A SKIN SO SOFT - BFI London Film Festival 2017 Preview

I must admit that I struggled to get through Canadian director Denis Côté's documentary about six body builders.  There's a limit to how much footage I can watch of six men pumping iron, eating protein, getting spray tans and shaving their legs.  I know that the director is trying to show us the unglamorous side of the profession - and boy did we see that.  There's no soundtrack to the film other than hearing people work out really really hard. But I finished watching and discovered that I had no greater understanding of why someone would want to push themselves that hard, and what made these men tick. In fact, the only thing I was left with was a slightly queasy feeling about some of the cinematography which, rather than humanising the men, seemed to objectify them.  I guess one could argue that they are objectifying themselves with their chosen sport, but it felt more than a little voyeuristic and awkward. So - it's dull and potentially disrespectful - there's no reason for me to recommend this movie.

A SKIN SO SOFT has a running time of 94 minutes. It played Locarno Melbourne and Toronto 2017.  There are still tickets left for both screenings at the BFI London Film Festival.

VIC + FLO SAW A BEAR - LFF 2013 - Day Three

What to make of VIC + FLO SAW A BEAR? One third dark comedy, one third doomed love story, one third surreal tone-bending denoument, it's a movie‎ that's hard to put your finger on, and so languidly paced that I'm not sure you'd find a pulse if you did.

It's the story of two ex con lovers who live in rural Canada. The elder, Victoria (Pierette Robitaille), is pugnacious and no-nonsense. She incurs the wrath of her weird neighbours for apparently neglecting her invalid father. The younger, Florence (Romaine Bohringer), ‎has genuine affection for Vic, but wants to be part of the real world too. All of this is observed and mediated by their sympathetic parole officer - a man they mock but who is the only one who really cares.

There's much to like in the film.  The charismatic dual lead performances.  The genuine empathy one has for this odd couple.  The Wes Anderson like deliberate framing of director Denis Côte and the willingness to use abrupt changes of tone.  In particular I was intrigued by the butch gardener, Jackie, and how Cote chose to film her.  And after seeing the final act, she is surely one of the most bizarrely frightening characters since Javier Bardem in NO COUNTRY FOR OLD MEN. But ultimately, VIC + FLO was so odd it just slipped out of my fingers, and remains a mere collection of body parts.  I am somewhat surprised that it win the Silver Bear at Berlin.

VIC + FLO SAW A BEAR has a running time of 95 minutes.

VIC + FLO SAW A BEAR played Berlin 2013 where Denis Cote won the Silver Bear, as well as Sydney and London. It opened earlier this year in France.