Day Three: Harvey

One more Canadian pick. This ones pretty great.
It's not a film...but rather a great little graphic novel.
Picked this little book up at the AGO, Art Gallery of Ontario. I saw it and the illustrations themselves, are a solid reason to pay $20. I'm cheap but, Nadeau's illustrations are amazing. I'm a sucker for books. Especially those, that you just want to gaze at for hours. This book is definitely one of those treasures with style. 

The story is translated into English, so either the translation was a bit strange or the writing is a bit awkward. I read somewhere, reading it in French is essential. Damn hating French classes for eight years. The plot-line is a simple one. It's about Harvey, his brother Cantin and his Mother who are all dealing with the sudden death of their Father. When Harvey sees his Father in the coffin, he imagines himself also disappearing. The theme of the book is that, fading away. Although, I hate to be rude. A lot of the time, the writing is poor and it just doesn't make sense....
However, the reason I post about this book is because of the fabulous illustrations. I'm still amazed every time I open the book. Nadeau is a genius. Stylish, minimalist and earthy. She mixes charcoal and water colours to give a depth I've never seen in "graphic novels". She's innovative, making the reading process just that much more interesting with little tricks. For example, the mother's scene, the most touching out of the entire book. 
Nadeau skillfully depicts a scene in which the Mother, is being held in the arms of the Priest with a crowd around her and her husband leaving in the ambulance behind her. The next page removes the background, the following page removes the crowd of people, the next the Priest until finally, the wife is alone on the white page. Stuff like this is genius.   If you're not into the literature aspect of it, which isn't exactly amazing, then really look at the artwork. I think Nadeau is a artistic genius. Her style is way too cool to go unnoticed. Highly Recommended, even if the whole writing aspect is below par.

Day Two: Paddle to the Sea

I'm on a Canadian fix right now.
I suppose that's kind of strange, saying as my taste in film is usually incredibly European. Directors like  Erice, Kieslowski, Godard or Malle are my favourites that I watch most often. I can't talk much about film from my own country, mainly because I haven't watch very much of it.
However, my Mum and Uncle told me they loved this particular short. A cherished, childhood favourite of many. So I thought, on the way home from a paddling trip, I'd check it out.
                                          
Paddle to the Sea is a children's book turned movie directed by Bill Mason in the late 60s. The story begins in Lake Nipigon in which a young native boy meticulously carves a paddler out of wood. The boy dreams of journeying to the sea, but since he is unable to go himself, he creates a paddler that will venture onwards towards the Atlantic.  In the short 27 minutes in length, we see the paddler travel through the most scenic of Canadian wilderness, facing barriers that threatened an end to this journey.
The paddler, who oddly is personified throughout the film, goes through many barriers throughout his journey. Even in the biggest of barriers, however do not cease the paddlers end goal of reaching the Atlantic. When he goes over Niagara Falls, the commentator confirms that, most would think he would be destroyed by the violent waters. A sure goner. However, paddler bobs his head up and stays afloat, continuing onwards.
Paddler reaches the Atlantic, stripped of his paint and smooth from his long journey on the water. It ends as simply as it begins.
Could it be this simple though? It's almost as though, this simple film has a bigger message.
I'm tempted to sit here and write about how this film is actually about life and dreams. The good, inspiring stuff. Maybe the paddler's journey is one that many of us follow. One of hardship and toil, to eventually reach the goal. The goal of attaining our dreams.
Maybe it's not that complicated. Maybe it's simply a story about a carved piece of wood that eventually journeys through Canada towards the vast open Atlantic.
I'm not sure. This could be why it's appealing. For the grade 4 students in the 1960s and to me today trying to overanalyze it. This film is a worthy watch. Innocent. Beautiful. Maybe even a little bit inspiring.  3/5. Recommended

Day One: Tkaronto

Love film? Love rambling about it? Think that your life is an ongoing roll of film?

Me too. In fact, film is the one thing I think I could talk all day about. 

I'll start with Tkaronto, the first of many films this Summer. Hopefully, if it works out, I'll watch one film a day and record the good ones on here for whoever's out there to enjoy.  

Yesterday I was in Toronto with a dear friend from the mountains of North Carolina. As we wandered through the city, getting more and more lost as the day went on, I kept thinking of what a great city Toronto is to film in. Colourful, busy, stylish and eccentric. It's hard not to love Toronto. 

When I got back to Guelph, I rented a Canadian made film by Shane Belcourt. It premiered in ImagineNATIVE Film and Media Festival in Toronto in '07 with a budget of merely 20, 000. The director at the time,  was in his early thirties.

Although the film starts off rocky, it is a worthy watch. In the beginning, the soundtrack is altogether too dramatic, the acting at times forced and obvious transitions make it an uneasy film to critique. However, this develops into something great. Something absolutely worth watching.

Just get through the first little bit...

This film is a story about identity. It's real, poignant and blatantly Canadian.
The two characters, Jolene Peltier and Ray Morrin are brought together because of business in the city of Toronto. Although they do not look alike, they both share Native blood (Jolene is First Nations and Ray Morrin in Metis) and are trying to comes to terms with what it means to be Native.
The film picks up from the rocky beginning with a scene inside of a business meeting. This scene drips with dark humour. During an interview in which Ray, a cartoonist, is discussing a show called "Indian Jones" the arrogant Producer allows a poignant critique on how Canadians dismissively view Native people, culture and history. Lines like, "You're people are hot on the market", "Stop whining", and "How can I get a status card?" provide reflection and insight to how Canadian society deals with a culture that continues to be belittled and silenced.
This film is that voice that has the propensity to bring change. A loud voice calling for change.
Although the message of Tkaronto is loud, there are also subtle beauties. The connection between Ray and Jolene is pure, real and deep. One of the most real emotion connections I've ever seen on screen and the closest they ever physically get is slow dancing in Jolene's kitchen. That's good acting to pull of love without physical sexuality. 10 points there. Belcourt really makes the audience believe that love is truly an emotion connection more than anything. "We need to be around people who embrace us for who we really are."

Belcourt presents a story that everyone needs to hear more of. Celebration of Aboriginal culture. A chance to reflect internally on who we really are.  A subtle story of a real emotion connection, providing a refreshing change from the usual, over the top sexy love story oh too commonly seen on screen.
2.5/5. Kind of recommended