REVIEW: The Phone Call [2013]

“Can I help at all?” It’s nice to see an artist who’s unafraid to play with tragedy and find a way to make it transform into a bittersweet glimmer of hope. There’s a fine line in doing so, one that can easily consume the goal into a trite abyss trying too hard to stay afloat within the melodrama. I can see Mat Kirkby and James Lucas‘ The Phone Call proving just as unsuccessful to some as it was touching to me. I wouldn’t say it’s a resounding triumph considering its…

Read More

TIFF12 REVIEW: Imagine [2013]

“Blind people don’t need canes—unless they have a bad leg” It may be weird to think, but there’s no better medium than film to transport an audience into the world of the blind. A character in Andrzej Jakimowski‘s Imagine says it perfectly: people with sight look without actually seeing. Their eyes illuminate what’s in front of them without instilling the need to delve further into the distance. If what’s beyond their sight sparks interest, they can simply get up, walk over, and see it without struggle. So, when dealing with…

Read More