Hot Docs 2010 Preview Pt. 1
Posted April 29, 2010 12:12 am.
This article is more than 5 years old.
Hot Docs 2010 officially starts tonight (April 29) and in the first part of our CityNews.ca preview we pick some of the ten-day festival’s hits and misses. Check back tomorrow for Part Two.
A Drummer’s Dream – Seven master drummers from around the world hold a special camp in Northern Ontario to teach and inspire young musicians over one week in the summer of 2009. While most of the film features powerful sets from these amazing performers, I found the best part was hearing their individual stories as to how they got into drumming in the first place. Screens on May 7 at 10:00 p.m. at The Royal Cinema and May 9 at 1:30 p.m. at The Royal Cinema.
Babies – If you saw the trailer for Babies and wanted to see it because you thought it looked cute, it won’t disappoint. But if you want something more than pretty shots of babies forget it because all Babies is is random cute moments in the lives of four babies during their first year (we even see a couple of them being born). To be honest, I don’t even know how this is considered a documentary, and it’s unfortunate that it was chosen as the opening night film. Screens April 29 at 6:30 p.m. at the Winter Garden Theatre and April 30 at 1:45 p.m. at the Isabel Bader Theatre.
Blank City *CityNews.ca Pick* – Melding old movie footage and recent interviews with the likes of Jim Jarmusch, Lydia Lunch, Debbie Harry, Steve Buscemi, and John Waters, just to name a few of the players, Blank City is a definitive look at the birth of independent cinema in New York City during the late ’70s and early ’80s. Every cinephile and film student must see this. Screens on May 5 at 9:45 p.m. at The Royal Cinema and May 8 at 9:45 p.m. at the Cumberland.
Daddy’s Girls – What would you do if you found out your father was living an alternate life? If you’re filmmaker Lilly Sheffy you pull out a camera and follow him around as he goes back-and-forth from Germany to Israel balancing four different women he’s made homes with. Sadly, Sheffy is not the greatest storyteller and the film is choppy and overly boring at times. Screens with the short Quadrangle on May 2 at 9:30 p.m. at the Cumberland and May 4 at 4:00 p.m. at the ROM Theatre.
David Wants to Fly – It starts with David Sieveking looking to his idol, filmmaker David Lynch, for inspiration to make a movie. It soon turns nasty as Sieveking uncovers the truth behind the world of transcendental meditation (TM), which Lynch is a huge ambassador of, and its founder Maharishi Mahesh Yogi. While interesting viewing I found a lot of it appeared staged, and a lot of questions were never answered (including what happened with the lawsuit Lynch filed against Sieveking). Screens May 4 at 9:00 p.m. at the Bloor Cinema and May 5 at 3:45 p.m. at the Cumberland.
Land *CityNews.ca Pick* – Very political look at the land ownership situation in Nicaragua where American developers swept up tons of acres to build resorts only to learn the land wasn’t legally for sale. Much more interesting than I expected it to be. Screens with the short Basin on May 2 at 9:30 p.m. at The Royal Cinema and May 9 at 2:00 p.m. at the Isabel Bader Theatre.
Listen to This – In an attempt to unify a group of kids at a Jane-Finch public school, pianist Thompson Egbo-Egbo launches a music programme designed to bring out their creativity and give each student an outlet to speak their mind. Focusing on a couple of talented students, the film barely touches on anything other than the music and fails to show the real problems plaguing these kids and why they need this programme. Screens with the short Inuit High Kick on May 2 at 7:00 p.m. at The Royal Cinema and May 9 at 4:30 p.m. at The Royal Cinema.
Mark – Mark plays out like an amateur art project that falls into all the traps of a bad documentary: random imagery, dull narration, and clips that go nowhere. Unfortunately it wastes a great subject in the process even though I feel that the man known only as Mark would probably have enjoyed it. We learn that Mark was a very giving person who lived an interesting life full of animal activism, art, and a keen interest in transvestites. Mark appeared happy to his friends and when he took his own life it was a huge shock. Directed by Mark’s friend Mike Hoolboom, Mark left me wanting to know more about the man and why he was so troubled. Screens with the short A Moth in Spring on May 1 at 9:45 p.m. at the Royal and May 9 at 9:30 p.m. at the Isabel Bader Theatre.
Shadow Play: The Making of Anton Corbijn *CityNews.ca Pick* – Anton Corbijn is a world-renowned photographer and music video director who has worked with everyone from U2, Nirvana, and Joy Division to R.E.M., David Bowie, and Metallica. Most likely you have seen his work and you don’t even know it (the cover of U2’s “Joshua Tree” album, for instance, is a Corbijn photograph). The man is a master behind the lens and in Shadow Play: The Making of Anton Corbijn we get a great history on the man as well as get to see him work on his first feature film, the Ian Curtis biopic, Control. Highly recommended for anyone with the slightest interest in photography, music, or art. Screens on May 7 at 9:15 p.m. at the Bloor Cinema and on May 9 at 1:00 p.m. at the Bloor Cinema.
The Kids Grow Up *CityNews.ca Pick* – Filmmaker Doug Block (51 Birch Street) documents the year leading up to his only child turning 18 and moving away from home to attend college. Combining old home movie footage with recent conversations he and his daughter have, the film is quite emotional at times as Block doesn’t know what he will do without her under his roof. This will definitely touch every parent in the audience too. Screens with the short Time’s Up on May 4 at 6:45 p.m. at The ROM Theatre and on May 6 at 4:00 p.m. at the ROM Theatre.
The National Parks Project: Gros Morne – Newfoundland’s Gros Morne National Park is beautifully shot in this non-narrative nature doc where the music and images is what tells the story. This is part of a special presentation at The Drake Hotel and the film will be screened with a live electronic ambient jazz score by Sandro Perri and then immediately played again with a recorded audio track from previous improvised performances. May 3 at 7:00 p.m.
The Parking Lot Movie *CityNews.ca Pick* – If there is only one film you see at Hot Docs 2010 it has to be The Parking Lot Movie. Documenting a rag-tag group of super smart and creative parking lot attendants working at what could be the coolest lot in Virginia, it is one of the most brilliantly put together pieces I’ve seen this year. My only complaint is the music video near the end which felt out of place. Screens May 1 at 6:30 p.m. at the Cumberland, May 3 at 11:45 p.m. at the Bloor Cinema, and at a special rooftop screening on May 6 on the top outdoor tier of Citipark Cumberland Parking Garage.
The “SoCalled” Movie *CityNews.ca Pick* – Josh “SoCalled” Dolgin is a unique musician who plays a hybrid of hip hop, funk, and klezmer music. His tracks are fun and catchy and I can’t stop listening to him since watching the doc, which follows his journey as he plays shows in Paris, New York, Montreal, and the Ukraine, while also giving a peek into his personal life and other artistic endeavors. Great subject presented in an interesting, funny, and entertaining way. Screens on May 2 at 9:15 p.m. at the Bloor Cinema and May 4 at 11:30 a.m. at the ROM Theatre.
For a full schedule of films and to purchase tickets, visit hotdocs.ca.
brian.mckechnie@citynews.rogers.com
Top image: A scene from The “SoCalled” Movie. Courtesy Hot Docs.
