FUTURE RELEASES
LA DANSE - LE BALLET DE L'OPÉRA DE PARISDirector: Frederick Wiseman Official Selection - 2009 Toronto International Film Festival Documentary master Frederick Wiseman's 38th film in a career that has spanned more than that number of years, turns his attention to one of the world's greatest ballet companies, the Paris Opera Ballet. John Davey's camera roams the vast Palais Garnier, an opulent 19th century pile of a building: from its crystal chandelier-laden corridors to its labyrinthine underground chambers, from its light-filled rehearsal studios to its luxurious theatre replete with 2,200 scarlet velvet seats and Marc Chagall ceiling. LA DANSE devotes most of its time to watching impossibly beautiful young men and women - among them Nicolas Le Riche, Marie-Agnès Gillot, and Agnès Letestu - rehearsing the choreography of Mats Ek, Wayne McGregor, Rudolf Nureyev and Pina Bausch. For balletomanes and the curious alike, LA DANSE serves up a scrumptious meal of delectable moments, one more glorious than the next, made even more precious by their ephemeral nature. (Spring 2010) 
THE RED BARONDirector: Nikolai Mullerschon Baron Manfred von Richthofen is the most feared and celebrated pilot of the German air force in World War I. For him and his companions, air "dogfights" are events of a sporting nature, involving a technical challenge and honourable conduct, ignoring the terrible extent of war. But after falling in love with the nurse Kate, Manfred realizes he is only being used for propaganda means. Caught between his disgust for the war, and the responsibility for his fighter wing, von Richthofen sets out to fly again. (Spring 2010) 
CAPTAIN ABU RAEDDirector: Amin Matalqa
An aging airport janitor who is mistaken for an airline pilot by a group of poor neighborhood children weaves fantastical stories to offer hope for a sad and sometimes unchangeable reality. (Spring 2010) 
NORTHDirector: Rune Denstad Langlo
Following a nervous breakdown, ski athlete Jomar has isolated himself in a lonely existence as the guard of a ski park. When he learns that he might be the father of a child way up north, he sets out on a strange and poetic journey through Norway on a snowmobile, with 5 litres of alcohol as his only provisions. On this trip through amazing arctic landscapes, Jomar seems to do everything in his power to avoid reaching his destination. He meets other tender and confused souls, who will all contribute to push Jomar further along his reluctant journey toward the brighter side of life. (Spring 2010) 
HUGH HEFNER: PLAYBOY, ACTIVIST AND REBELDirector: Brigitte Berman Official Selection - 2009 Toronto International Film Festival An intimate look at the outspoken, flamboyant founder of the Playboy empire. With humour and insight, the film captures Hefner's fierce battles with the government, the religious right and militant feminists. Rare footage and compelling interviews with a remarkable who's who of 20th century American pop culture, present a brilliant and entertaining snapshot of the life of an extraordinary man and the controversies that surrounded him. (Spring 2010) 
FROZENDirector: Adam Green Official Selection - 2010 Sundance Film Festival A typical day on the slopes turns into a chilling nightmare for three snowboarders when they get stranded on the chairlift before their last run. As the ski patrol switches off the night lights, they realize with growing panic that they've been left behind dangling high off the ground with no way down. With the resort closed until the following weekend and frostbite and hypothermia already setting in, the trio is forced to take desperate measures to escape off the mountain before they freeze to death. Once they make their move, they discover with horror that they have much more to fear than just the frigid cold. As they combat unexpected obstacles, they start to question if their will to survive is strong enough to overcome the worst ways to die? (February 2010) 
CITY ISLANDDirector: Raymond De Felitta Meet the Rizzos, a family that might get along a lot better if only they could tell each other the truth. Dad Vince (Andy Garcia) is the worst offender. But since the prison guard won't even admit that poker night is in fact acting class, how's he ever going to explain about his illegitimate son? His daughter works as a stripper when she's supposed to be in college, while young Vinnie Jr. has a secret sexual fetish that involves a 24-hour webcam and the family's 300-pound neighbour. Vince's wife Joyce (Julianna Margulies) is the family's rock, but it's been a year since she enjoyed intimacy with her husband, and it's no surprise she thinks poker night spells A-F-F-A-I-R. When former prisoner Tony enters the Rizzos' lives, Joyce begins to suspect that the handsome young Tony isn't who Vince says he is. City Island is a funny, touching and smart family tale about the secrets of the past catching up with the lies of the present, and accepting that nobody's perfect - least of all your loved ones. (March 2010) 
LAST TRAIN HOMEDirector: Lixin Fan Winner - IDFA 2009 Award for Best Feature Documentary Every spring, China's cities are plunged into chaos, as all at once, a tidal wave of humanity attempts to return home by train. It is the Chinese New Year. The wave is made up of millions of migrant factory workers. The homes they seek are the rural villages and families they left behind to seek work in the booming coastal cities. It is an epic spectacle that tells us much about China, a country discarding traditional ways as it hurtles towards modernity and global economic dominance. Last Train Home, an emotionally engaging and visually beautiful debut film from Chinese-Canadian director Lixin Fan, draws us into the fractured lives of a single migrant family caught up in this desperate annual migration. Sixteen years ago, the Zhangs abandoned their young children to find work in the city, consoled by the hope that their wages would lift their children into a better life. But in a bitter irony, the Zhangs' hopes for the future are undone by their very absence. Qin, the child they left behind, has grown into adolescence crippled by a sense of abandonment. In an act of teenage rebellion, she drops out of school. She too will become a migrant worker. The decision is a heartbreaking blow for the parents. In classic cinema verité style, Last Train Home follows the Zhangs' attempts to change their daughter's course and repair their ruptured family. Intimate and candid, the film paints a human portrait of the dramatic changes sweeping China. We identify with the Zhangs as they navigate through the stark and difficult choices of a society caught between old ways and new realities. Can they get ahead and still undo some of the damage that has been done to their family? (February 2010) 
SAINT JOHN OF LAS VEGASDirector: Hue Rhodes After a run of bad luck, John (Steve Buscemi), a compulsive gambler, runs away from Las Vegas and toward a normal job and life. Taking a nondescript position in an auto insurance company in Albuquerque, he tries to get ahead in the straight world, amid the ever-present temptations of scratch-off lotto tickets. When his boss, Mr. Townsend (Peter Dinklage), asks John to accompany his top fraud debunker, Virgil (Romany Malco) on an investigation of a dubious car "accident" near Vegas, John sees an opportunity to get a promotion, though he's concerned about returning to the gambling game. Before leaving he becomes involved with his eccentric co-worker Jill (Sarah Silverman), a dalliance that has the potential to become a real relationship. Soon John is on the road with Virgil, where they encounter a series of offbeat characters, including a wheelchair-bound stripper (Emmanuelle Chriqui), a nude militant (Tim Blake Nelson), a park Ranger (Jesse Garcia), and a carnival human torch (John Cho). While Virgil is the supposed leader of the investigation, it's John who begins to finally assert himself, pushing the case closer to a conclusion. Through the journey, John's confidence builds, and he realizes that he can't escape his gambling addiction by running away from it — it will follow him wherever he goes. It's only when he returns to Vegas and his experiences there finally send him on the path to breaking free. First time writer/director Hue Rhodes' SAINT JOHN OF LAS VEGAS follows the wild and funny trip a guy has to take to discover there's more than one way to hit the jackpot in life. (January 2010) 
BAD LIEUTENANT: PORT OF CALL NEW ORLEANS(A VVS Films Release) Director: Werner Herzog In Werner Herzog's new film, Nicolas Cage plays a rogue detective who is as devoted to his job as he is to scoring drugs — while playing fast and loose with the law. He wields his badge as often as he wields his gun in order to get his way. In the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, he becomes a high-functioning addict who is a deeply intuitive, fearless detective reigning over the beautiful ruins of New Orleans with authority and abandon. Complicating his tumultuous life is the prostitute he loves (played by Eva Mendes). Together they descend into their own world marked by desire, compulsion and conscience. The result is a singular masterpiece of filmmaking, equally sad and manically humourous. (November 2009) 
PAX AMERICANADirector: Denis Delestrac Pax Americana examines the origins and today's reality of the militarization of space. The domination of Earth from space is a staple of science-fiction. In reality, technology now exists to weaponize space. With unprecedented access to present and former US military personnel, and insights from space-policy hawks, activists, and analysts, this elegant, shrewd, feature documentary explores a pivotal moment in world history. The momentum behind US military doctrine is toward "Space Control" which aims to control all arenas of war from space. Yet this strategy risks reviving the arms race between major powers and invites catastrophe: the destruction of vital civilian satellites and even nuclear war. Pax Americana raises important questions: Will we bring war machines to space or enforce agreements to keep space weapons-free? Must the world accept one super-power cop on the global beat? What if it doesn't? (February 2010) 
ZOOEY & ADAMDirector: Sean Garrity Adam and Zooey have been unsuccessfully trying to get pregnant for 7 months, then end up pregnant after a rape. Unsure of the patronage of their child, they decide to have him anyway. Zooey is fine with it, uses it to heal from her trauma. But Adam, who is sure the boy has been spawned by the rapist, is haunted by their son, and eventually driven to extremes by him. (February 2010) 
INVOLUNTARYDirector: Ruben Östlund It's almost summer in Sweden and minor indiscretions and misbehaviour abound. Leffe likes to show off for his friends and play salacious pranks, especially when he's drinking. Meanwhile, a righteous grade-school teacher doesn't know where to draw the line: she insists her fellow educators need a bit of instruction. Then there are two young teenage girls who like to pose for sexy photos and to party, but one night in a park, one of them is found passed out drunk by a complete stranger. (Coming Soon) 
PASSENGER SIDEDirector: Matt Bissonnette Michael Brown's (Adam Scott) birthday begins with a telephone call from his estranged, drug-addicted brother Tobey (Joel Bissonnette). Tobey is totally unaware that it is his older brother's birthday, but he is very aware that his car is broken, and he begs Michael to drive him on various apparently legitimate, vital errands. As the day wears on, it becomes clear that this drive will lead them to some very unexpected destinations. (Spring 2010) |
SHOWTIMES AND LISTINGS
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