In part one of our TIFF 2011 previews, Brian McKechnie takes a look at Pink Ribbons, Inc., First Position, and Billy Bishop Goes to War. Check back over the next few days for more previews of films playing at TIFF 2011.
Pink Ribbons, Inc.
Real to Reel
Director: Léa Pool
Léa Pool’s documentary Pink Ribbons, Inc. pulls the curtain back on the industry surrounding breast cancer awareness and exposes the truth of how little money actually goes towards research while corporations fatten their bottom line off the pink products they sell. While it’s an eye-opening film that is sure to cause a lot of discussion, I found the ending to be abrupt and it left me with way more questions than answers.
Rating *** (out of 5 stars)
Showing
September 11 at 12:30 p.m. at the Isabel Bader Theatre
September 13 at 9:15 p.m. at AMC
September 18 at 12:15 p.m. at the Scotiabank
First Position * Criticize This! TIFF Pick *
TIFF Kids
Director: Bess Kargman
I never thought a documentary about child ballet dancers would ever appeal to me until I saw Bess Kargman’s beautiful and thoughtful masterpiece, First Position. The film follows six young ballet dancers as they prepare for the Youth America Grand Prix — a competition that could make or break their future in the ballet world. The passion and talent from these kids, who range from 9 to 19, is stunning to watch and will leave an impression on everyone who sees it.
Rating **** (out of 5 stars)
Showing
September 11 at 3:30 p.m. at the Isabel Bader Theatre
September 17 at 12:30 p.m. at the TIFF Bell Lightbox
Billy Bishop Goes to War
Contemporary World Cinema
Director: Barbara Willis-Sweete
Eric Peterson and writer-composer John Gray reprise their two man stage play Billy Bishop Goes to War in front of a camera. And although Peterson is always great to watch, it’s just not as exciting to see this on a movie screen as it is to see live.
Rating ** (out of 5 stars)
Showing
September 15 at 7:30 p.m. at the AMC
September 18 at 9:45 a.m. at the TIFF Bell Lightbox
TIFF 2011 runs from September 8 – 18. For more information, visit tiff.net.
Top image: A scene from First Position. Courtesy TIFF.
