Daniel Krutzkoff Jacobsen, Norway World Premiere. Camilla and William are not able to adapt to the Norwegian welfare paradise. When the authorities want to take Camilla's baby, the two drifters run away into the woods. There, William suggests that Camilla becomes a prostitute so they can buy themselves a camper and drive to Spain. But in order to sell sex they need a house. Starring Hanne Backe-Hansen, Kjetil Krogstad Skrede and Daniel Gjerde. Intruders (Jo Nan-ja-deul) Noh Young-Seok, South Korea World Premiere. A writer hides away at an isolated B&B only to encounter a series of life-threatening characters. Starring Jun Suk-ho and Oh Tae-kyung. The Kids from the Port (Los Chicos del Puerto) Alberto Morais, Spain North American Premiere. In this charming neorealist gem set on the sleepy outskirts of Valencia, young Miguel and his friends undertake a seemingly simple mission on behalf of Miguel's grandfather that teaches them all a lesson in real independence. iNumber Number Donovan Marsh, South Africa World Premiere. When undercover cop Chili (S'dumo Mtshali) and his partner (Presley Chweneyagae) are cheated out of a reward by their corrupt superior, Chili decides to jump ship and infiltrate a cash-in-transit heist gang, but he cannot do it without protection from his partner and friend. When his carefully staged plan goes awry and his friend is taken hostage, so begins the mad chase to rescue him. Ladder to Damascus (Soullam iIa Dimashq) Mohamad Malas, Syria/Lebanon/Qatar World Premiere. Ghalia moves to Damascus to study acting and rents a room in a traditional courtyard house where other young Syrians from different regions also live. She meets Fouad, an aspiring filmmaker fascinated by her ambiguity. Within the confines of the house, as their love story blossoms, the streets are embattled with the revolution. Le Grand Cahier (A Nagy Füzet) János Szász, Germany/Hungary/Austria/France North American Premiere. In a village on the Hungarian border, two young brothers grow up during wartime with their cruel grandmother and must learn every trick of evil to survive in the absurd world of adults. Starring Ulrich Thomsen and Ulrich Matthes. Life's a Breeze Lance Daly, Ireland/Sweden International Premiere. Life's a Breeze is a feel-good recession comedy about a family struggling to stay afloat and together through hard times in Ireland. Starring Fionnula Flanagan, Pat Shortt, Kelly Thornton and Eva Birthistle. Little Feet Alexandre Rockwell, United States of America World Premiere. Determined to see "the river," two young children living in Los Angeles leave home to embark on a magical urban odyssey, in the marvelous new film by American indie icon Alexandre Rockwell (In the Soup). Starring Lana Rockwell, Nico Rockwell and Rene Cuante-Bautista. The Major Yuri Bykov, Russia North American Premiere. Sergey Sobolev, a major at the local police office, is driving to the hospital where his wife is about to give birth. High from happiness, he's driving fast and runs down a boy. Now the major has only two options: go to prison or conceal the crime. Starring Yury Bykov, Denis Shvedov, Irina Nizina and Ilya Isaev. Manuscripts Don't Burn (Dast-neveshtehaa nemisoozand) Mohammad Rasoulof, Iran Canadian Premiere. Kasra is an Iranian author who secretly writes his memoirs. His stories are related to his time in jail as a political prisoner, as well as events connected to his life as an intellectual in Iran. He has prepared everything in order to publish these writings and is getting ready to leave the country. When the security service uncovers Kasra's plans, they will do anything to destroy his manuscripts. Inspired by true events. McCanick Josh C. Waller, USA World Premiere. Over the course of one feverish day, a harried narcotics detective (David Morse) and his reluctant partner (Mike Vogel) frantically track down a recently released convict (Cory Monteith) who knows a secret from the past. Metalhead (Málmhaus) Ragnar Bragason, Iceland World Premiere. On a rural cow farm in Iceland, Hera's brother is killed in an accident and she blames herself for his death. In her grief, Hera finds solace in the dark music of heavy metal and dreams of becoming a rock star. Starring Þorbjörg Helga Þorgilsdóttir, Ingvar E. Sigurðsson and Halldóra Geirharðsdóttir Ningen Guillaume Giovanetti and Çagla Zencirci, Japan/Turkey World Premiere
Filmmaking partners Guillaume Giovanetti and Cagla Zencirci immersed themselves in the magical world of Japanese folklore to create this intricate and delightfully amusing modern-day parable. Starring Masahiro Yoshino, Masako Wajima, Xiao Mu Lee and Megumi Ayukawa. October November (Oktober November) Götz Spielmann, Austria World Premiere. Director Gotz Spielmann follows his acclaimed thriller Revanche with this visually captivating character study, in which a family reunion bares old wounds and reveals long-held secrets. Starring Nora von Waldstätten, Ursula Strauss, Peter Simonischek, Sebastian Koch, Johannes Zeiler and Andreas Ressl. Old Moon (Luna Vieja) Raisa Bonnet, Puerto Rico World Premiere. Elsa lives in the mountains of the Caribbean Island of Vieques, Puerto Rico. A visit from her teenage granddaughter, Mina, and her son-in-law, Alei, brings a sweet and bitter taste into her life. In order to protect her granddaughter, Elsa makes a decision that will change Mina's life forever. Starring María Velázquez, Laura Cristina Cardona and Julio Ramos. Palestine Stereo (Falastine Stereo) Rashid Masharawi World Premiere. Palestine/Tunisia/France/Norway/United Arab Emirates/Italy/Switzerland. Palestinian director Rashid Mashawari follows his widely acclaimed dark comedy Laila's Birthday with this compelling and ironic drama about two brothers on the West Bank who, rendered homeless by an Israeli air strike, hustle odd jobs to raise enough money to emigrate to Canada. Paradise: Hope (Paradies: Hoffnung) Ulrich Seidl, Austria/France/Germany North American Premiere. While her mother travels to Kenya, Melanie spends her holiday in the Austrian countryside at a strict diet camp for overweight teens. The teenagers attempt to do sports during the day and secretly get drunk in the evening. Between physical education and nutrition counseling, pillow fights and her first cigarette, Melanie falls in love with the Doctor Who is 40 years her senior. Starring Melanie Lenz, Vivian Bartsch and Michael Thomas. Qissa Anup Singh, Germany/India/The Netherlands/France World Premiere. Set in post-colonial India, Qissa tells the story of Umber Singh, a Sikh who is forced to flee his village due to ethnic cleansing at the time of partition in 1947. Umber decides to fight fate and builds a new home for his family. When Umber marries his youngest child Kanwar to Neeli, a girl of lower caste, the family is faced with the truth of their identities; as individual ambitions and destinies collide in a struggle with eternity. Starring Irrfan Khan, Tillotama Shome, Rasika Dugal and Tisca Chopra. Rags and Tatters (Farsh wa ghata) Ahmad Abdalla, Egypt World Premiere. In one of the most extraordinary nights in the history of Egypt, the prisons were suddenly opened, leaving thousands of prisoners wandering in the desert road between Cairo and Alexandria. Among them was one man trying to find his way in a city that is rapidly changing for good. The Sea Stephen Brown, Ireland North American Premiere. After the death of his wife, Max retreats to The Cedars, a house by the sea where he spent his childhood summers. Re-acquainting himself with places past provokes a cathartic reflection as the present draws out powerful memories from one fateful summer many years ago - memories of innocent joy and uplifting warmth, but also of profound tragedy. Based on the 2005 Booker Prize-winning novel by John Banville. Starring Ciarán Hinds, Charlotte Rampling, Natascha McElhone, Rufus Swell, Bonnie Wright, and Sinead Cusack. The Selfish Giant Clio Barnard, United Kingdom North American Premiere. The Selfish Giant is a contemporary fable about 13-year-old Arbor and his best friend Swifty. Excluded from school and outsiders in their own neighbourhood, the two boys meet Kitten, a local scrap dealer. They begin collecting scrap metal for him using a horse and cart. Kitten favours Swifty, driving a wedge between the boys. As Arbor becomes increasingly greedy and exploitative, tensions start to build, leading to a tragic event that transforms them all. Something Necessary Judy Kibinge, Kenya/Germany North American Premiere. Anne, is struggling to rebuild her Life After the civil unrest that swept Kenya following the 2007 elections, during which her husband was killed, her son injured and farm burnt. Joseph, an unemployed young man, who was dragged into the gang violence, is tormented with regret and wants to make another life for himself. Something Necessary is a compelling original take on atonement, forgiveness and coming to terms with trauma. Stop the Pounding Heart Roberto Minervini, Belgium/Italy/USA North American Premiere. Sara is a young girl raised in a family of goat farmers. Her parents home-school their 12 children, rigorously following the precepts of the Bible. When Sara meets Colby, an amateur bull rider, she is thrown into crisis, questioning the only way of life she has ever known. In a stunning portrayal of contemporary America and the insular communities that dot its landscape, Stop the Pounding Heart is an exploration of adolescence, family and social values, gender roles, and religion in the rural American South. Stranger by the Lake Alain Guiraudie, France North American Premiere. Summertime. A cruising spot for men, tucked away on the shores of a lake. Franck falls in love with Michel, an attractive, potent and lethally dangerous man. Starring Pierre Deladonchamps, Christophe Paou and Patrick d'Assumçao. This is Sanlitun Róbert I. Douglas, China/Iceland/Ireland World Premiere. Gary is in Beijing to make it big. After failing to impress his Chinese investors he soon takes up teaching English. Gary's real reasons for staying become apparent when his son and Chinese ex-wife enter the picture. Unbeatable Dante Lam, China/Hong Kong North American Premiere. Fleeing to Macau to escape from threatening loan sharks, a former mixed-martial arts champion becomes embroiled in the lives of a psychologically troubled single mother and a young wannabe fighter, in Hong Kong auteur Dante Lam's stylish and compelling action-drama. Under the Starry Sky (Des Etoiles) Dyana Gaye, France/Senegal World Premiere. The debut feature from Franco-Senegalese filmmaker Dyana Gaye charts the interconnected destinies of three far-flung sojourners across three continents. A quiet drama, about the anxieties of negotiating journeying to foreign countries and making a place for oneself in the world When Evening Falls on Bucharest or Metabolism (Cand se lasa seara peste Bucuresti sau Metabolism) North American Premiere. Corneliu Porumboiu, Romania. It's The Middle of a film shoot and Paul, the director, is having an affair with Alina, an actress playing a supporting role. With Alina's last day on set imminent, Paul decides to rewrite the script in order to shoot a nude scene with her. White Lies (Tuakiri Huna) Dana Rotberg, New Zealand International Premiere. In a small New Zealand town in the early 20th century, three very different women- a Maori medicine woman, a wealthy, sharp-tongued white housewife, and a controlling housekeeper- are brought together by a scandalous secret, in this complex and mesmerizing tale of culture clash and social mores based on a novella by the author of Whale Rider. The Wonders (Plaot) Avi Nesher, Israel International Premiere. A mysterious prisoner- part con man, part prophet- is held in a dark and musty Jerusalem slum apartment. His neighbour is a cool cat graffiti artist who is reluctantly drawn into this real life film noir plot. Based on a true story. Starring Adir Miller, Ori Hizkiah, Yehuda Levi, Yuval Scharf and Efrat Gosh. To Repel Ghosts: Urban Tales from the African Continent. Beginning with an ambiguous science fiction in Nairobi and ending with a re-enactment of the myth of Noah's ark in Cape Town's Khayelitsha township, To Repel Ghosts: Urban Tales from the African Continent showcases remarkably uncanny and fiercely contemporary stories, including: Homecoming (African Metropolis) Jim Chuchu, Kenya International Premiere
Nothing is what it seems as Max- a nerdy voyeur - turns fiction into truth and the mundane into the unexpected in his quest to get the attention of Alina - the girl next door. The city of Nairobi is threatened with imminent extinction, and now is his chance to save her and verbalize his unspoken desire. A quirky, light-hearted look at obsession and the desire to be seen. Berea (African Metropolis) Vincent Moloi, South Africa International Premiere. Long after his friends and family have moved on, Jewish pensioner Aaron Zukerman remains in his inner-city apartment, his world getting ever smaller and smaller, as the city closes in on his memories and happiness. His focus is on a weekly assignation with a kindly prostitute. When her replacement arrives unexpected one Friday, an initially angry response sparks a chain of events that changes the way the old man sees his world. Starring Wilson Dunster and Abena Ayivor. To Repel Ghosts (African Metropolis) Philippe Lacôte, Ivory Coast International Premiere. Inspired from Jean-Michel Basquiat's trip to the Ivory Coast shortly before his passing, To Repel Ghosts casts a young New Yorker of Haitian origin who travels to visit his friend in Abidjan and free himself from hauntings.
Kwaku Ananse Akosua Adoma Owusu, Ghana/Mexico/USA North American Premiere
Kwaku Ananse is an intensely personal project that combines contemporary semi-autobiographical elements with the traditional West African folk tale of Kwaku Ananse, a sage who appears as both spider and man. Noah's Flood (Unogumbe, Noye's Fludde) Mark Dornford-May, South Africa World Premiere. Noye's Fludde is Isango Ensemble's film adaptation of the one act opera by Benjamin Britten. Sung in Xhosa, it follows the traditional story of Noah's ark but is set in a South African township, with Noah recast as a woman. Starring Pauline Malefane, Mhlekazi Mosiea and Zamile Gantana. About TIFF: TIFF is dedicated to presenting the best of international and Canadian cinema to film lovers. Our vision is to lead the world in creative and cultural discovery through the moving image. What began as a ten-day film festival has grown to embrace programming 365 days a year. TIFF offers screenings, lectures, discussions, festivals, workshops, industry support and the chance to meet filmmakers from Canada and around the world. In September 2010, the opening of our new home, TIFF Bell Lightbox, enabled TIFF to expand to truly become a creative, community and global leader, and one of the world's premiere organizations in the discovery and understanding of film.
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