Dear All -

It's movie time in Toronto – the annual Toronto International Film Festival is here once again, and for the third year in a row I'm volunteering. That way I get 'pinks' – vouchers that allow me to trade in for a ticket to a film. It's a great deal.

So far I've seen:

1. MICHAEL MOORE – an evening during which he discussed his life and his latest works that are still in progress. Although I've heard rather nasty things about Moore, I found him quite charming. Certainly I respect his films, TV shows, and books. It was interesting to see him, because we all see him in his films, and he's basically the same. It's like, we kind of know him. So, there he was, in person, sitting on the stage, just chatting about his life and work. We tried to see a couple of clips from 'The Great '04 Slacker Uprising' – a film about Moore's attempt to rouse young people to vote during the last election. Unfortunately the sound was messed up, so it wasn't satisfying. The clips from the upcoming 'Sicko' were in fine shape, though, and Moore led us in his exploration of the U.S. health system into his questioning about why Americans are so frightened and angry.

2. THE U.S. VS JOHN LENNON – a beautiful and painful film about John Lennon and Yoko Ono Lennon, their lives, their activism, and their dedication to Peace. And, of course, as the title says, it's also about how the U.S. government, from the very top – Nixon, Hoover, et al. – decided Lennon was a dangerous person and needed to be investigated and deported from the U.S. I cried throughout the film. This was my time, these were my people, my issues, my life. I was there. And now we're all here, but John isn't. Yoko was at the showing and, along with directors John Leaf and David Schienfeld, answered questions afterwards. She's extremely gracious. I thought that one of the most important people interviewed in the film was Gore Vidal, who brought the whole situation into the present by noting that the situations in Vietnam and Iraq are similar, and that what motivated them – hatred – is the same. The film and the Q & A were very moving.

3. LOVE AND OTHER DISASTERS – Although I enjoyed the film as it was playing, I don't really have that much to say about it. It’s a very sweet romantic comedy, pleasurable to watch, clever, sympathetic, raises issues. But it's not really my cup of tea. I went because the title sounded good and it was at the right time. Not the best way to select films. But one never knows . . .

4. SHAME – This, like the Moore films, is in progress. Certainly the subject of Mukhtaran Mai's gang rape and subsequent courage in the face of incredible adversity are well known. However, if the film can do some good in Pakistan, where director Mohammed Naqvi intends to show it, it would be amazing. The more people see this, the better. The more we are aroused to do something to elevate our consciousness the better. The more that men learn they must not treat women as objects to do with what they please, the better. I hope the whole world sees this film, even though we know the story, which is still ongoing. Along with Naqvi, Mukhtaran Mai was there, and participated in the Q & A after the film. She is simple, humble, and very dedicated. How she (and others) remains faithful to her god in the face of the nightmare she has endured and continues to endure, amazes me.

Today I'm off to see 'The Making of a Bollywood Blockbuster,' in which Shah Rukh Khan, Karan Johar, and Amitabh Bachchan, will be in conversation with Suketa Mehta, who wrote 'Maximum City,' (sorry, I can't italicize in these blogs) a book about the underworld in Bombay/Mumbai. I saw the film – Kabhi Nalvida Naa Kehna/Never Say Goodbye, read the book, and am looking forward to hearing the discussion. It’s a bit 'silly' perhaps, but I guess it’s good to do those things too.

Take care until the next time,
Ellen