The Strand gives previews for our most anticipated films at the upcoming Toronto International Film Festival
The Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) is back this year to transform the city into the global centre of film from September 5 to 15. The Strand will have full coverage of the film festival, including different film reviews. To start off, we wanted to highlight ten films at TIFF we are very excited about (in alphabetical order).
Anora
This new film directed by indie-darling Sean Baker (Florida Project, Red Rocket, Tangerine) is having its Canadian premiere at the festival. Like much of Baker’s work, this new film focuses on sex work and the complicated lives of those engaged in the industry. This new addition to his already much-applauded filmography is coming off winning the Palme d’Or, the top prize at the Festival de Cannes, leaving the world to wonder if it will once again take first place and win the coveted TIFF Audience Choice Award. The festival called Baker’s Anora the “most propulsive film yet” and praised the lead actress Mikey Madison for her performance, noting it as “unflinching” and “unforgettably charismatic.”
Emilia Pérez
This much-hyped thriller stars Zoe Saldaña, Selena Gomez, and Karla Sofía Gascón, who collectively received the Cannes Best Actress award for their performances. As someone who grew up watching Gomez on Wizards of Waverly Place, I cannot wait to see her acting on screen again after her more recent focus on her music and beauty brand. TIFF describes the film as a blend of “pop opera, narco thriller, and gender affirmation drama,” an exciting combination for anyone looking for a film that will leave them with a rush. This film centres the forming of identity following a staged death, and is filled with “ingenious plot twists, eye-popping spectacle, and inspired musical detours”.
No Other Land
This Palestinian documentary won both jury and audience prizes at the Berlin Film Festival. The film stitches together a lifetime of experiences in Palestine under Israeli occupation. The footage takes place before October 7, 2023, and is a stark reminder of the long-standing violence felt by Palestinians under the Israeli apartheid state. The documentary follows the fight to preserve a mountain community and a friendship formed with an Israeli journalist. The entire piece is directed by a Palestinian-Israeli activist collective, showing the solidarity needed in the face of the ongoing genocide.
Oh, Canada
Director Paul Schrader (American Gigolo) has brought an all-star cast with Richard Gere, Uma Thurman, and Jacob Elordi to his film about creating a documentary. The story follows an ageing documentary filmmaker who allows a former student to interview him with the hopes of chronicling his life story; however, despite his wife’s attempts to interfere, he begins to unravel more than was anticipated. Touting reflections on grief and identity, this film appears to be a captivating examination of how we create projections of ourselves when forming our identity. It will be fascinating to witness the moment when we must confront ourselves and our history in contrast to the artifice we create.
Queer
This is the new film directed by Luca Guadagnino following his massive success with works such as Call Me By Your Name and, more recently, Challengers. He has brought to TIFF the North American premiere of his adaptation of William S. Burroughs’ autobiographical novel starring Daniel Craig. The festival praises the film’s “vulnerability and taboo-smashing adventurousness” and calls it a “hallucinogenic odyssey bathed in desire”. The story follows a lonely man’s journey to secure ayahuasca alongside a new companion. This festival entry is an exploration of desire and repression, connecting the sensations of drug use with sexual tension, pushing the boundaries of “normal” in a heteronormative film landscape.
Rumours
This Canadian film is having its North American premiere at the festival this year. Boasting an ensemble cast led by Cate Blanchett, this satire follows the G7 leaders after they are left in a mysterious location and forced to escape when left to their own devices. I feel the TIFF audience will be a perfect environment for a universal satire poking fun at a patchwork of some of the most powerful world leaders. I am hopeful for thoughtful discourse spurred by the story’s satirical beats and situational comedy.
SATURDAY NIGHT
This Canadian premiere chronicles in real time the immediate lead-up to the very first episode of Saturday Night Live (SNL). As a former theatre kid, the behind-the-scenes rush ahead of a show has always felt igniting, so I hope to see the feeling captured on the big screen. The promotion for this film framed the debut of SNL as a seismic shift in the cultural landscape. Having grown up with the normalisation of the show, alongside live streamed instant comedy through social media, I am excited to revisit the start of the show and the creation of its history back in the 1970s. It will be nice to experience a film filled with what TIFF calls “anarchic energy” and leaping creative passion both on and off screen.
The Last Showgirl
TIFF has secured the world premiere of the new film from Gia Coppola. It boasts a grand cast starring Pamela Anderson, Jamie Lee Curtis, and Dave Bautista. The story follows a Las Vegas showgirl who must chart a new course after losing her spotlight following a 30-year run. The film will explore the real life experiences of entertainers in Sin City, confronting one’s place as a performer in a patriarchal world obsessed with youth.
The Shrouds
Canadian director David Cronenberg has brought the North American premiere of his new film to the festival. Having already established himself as an icon of body horror with classics like Videodrome (1983), Dead Ringers (1988), and Crash (1996) alongside more recent and grounded works like A History of Violence (2005), and Eastern Promises (2007), Cronenberg has left fans in anxious anticipation of the new directions he will explore following 2022’s Crimes of the Future. Needless to say, I love his work, especially in the body horror sub-genre where he brings both internal and societal fears onto the screen, inducing physical reactions from the audience. TIFF calls this film Cronenberg’s “most personal” and “saddest” film yet, exploring grief in the wake of his own wife’s passing. The festival says that while The Shrouds has clear ties to Cronenberg’s notable filmography and style, this new film stands on its own and is unlike anything he has released before.
Village Keeper
This Canadian film is having its world premiere at the festival. After developing her career in documentary film, director Karen Chapman dives into her first dramatic feature. The film centres on a Toronto mother as she processes grief while taking care of her family. This local story is sure to hit home and connect with the TIFF audience. The festival also props up the leading performance from Olunike Adeliyi, celebrating her “formidable range” in what is sure to be an acting showcase.
