By Kathy Kay
Monday Magazine columnist
The Oscars are over. The hype died down. So now what? What will enthrall us for the next few weeks?
How about the Cat Video Festival? Yes, an opportunity for you to immerse yourself in all things feline is hitting The Vic Theatre in March. I swore off cute cat videos, but what the heck – troubled times, a little escapism, it can be the best medicine – and what’s more indie than videos made by individuals around the world?
| Kathy Kay |
Continuing on with enjoyable escapist films, your best bets making appearances this month are Science Fair and the lush Mademoiselle de Joncquiéres. While the films – one an American doc, the other a French drama – couldn’t be more different from each other, both are wonderfully absorbing and a fun way to spend a couple of hours.
Joncquiéres is a deliciously sinful work based on a Denis Diderot short story about a pious widow, wooed and then spurned by a notorious cad. The widow hires two prostitutes to exact her revenge and the game is on. In this shrewd story that is well paced, director Emmanuel Mouret’s 10th film shows a sure hand that leaves lots of room for the actors to shine.
Winning audience and critics awards around North America, Science Fair is a compelling, feel-good look at youth competing for a top science prize. While youth competition films now seem to have their own genre, Science Fair digs a little deeper while still offering a sense of hope for the future.
For those who don’t want to leave the real world too far behind, Capernaum, appearing at Cinecenta, offers a more serious take. Winner of the Grand Jury Prize at Cannes, this film tells the story of a young Lebanese boy who sues his parents for giving him life. It’s a hard go, but so worth the effort with mesmerizing actors who draw the viewer into the everyday reality of life.
Watch victoriafilmfestival.com for exact dates and showtimes.
Kathy Kay is director of the Victoria Film Festival.