Right on the heels of the Toronto International Film Festival is The Vancouver International Film Festival (VIFF) which is in full swing right now. What I love about going to these film fests is that you have an opportunity to see movies that you may otherwise never get to see.
My first film was one I missed seeing at TIFF and that won the Grand Prix at Cannes 2025 – the second most prestigious prize. Sentimental Value is cinema (self) – referencing cinema.
Photo Courtesy of VIFF. Nora (Renate Reinsve) + her sister Agnes (Inga Ibsdotter Lilleaas).
Some movies don’t just tell a story; they ask you to feel it from the inside out.
Such as the hauntingly beautiful opening scenes where you hear the voice of one of the main characters as a little girl wondering if the house she grew up in had feelings. It got me in the way she wondered whether the house felt better empty or full, or if it could feel pain. It made the story feel deep, like her house wasn’t just a setting but part of the emotion. I was more moved by the emotional significance the house held for her than the emotional significance the people had for her.
And that’s where the movie lost its charm for me. I think there’s a distinction between movies made primarily for audiences and those crafted with filmmakers or actors in mind. The style and emotional resonance of this one made me think that actors would love it and regular filmgoers would not. I’m neither an actor anymore, or a regular filmgoer – so I left feeling mixed about this movie in general, a movie where the main players are creative emotional wrecks.
Yes, the acting was great. But, the main reason you go to the movies is for the story, right? If you’re okay with the main characters all coming from a dysfunctional place then you’ll probably really like it. If you’re looking for feel-good clarity and entertainment, then this is not the film for you.
A film where parents fight, the father (played by the amazing Swedish actor Stellan Skarsgård) packs up and leaves, only to come back years later with a movie script he’s written (oh yeah, he’s a once-revered film director by the name of Gustav who hasn’t made a movie for a number of years) in which he offers his stage actress daughter Nora (Renate Reinsve) who, now has a series of her own, the main part, which she turns down because she’s still hurt over him leaving. He drinks way too much. The part is then offered to a well-known American actress (played by Elle Fanning) who becomes his new muse. She’s adorable and questions his choice of her in the lead and ends up feeling uncomfortable in the part. Did I mention the mother (Gustav’s wife) who worked as a therapist, committed suicide?
Directed by Joachim Trier. The VIFF overview says “Trier mines both humour and heartbreak from these damaged souls’ attempts to mend their frayed family ties.” I didn’t see much humour in it.
Bottom line is this movie is more chaotic than my take on it. But it has a somewhat happier ending, which is nice.
The Festival is on until October 12th. For Tickets:
CANCEL CULTURE was in its early stages when it took down Savannah based celebrity chef, cookbook author and restaurateur Paula Deen. Deen was right up there with Anthony Bourdain; infact, they had a bit of a feud going on which is re-ignited in this doc. Bourdain had famously called Deen the “worst, most dangerous person to America” for promoting unhealthy food, leading Deen to retaliate by criticizing his exotic and sometimes strange culinary choices.
This was one of the best documentaries I’ve ever seen. Any person with a keen and passionate interest in food, along with watching the Food Network knows, or at least has heard about Paula Deen and her show “Paula’s Home Cooking” which was cancelled in 2013.
I watched this one because on a recommendation from a friend living in Savannah, I had been to the famous “The Lady & Sons;” restaurant that she owned along with her sons, Jamie and Bobby Deen. I remember having a delicious Southern meal there and chatting with Bobby Deen. He told me that his mom had just been on Oprah. Since then, she’s been on almost every talk show. With her funny, gregarious personality, everyone liked her!
Her story is a real rags to riches tale. Deen’s journey from humble beginnings in Savannah, Georgia to Food Network royalty is chronicled in this documentary. That in itself is quite uplifting and fascinating.
Her downfall, triggered by a deposition in which she admitted to using racial slurs was one of the earliest high-profile examples of a celebrity losing endorsements, TV deals, and public favour almost overnight. It happened in the early days of social media’s rise, when public backlash could spread rapidly and brands were just beginning to respond to online outrage.
However, this documentary isn’t just about Paula Deen – it’s a case study in how fame, race, and media intersect in the age of cancellation. It asks tough questions: Can someone truly come back from public disgrace? Who gets to tell the “real” story? And what does accountability look like when reputations are built on charm and nostalgia?
“Within 24 hours, I lost every job,” said Paula Deen while giving an interview ahead of the premiere of the documentary.
Bombshell Revelations highlight shocking details previously unknown to the public.
Deen and her sons speak candidly about the emotional toll and their belief that the full truth was never told. She claims the scandal was fueled by misinformation and media sensationalism. If you watch it (and I highly recommend that you do), you’ll find out the shocking details of what lead up to her fall from grace. Only then, can you decide for yourself if this was the right move. And you’ll also find out how things are twisted to look worse than they are.
Canceled: The Paula Deen Storyis a provocative deep dive into the rise, fall, and attempted redemption of one of America’s most polarizing celebrity chefs. Directed by Billy Corben, it premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival and has stirred up renewed debate about cancel culture, media narratives, and personal accountability.
And it makes you realize that until we all hear the full story, maybe we shouldn’t be so judgmental.
CN tower is behind me and the CBC Broadcast Centre (with red cross windows) – where I once worked. I was able to walk there from where I lived on King St. W.
I give this one *****5/5
ONE MORE documentary that I thoroughly enjoyed watching at TIFF was JOHN CANDY: I LIKE ME. NO controversy here-even though Bill Murray tries hard to dig up some dirt. By all accounts, the guy was likeable.
This is a heartfelt documentary directed by Colin Hanks (son of Tom) that explores the life and legacy of beloved Canadian actor and comedian John Candy. Through rare archival footage, personal home videos, and interviews with friends, family, and collaborators; including Bill Murray, Dan Aykroyd, and Catherine O’Hara. It paints a portrait of Candy as a generous, deeply relatable figure whose warmth and humor touched millions.
It’s not just a celebration of his career in classics like Uncle Buck and Planes, Trains and Automobiles (which was probably my favorite of all his films), but also a tender look at the man behind the laughs, shaped by early loss and driven by love for his family and craft. Gone too soon!
Ryan Reynolds (Producer), Eugene Levy (longtime friend & collaborator) and his two kids Jennifer & Chris, were in attendance for this world premiere.
Exclusively on Prime Video – October 10, 2025. *****5/5
EASY’S WALTZ had its world premiere at TIFF: it’s a story steeped in moral ambiguity, and old-school Vegas charm. Las Vegas is the perfect backdrop – glitzy on the surface, but full of desperation and secrets underneath.
Photo courtesy of Toronto International Film Festival.
Nic Pizzolatto, the creator of True Detective, made his directorial debut with this feature film; a character-driven story with a touch of film noir because of its flawed characters and gritty atmosphere where glamour and decay coexist. While not shot in black-and-white, the film uses moody lighting and stylized framing to evoke that noir sensibility.
The Vegas-set drama is wrought with grit, nostalgia, and powerhouse performances. Vaughn actually sings and surprisingly, he’s not bad at all.
The film dives into the life of Easy (played by Vince Vaughn), a struggling Las Vegas crooner whose shot at stardom comes via a mysterious offer from a legendary club owner, Mickey Albano (Al Pacino). The movie blends the glitz of Vegas with a melancholic undercurrent, echoing classics like Leaving Las Vegas and Bugsy. Easy juggles self-sabotage, a chaotic younger brother (Simon Rex), a failing restaurant, and his mother’s care (Mary Steenburgen); making his rise to fame anything but smooth.
Vaughn with his wife, Kyla Weber. Photo: d. king.
Vaughn and Pacino share a compelling dynamic, with Pacino delivering a subdued but menacing performance reminiscent of his iconic mob roles. The Supporting Cast: Includes Kate Mara, Mary Steenburgen, Shania Twain, and Cobie Smulders. While some roles felt underdeveloped, the emotional core between Easy and his brother Sam adds weight.
Overall, I was mixed on this one – it was good but didn’t quite hit the high notes I was hoping for.
Vaughn’s performance as lounge singer Lew Easy earns praise for charm and vulnerability. However, the rest of the film didn’t quite match his energy. The supporting characters lacked depth, and the story didn’t give Vaughn enough to work with.
As of now, there’s no official wide theatrical release date announced beyond its TIFF debut.
Here’s another one I watched at TIFF: ELEANOR THE GREAT
Scarlett Johansson’s directorial debut, ELEANOR THE GREAT, is a heartfelt drama about a 94-year-old woman named Eleanor Morgenstein who’s witty, stubborn, and not ready to fade quietly into old age. After losing her best friend, Eleanor moves from Florida to New York to live with her daughter and grandson – but they’re too busy to give her much attention.
Feeling lonely and out of place, Eleanor stumbles into a group of *Holocaust survivors and, through a mix of grief and mischief, starts telling her late friend’s story as if it were her own. This little lie snowballs, especially when a young journalism student named Nina takes interest and wants to share Eleanor’s “story” with the world. What follows is a mix of emotional bonding, uncomfortable truths, and a deeper look at how we deal with loss, identity, and the need to be seen.
*With the help of the Shoah Foundation and others, Johansson was able to cast Holocaust survivors, all around Eleanor’s age, to portray the support group.
June Squibb plays Eleanor with charm and fire, and the cast includes Erin Kellyman, Jessica Hecht, and Chiwetel Ejiofor.
Fun fact: Johansson is the highest-grossing actor ever, after leading Jurassic World: Rebirth.
This is a poignant and character-driven drama worth watching. Expected to be released in theaters on September 26, 2025. Release in Canada by Mongrel Media.
The title intrigued me before I read the word rap in the description, so I gave it a quick pass.
Photo courtesy of Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF)
I love music and rap is not music to me. Well…actually, I don’t mind some rap. I just detest the non-stop swearing and the anger.
I decided to choose another movie starring Saoirse Ronan over this one. But then, the day before the screening, James McAvoy was in the news. He got punched by someone in a bar that I walked by every day while in Toronto on the way to screenings. Had I known he was in there, I might have walked in. He’s okay though. So his movie sparked my intrigue – I looked it up and there it was – the rap movie I declined to see “California Schemin”…so I decided to read up on it some more.
Lesson learned: never judge a movie by one word! This was one of the best films I’ve seen at the fest – based on a true story that has way more to offer than just rap. The film dives into themes of identity, ambition, and the cost of reinvention.
This is McAvoy’s directorial debut. Based on the wild true story of Scottish rap duo Silibil N’ Brains.
Two childhood friends from Dundee – Gavin Bain and Billy Boyd, dream of hip-hop stardom but are dismissed by the British music industry for their Scottish accents. So they reinvent themselves as American rappers from Southern California, complete with fake identities and flawless West Coast personas. And silly made up names. What starts as a cheeky hustle spirals into a full-blown con, as they land record deals, appear on MTV, and tour with their heroes.
It stars Samuel Bottomley and Séamus McLean Ross as the duo, with supporting roles from Lucy Halliday and Rebekah Murrell.
Critics are praising its mix of humor and heart, with Rotten Tomatoes showing a 92% positive rating from early reviews.
McAvoy’s direction balances the absurdity of the con with deeper questions about identity and authenticity. He plays a small role in the film as a record studio executive.
This movie is a feel-good underdog tale that dives into themes of identity, ambition, and the cost of reinvention. And the lengths young artists will go to break through a system that refuses to take them seriously.
Not to be confused with a 2014 thriller called California Scheming, which is unrelated.
California Schemin’ is already on its way to screens, with StudioCanal leading the charge. If you see it , let me know what you think.
THE CHRISTOPHERSis what happens when you lock a dying art legend, a brilliant forger, and two ultra-greedy adult children in a dusty London townhouse and shake vigorously. It’s less a film and more a masterclass in verbal fencing.
Photo courtesy of The Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF)
This was the World Premiere of another brilliant Steven Soderbergh film. Soderbergh is best known for films like Sex, Lies, and Videotape, Ocean’s Eleven and Twelve, Erin Brockovich, and the drug thriller Traffic – for which he won an Academy Award.
His latest film is about the art world and unfinished business…namely; unfinished masterpieces. I loved this film. Especially the performances. The fabulous Ian McKellen (he should win an Oscar for this role – truly!) plays Julian Sklar, a famous, gloriously decrepit art world relic who is equal parts genius and monster. He’s absolutely brilliant!
He’s the kind of character who’d sell his soul for a good review, then demand royalties. Not having painted for years, the once-revered British painter’s reputation took a nosedive after a scandal involving a reality TV program he was involved with. Now he’s a bit of a recluse.
One of the most intriguing characters in THE CHRISTOPHERSis played by Michaela Coel, who brings a layered complexity to the character of Lori Butler, an ex art-student who is hired by the artists’ materialistic kids to secretly forge their father’s unfinished paintings. But Lori’s motivations go beyond money. Coel is captivating in both looks and demeanour as the forger with a vendetta.
Their scenes crackle with tension, wit, and a kind of layered resentment.
The two estranged kids; Barnaby Sklar (flamboyantly played by James Corden) and Sallie Sklar (played by sharp-tongued Jessica Gunning who was last seen in Baby Reindeer – interestingcasting), form a hilariously dysfunctional duo whose greed fuels the film’s central plot.
It will be interesting to see how this film fares when it’s released to theatres. No matter what anyone has to say about this film, the acting is superb on all levels.
Tiff 50 (TIFFTY) has now come to a close. It was a stimulating and entertaining mix of movie watching and get-togethers. I’ll leave you with a few pictures while I sort out my next reviews for you.
On the TIFF Lightbox Rooftop after the People’s Choice Awards. Cheers to another 50!The lovely and talented Sarah MacLaghlan at the Premiere of “Lilith Fair – Building a Mystery – the untold story.” Photo: d. kingProducer of “Lilith Fair” – Dan Levy. I love this guy. Photo: d. kingExecutive Producer – Boss Lady Diane Sawyer (ABC News – btw, how amazing does she look?) with Mike Kelley, head of ABC News Studios. Photo: d. kingA little behind the scenes.Who is this man? I know I’ve seen him before. Photo: d. king
The TORONTO INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL is in full swing and celebrating 50 years. Happy Anniversary TIFF! This is my second time at this amazing Festival of Festivals (it used to be called that) and it truly is a feast for any film lover with so much to choose from.
“All that matters has already been written” – George Orwell’s last words, at the age of 46, nearing death from tuberculosis.
My first film before spending 4 nights in Montreal to visit family, was the North American Premiere of 2+2=5. It was approved for a documentary by the Orwell family. I was hesitant at first because I knew it would be heavy and somewhat depressing – just like some of the books I read in high school that Orwell wrote – specifically “1984” and “ANIMALFARM.” Although totally unrelatable at the time, I was truly fascinated by those books. But now, sadly; they’re relatable!
“2 + 2 = 5” is a metaphor for forced belief in falsehoods. It shows how a totalitarian regime can manipulate reality and demand obedience; not just in actions, but in thoughts. If the Party says 2 + 2 = 5, then you must not only say it, but believe it. It’s about breaking down your ability to trust your own logic and senses. It comes down to crazy making psychological control.
If all that matters has already been written, then why bother writing at all?
Maybe because the writer’s task is to say it better, clearer, or more urgently. Don’t count on me for that. Orwell certainly did that, as his work still punches through decades later – his books are a nod to the idea that the past holds the keys to understanding the present – and that ignoring it is dangerous.
Was Orwell an unfortunate teller? Or maybe from another planet, sent to give us mere earthlings warnings of what may come if we allow it? You’ve gotta wonder.
George Orwell wrote 1984 in 1949 as a warning, not a blueprint. He had witnessed the rise of totalitarian regimes such as Stalin’s USSR, Hitler’s Germany, and the manipulative propaganda of wartime Britain. His goal was to expose how language, surveillance, and psychological control could be weaponized to crush dissent and rewrite reality.
Orwell warned of a world where truth is manipulated (think how the media is operating) and how fear keeps people in line. In the book 1984, the protagonist, Winston, works at the Ministry of Truth. His job is to alter historical records, erasing inconvenient truths and replacing them with Party-approved versions. Quite chilling.
The iconic line spoken by Jack Nicholson as Colonel Nathan R. Jessep in the 1992 film A Few Good Men. The line was an improvisation by Nicholson; the original screenplay for the scene included the line, “You already have the truth!”.
Makes you wonder what the actual truth is sometimes.
Even though this documentary was about Orwell, there were other authors who also wrote dystopia fiction and philosophical resistance to authoritarianism and such:
Aldous Huxley (BRAVE NEW WORLD) imagined a society where people are pacified by pleasure and distraction. Pleasure as control, consumerism, loss of identity.
Ray Bradbury(FAHRENHEIT 451) about censorship and intellectual freedom.
H.G. Wells (THE WAR OF THE WORLDS) is a classic example of dystopian fiction, and one of its simplest and most chilling illustrations of dystopia is this:
One day, without warning, giant alien machines descend from the sky. They’re far more advanced than anything humans have ever built. They don’t communicate. They don’t negotiate. They just start obliterating cities, vaporizing people, and harvesting humans like cattle. Society collapses almost instantly. Governments fail. Technology is useless. People flee in terror, and survival becomes the only goal. Talk about chilling! And more recenty…
Margaret Atwood (THE HANDMAID’S TALE) about gender, power, and resistance.
These authors didn’t just write fiction—they wrote philosophical warnings. Each one tackled the question of how societies can be shaped, controlled, and ultimately dehumanized.
How does this resonate with today? These versions aren’t just relics of the past – they feel like blueprints for dissecting today’s world, by recognizing the tension between individuality and conformity.
They’re like flashlights in a foggy digital age. They tackle:
Mass surveillance: Governments and corporations track digital footprints – think facial recognition, data mining, and predictive algorithms.
Disinformation: “Fake news,” deepfakes, and algorithmic echo chambers mirror Orwell’s “doublethink” and “newspeak.”
Censorship & control: In some regimes, dissent is criminalized, and history is rewritten – Ministry of Truth lives on.
So was 1984 a warning or a manual? It was unquestionably a warning, but one so precise and psychologically astute, that it inadvertently became a toolkit for control.
About the film:
Oscar-nominated filmmaker Raoul Peck (I Am Not Your Negro) takes a deep dive into the writing of George Orwell (1984) to explore its potent relevancy to our current times.
George Orwell titled his dystopian 1949 novel 1984, but it feels utterly current in 2025 when phrases like “Big Brother is watching you” might refer to Big Government, Big Business, or Big Technology. Orwell is overdue for a fresh look and filmmaker Raoul Peck makes for an incisive and stirring guide. Peck has long put great writers at the centre of his work, most notably in his Oscar-nominated documentary I Am Not Your Negro about James Baldwin.
“I knew that I had a facility with words and a power of facing unpleasant facts,” Orwell wrote. Those simple assets carried him far. While he’s best known as the author of Animal Farm and 1984, this film opens us to a wider range of his writing that drew from his personal experience of poverty in Down and Out in Paris and London, of colonialism in Burmese Days, and of revolutionary uprising in Homage to Catalonia.
Peck pulls lines and impressions from these works and others, enlisting British actor Damian Lewis to embody the voice of the author. Visually, Peck uses film footage from multiple adaptations of 1984 and Animal Farm. He layers in contemporary news and documentary footage to evoke the alarming rise of totalitarianism, surveillance, and government violence in our present day.
It’s both conversely reassuring and frightening to see how much analysis Orwell brought to what we’re experiencing today. –THOM POWERS
Part of the Palm Springs International Film Festival 2025.
Photo courtesy of the Palm Springs International Film Festival 2025
You might not know her; but if you don’t know her songs, then you’ve been living under a rock.
Diane Warren: Relentless is a raw, in-depth documentary about the most persistent songwriter in show business.
A “BEST OF FEST” audience favorite from hollywood’s most coveted songwriter – with Beyoncé, Cher, Lady Gaga, Celine Dion, Tina Turner, Elton John, Aretha Franklin, Barbra Streisand and Toni Braxton among her many devotees.
Warren describes herself as weird; doesn’t like the word NO, is worth billions but not interested in spending it and prefers animals to people. But who can blame her on that one?
This sensitive, snappy but mesmerizing woman has been nominated for 15 Oscars® – and never won. She has been nominated for multiple Oscars for Best Original Song, including for her song “I Don’t Want to Miss a Thing” from the movie Armageddon, sung by Aerosmith’s Steven Tyler. It’s such a beautiful song but there are so many more. Instead, she was the first songwriter to receive a well-deserved honorary Oscar at the 13th Governors Awards in November 2022.
I personally tend to gravitate towards documentaries and this one is one of my favorites. It’s an uplifting story that goes to prove how a rebellious, anti-social child from humble beginnings with a mother who kept hounding her to become a secretary, can become one of the great songwriters of all time. An amazing accomplishment!
“Relentless” is a powerful adjective. It describes someone or something that is unyielding, persistent, and, often, unshakable. Someone who pursues their goals with unwavering determination, never giving up despite obstacles or challenges. They are tireless in their efforts and continue to push forward, no matter what.
Diane Warren was supposed to be here in person for a Q&A after the film but very sadly, her Malibu home was totally destroyed in the recent L.A. fires. Bess Kargman, the director, put Warren on speaker phone so that audience members could ask a few questions.
The festival is now over but I’ve left the link to what was shown here:
FOLLOW the Festival on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter (Instagram: @psfilmfest | Facebook: PalmSpringsFilmFestival | Twitter: @PSFilmFest) and use #PSIFF2025.
A delightfully empathetic film about a woman who tends to wounded hummingbirds up in the Hollywood Hills. The California Premiere was part of the 36th annual Palm Springs International Film Festival (PSIFF).
Photo courtesy of Palm Springs International Film Festival.
Terry Masear is an angel of a person who either finds, or takes in hummingbirds who are injured and nurses them back to health. Her phone rings with people wanting to drop birds off to her.
More often than not, her efforts reap rewards. Sometimes they fail, but she never gives up on the delicate little creatures. As the story points out, this joyful, gorgeously shot portrait teaches us as much about these fragile, amazing creatures as it does about the tenacity of the human heart.
Masear painstakingly feeds babies from little droppers who’ve been left behind by in most cases, a deceased mother. She does her utmost to try to get the ones with damaged wings to fly again. Her world revolves around a special relationship with hummingbirds and she knows a lot about them.
Perhaps she’s attempting to fix their broken spirits, as she herself once went through deep emotional distress. We find out that Masear suffered from childhood abuse and then later on, she looked after her husband of 30 years as he went through a long decline of Alzheimer’s disease. It wasn’t easy.
Overall, this is a beautiful story about nature’s little wonders.
My friend Rosa holding this little feeder. Photo: d. king
Six fascinating, lesser-known traits about our little friends:
Incredible Metabolism: Hummingbirds have the highest metabolism of any bird species. Their tiny bodies require enormous amounts of energy, and they can consume up to twice their body weight in nectar and insects daily.
Napping Experts: To conserve energy, hummingbirds can enter a state of torpor, a mini-hibernation that allows them to significantly slow down their metabolism, sometimes by up to 95%. During this state, their heart rate drops drastically from over 1,000 beats per minute to as low as 50 beats per minute.
Color Perception: Hummingbirds can see colors that are beyond human perception, including ultraviolet. This ability helps them spot nectar-rich flowers that stand out more vividly to their eyes than they do to ours. They can spot a flower a mile away.
Adaptability: While they’re known for their small size and delicate appearance, hummingbirds are remarkably adaptable. Some species can thrive in various environments, from the tropics to the North American deserts and even high-altitude Andean peaks.
Speed and Agility: These birds are speed demons, capable of flying at speeds exceeding 30 miles per hour. They also have the unique ability to fly backward and hover in midair, thanks to their ability to rotate their wings in a full circle.
Longevity: Despite their high-energy lifestyle, some hummingbirds can live quite long lives for such small birds, with some species living up to nine years or more in the wild.
The film festival is over now. Today is Best of the Fest with information below:
This Masterpiece of a movie is part of the Palm Springs International Film Festival – 2025.
Photo courtesy of Palm Springs International Film Festival 2025
This movie is beautifully filmed, told through the innocent but savvy eyes of gun toting, cigarette smoking Bobo; the eight-year old daughter of Zimbabwean land owners.
The title grabbed my attention while scrutinizing the multitude of film listings online. Then I noticed that it was filmed in South Africa and set in Rhodesia in 1980, the year Robert Mugabe took power as Prime Minister of Zimbabwe and started the end of white colonialism.
The history of land ownership in Zimbabwe is complex and deeply rooted in colonial history. Who owned what first is a bit sketchy. Hmmm…sound familiar?
The war began as a struggle against the white minority government led by Prime Minister Ian Smith, who had declared unilateralindependence from Britain in 1965. This declaration was made without the consent of the majority black population. The war resulted in significant loss of life and displacement, with estimates of around 20,000 people killed overall. The conflict also led to the end of white minority rule and the establishment of Zimbabwe as an independent nation.
Throughout the movie, Bobo keeps referring to her black help as “Africans” and white people as not real Africans. Here’s a little bit of info about that: the classification of white Africans as non-Africans has deep roots in the history of racial segregation and apartheid in South Africa. During the apartheid era (1948-1994), the government implemented strict racial classifications that divided people into categories. It is that same division today that causes violence, harm, conflict and confusion.
As it so happens, I’ve been messaging back and forth with a friend I met in Cape town who is originally from Zimbabwe. I told her that I was interested in seeing this film. Her reply: “Don’t Let’s Go To The Dogs Tonight is a true story about my home town in Zimbabwe. OMG read the book years ago. It’s a film???? Jealous. Tt takes place in my town. Did it mention the name Bulawayo?
Good info, because I did not know that it was a screenplay from a book which piqued my interest even more so. The movie was adapted from Alexandra Fuller’s real life memoir by the same title.
What’s even more impressive about this film is that Embeth Davidtz; the Director/Producer/Screenwriter/Actor, was able to capture and convey a story so compelling and frightening without showing the actual violence which took place. You know it’s coming, but you don’t know when and how. Keeps you on the edge of your seat the whole time.
Bobo is played by seven-year-old Lexi Venter who is amazing as a mature but also innocent child, in almost every scene. It took me a while to realize that Bobo’s mother was played by Embeth Davidtz, who was here in person for Q&A after the film. An astounding performance as a woman on the verge of a nervous breakdown, fighting to keep her family’s land. What an awesome accomplishment in every department. Now who’s jealous!
Davidtz, who was born in the United States but raised in South Africa, chose to shoot in her home country and cast an entirely South African cast. The scenery is breathtaking.
Before the start with Embeth Davitz. Photo: d. king
My late husband and I travelled almost everywhere in Africa and I remember he wanted to show me Victoria Falls, which is located on the border of Zambia and Zimbabwe, on the Zambezi River. We were told that the Zimbabwe side was still not totally safe even though this is in the order of about 20 years ago now. So we went to the Zambia side and stayed at the famous Royal Livingstone Hotel instead. A luxurious hotel on one side of the Falls with wild life freely roaming the property. I was in awe. Of course, my friend from Zimbabwe claims that her side is even more beautiful. Cannot imagine unless I go back someday. The sunset cruise on the African Queen on the Zambezi was just heaven. Had to throw that in as it’s one of my fondest memories.
I hightly recommend that everyone see this movie.
In closing; the story of war and hate versus good and peace is as old as humanity itself. Despite this, there’s a persistent flicker of hope that refuses to be extinguished. The path to peace is challenging, but not impossible. Let’s just stick with this hopeful possibility.
FOLLOW the Festival on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter (Instagram: @psfilmfest | Facebook: PalmSpringsFilmFestival | Twitter: @PSFilmFest) and use #PSIFF2025.
A Truly Terrific Absolutely True Story – part of the lineup at the Palm Springs International Film Festival.
The by-line above is part of the title of this remarkabledocumentary about everything Liza Minnelli. Directed by Bruce David Klein.
Photo: courtesy of Palm springs International Film Festival.
That would be Liza with a “Z” (referring to the 1972 concert film made for television, produced by Fred Ebb and Bob Fosse) who went on to win every entertainment award you can imagine, in every single category, and who is refreshingly honest as she tells her story in present day while going through old movie clips and reliving those times. She gives out solid advice like: “neverhang around with dull people.” From this doc it is clear she never has. I try not to, but sometimes they just happen to slip in.
As the daughter of Judy Garland and director Vincente Minnelli, she could’ve easily lived in her mother’s shadow. Instead, she became an iconic show biz force of her own nature. You find out about the relationship with her mother, her bond with mentor Kay Thompson who took Liza under her wings after Judy Garland passed away, her friends such as Charles Aznavour (considered the Frank Sinatra of France), Bob Fosse, Halston (an inseparable duo in the 70’s and 80’s, regularly supporting each other’s careers, traveling internationally and taking on the Studio 54 nightclub scene), her up-and-down marriages, personal and professional falls and showbiz triumphs.
By the way, Kay Thompson was a force of her own. The vivacious vocal coach, composer, dancer, actress, and choreographer was a staple in Liza’s life. She was there for Liza until the end of her life in 1998 at which time she lived in Minnelli’s penthouse on the Upper East Side. Thompson stayed by Liza’s side, through thick and thin, cheering her on through everything. Thompson became famous for creating the Eloise children’s books which she apparently modeled the main character after Minnelli, and for her role in the movie Funny Face. She helped shaped Minnelli’s career. Now; that’s a friend!
And I have a little story of my own. First off, I saw Liza Minnelli and Charles Aznavour perform together at Place Des Arts in Montreal in 1993. It was superb. I’ve always appreciated all kinds of music, and the sheer talent of these two. I would’ve rather seen them, than a regular rock concert. It was a very powerful, showstopper of an evening.
Then, on one of my many visits to New York City back in the day, I went with a friend to Elaine’s restaurant on the upper East side. We were finished dinner and debating whether or not to order dessert when all of a sudden Liza Minnelli and two of her friends came in and sat down at the very next table. We ordered dessert. After dessert I went to use the restroom and as I was washing my hands, a stall opened and out came Liza. We were the only two in the restroom and I did not utter a word – just a smile. Back to the table to try to eavesdrop, but only a bit. Ha.
Once again; while in the pass-holder lineup, I chatted with a woman who looked vaguely familiar. Once inside the theater, we sat next to each other, realizing that we had been to not one, but two of the same events recently but sat at different tables. Then we went through our phone pics to confirm and to see if we could find each other in the photos. She said “many people have more in common than not” which I also believe. Except the only thing I have in common with Liza was being at the same restaurant and washing our hands together. I usually don’t get star struck but I clammed up. I should’ve told her that I saw her concert with Aznavour in Montreal. I think she would’ve been pleased. Note to self: if I ever get the opportunity again, I will do so.
After watching this documentary, I have a new appreciation for Liza Minnelli. She’s so much more than her most amazing Oscar-winning performance as Sally Bowles in the 1972 film Cabaret. She’s a true friend who goes above and beyond as told by others such as Mia Farrow, Ben Vereen, Joel Grey, and Michael Feinstein. These friends share their insights and memories, providing a heartfelt and genuine portrait of Liza’s life and career.
FOLLOW the Festival on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter (Instagram: @psfilmfest | Facebook: PalmSpringsFilmFestival | Twitter: @PSFilmFest) and use #PSIFF2025.
Girl Who Would be KING on Life, Style and INSPIRATION. 
You must be logged in to post a comment.