Charlotte
The tragically short life of German Jewish artist Charlotte Salomon and her remarkable body of autobiographical work.
The difficult family history and holocaust story of Charlotte is not well known, but told in the form of 700 paintings bound together in a book, which was probably one of the world’s first graphic novels.
Superbly narrated by a strong well know cast and a wonderful score, it makes up for the rather stilted animation, and thus keeps you engaged in the sad story of Charlotte Salomon.
The incredible body of work and exceptional talent of Charlotte just adds to the story of another Jewish artist whose life was cut short by the tragic history of the holocaust and depression in her family.
Read more in David House’s blog on
3 excellent animated features that are not to be missed at this year’s VIFF
Wife of a Spy
Kiyoshi Kurosawa better know for some of his earlier horror, fantasy and crime thrillers such as "Pulse", "Cure", and more recently " Le secret de la chambre noire", garnered a Silver Bear Award for Best Director at Venice 2020 with this Hitchcock style period piece.
Beautifully filmed in Sharp 8C-B60A 8K, this period piece with superb film sets, gorgeous costumes, both modern and traditional, enhance the authenticity of what it may have been like pre war 1940’s in Japan.
The story revolves around Yusako, a wealthy import merchant who lives with his beautiful wife Satoko in Kobe. He also is an amateur filmmaker making spy films with Satoko as an actress. One of the films sets the tone for part of the plot to unfold.
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It is 1940, shortly after Japan joined the Anti-Comintern Pact, agreement concluded between Italy, Germany, and Japan (Nov. 6, 1937. The country is going through a nationalistic stage and suspicious of westernized Japanese who do not wear traditional clothing and live a westernized type of marriage like that of Yusako and Satoko.
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The film opens with a scene where a British client of theirs is accused of espionage, and arrested but subsequently released by Yasuharu, a new squad leader appointed to investigate foreign business dealings, who was Satoko’s lover during her youth. He visits Yusako first to introduce himself and state his position and then later is invited to their residence by a chance meeting in the mountains with Satoko when Yusako is away on a business trip to Manchuria. He again warns Satoko of his position and their non nationalistic attitude.
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All strong actors, these 3 main characters are the central focus of this Hitchcock style thriller, with its many twists and turns and subtleties.
Extremely Engaging!
Barbarian Invasion
Winner of the Grand jury prize, Shanghai 2021 this film really surprised me as I am not a huge fan of action films. But there was so much more to it! I had never seen any of her previous films !
This is a deep personal film from New Wave Malaysian filmmaker Chui Mui Tan who has returned after a 10 year break from directing. Her last film “Year without a Summer” was made in 2010.
Funding was realised under the project “Back to Basics” by Hong Kong International Film Festival Society Limited and Heaven Pictures
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Chui Mui Tan not only directed the film but she also wrote the screenplay and acts in the main role. 3 languages are used in the film: Chinese and Cantonese along with the Malay, It was filmed in Sungai Ular, Kuantan, Malaysia
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While the film is fast paced with lots of action there are many moments of self reflection on motherhood and a balance of body and spiritualism. There are moments of humour and the interaction with mother and kid is so natural and heartwarming
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