TIFF12...and I'm back!!!

SO much has happened over the last year that has not been blogged about - but it’s TIFF time again, my most favourite time of year, so let’s focus on that first!

Today (Sunday September 9) was Day 4 for TIFF.
And after a rainy Day 3, the sun came back out to shine on Toronto!
People packed patios and I saw two films.

Yes, brunch on the patio of Le Select Bistro was incredible -
who really can dispute the power of great coffee and smoked salmon benedict on a croissant...DECADENT!

But this afternoon’s documentary, The Gatekeepers was incredible.
It is about Shin Bet, Israel’s internal intelligence agency.
Dror Moreh, the film’s director was at the packed screening and as he introduced the film, told us he hoped we would enjoy, then changed his mind and said, “Enjoy is not the right word for this film, but I hope you like it.”

Dror was right, how do you “enjoy” a film that makes you re-think your beliefs and opens your eyes. In this documentary, Dror interviews 6 heads of Shin Bet. No one in Shin Bet is known to the public, only the heads. These men, of whom the oldest he interviewed was born in 1930, shared their expertise, their experiences and what they think of peace in the Middle East. It was incredibly powerful.

It also reminded me of what a great man Prime Minister Rabin was and I got to put my Hebrew to work!

Speaking of Hebrew, the rest of the films I saw this weekend, allowed me to practice my other languages! Le Capital was en Francais, Siete Cajas (7 Boxes) was en espanol, and First Comes Love was in English.

TIFF, while wonderful, was sandwiched between work this weekend. I have entered the world of management consulting recently and found myself lugging my laptop to screenings today and finishing a report between screenings...UGH...hopefully the next 8 films will only be accompanied by great friends and MORE good food!

Happy TIFF!

The rundown so far:

1. The Gatekeepers - documentary about Israel’s internal intelligence agency, just absolutely incredible!
2. 7 Boxes (Siete Cajas) - a super fun film from Paraguay about a teen who must guard 7 boxes with his life!
3. First Comes Love - documentary about a 41 year old woman who decides to have a child on her own
4. Le Capital - an french “hollywood” type film with a dramatic lead played by a stand up comic! (after finding that out, totally made it for me!)

 

Director Dror Moreh of The Gatekeepers