TIFF Recap: Day 2

Films seen Friday, September 5th …

The Sky Crawlers
Anytime the characters take to the skies, this film is just gorgeous. The aircraft look amazingly realistic, and when they engage in dogfights the action is intense and thrilling. Now, I didn’t expect the movie to be all action, but the shift in pace outside the cockpits really slowed things down. It just took too long for bits of story to progess, was at times overdramatic, and my interest waned.
4/10

C’est pas moi, je le jure!
Other problem kids have nothing on the one in this story. Fond of suicide attempts, colorful lies, and breaking into neighborhood homes and stealing things … at the tender age of 10. Yet Léon’s behavior isn’t particularly malicious, there’s still a childish quality to it as he gets himself in over his head. And it’s all absolutely hilarious, with a bit of heartbreak thrown in. I laughed loudly and often, and the performance of Antoine L’Écuyer as Léon was fantastic. The standing ovation from the 800+ audience members was well-deserved for pulling off such a mature, charming, humorous, and believable performance.
8/10

Derrière moi
I didn’t know much about this one going in, as it was a pretty last-minute selection to fill an empty spot in my schedule; Mike was already going, so I decided to join him. It was a nice surprise, although you need patience for a film that moves at such a deliberate pace. In the developing friendship between a small-town girl (Léa) and a big-city partier (Betty), you first worry about corruption of the innocent and naive teen. There’s the usual drugs & alcohol. But Betty’s intentions often veer towards other unsettling territory … but as you’re expecting it and nothing materializes, you wonder if you’re imagining something that isn’t there. Then it turns out worse than you thought. Fine performances from both of the lead actresses.
6/10