Thurs update (Girl Sparks, Brick Lane, La France)

Thurs had me seeing "just" three films, Girl Sparks, Brick Lane and La France. Hopefully you're taking advantage of the matinee screening today and are just starting to watch Brick Lane as I write. Of the three it was far and away the best - I'm pretty sure it'll make my top 10 for 2008.

Brick Lane (UK) is based on a book and follows the life of a Bangladeshi woman living in England in 2008. It's beautifully shot, full of rich colors with a not super original but still involving storyline of a woman struggling to find a path to happiness. I'm not sure if the somewhat melodramatic story line will be to everyone's taste but it worked for me.

Girl Sparks (Japan) was fun at times, but not great. It seems to fall into a tradition of smaller, low budget Japanese indies I've been seeing the last few years. The sort of thing with just a few characters and a look that befuddles projectionists who can't quite determine if the film is out of focus or intended that way. The main character (and highlight of the film) is a senior in high school with a lot of built up anger inside. In keeping with this year's unofficial SIFF theme of questionable parenting, her single father does his best to raise her - dealing with the absence of a female presence by often appearing in drag. At the same time he tried to hold his failing screw factory together. I saw a film that was similar but better - though less in focus a couple of years ago in Vancouver (name escapes me). This was OK - and since I hadn't seen much in the way of Japanese films so far it was a nice change.

There were some surreal aspects to Girl Sparks - and that was clear from the festival description. But La France (France) was just weird. It's WW I and a french women receives a short note from her husband at the front. Basically just says, don't write and don't expect to see me again. She's heartbroken and sets off to find him. She cuts her hair and dresses like a man - which comes across about as effectively as it does in Yentl. Mistaken for a young boy she follows along with a bunch of soldiers allegedly on their way to the front lines. It becomes a sort of a road movie from that point on with them having a series of adventures along the way. From time to time the troop of soldiers break into song using sort of makeshift instruments. It wasn't really holding my attention so I was actually thrilled when they started singing. The music was the best part in my view - and I generally don't like musicals. I can't really recommend it, but it does play again later in the festival if you'd like to try it yourself. I much preferred a movie a year or two back about soldiers on the front lines taking a break for the holidays (something ... Noel - shoot me an email or search the blog if you want the title).

Now - I'm starting up for Friday. First is Anvil! The Story of Anvil. Probably followed by the Gala screening. Last show is still up in the air for me.