November brings chillier weather and cool movies in the Reel Weekend Film Festival that runs this weekend at the Salmar Classic Theatre.
Join the fun before the opening night movie My Internship in Canada. Shuswap Film Society members will be offering refreshments, music and door prizes. It all begins when the doors open at 6:30 p.m.
My Internship in Canada
This is a Quebec comedy that opens the festival with a laugh-out-loud take on the politics of an imagined future federal issue.
There is a call to war from a cabinet that is split 50/50 between government and opposition and the balance of power rests on the shoulders of an independent member from Quebec.
A former hockey player, the hero Steve Guibord chooses to follow the advice of his intern from Haiti and pursue a democratic solution by finding out what local citizens want.
The film runs Friday, Nov. 6 at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday, Nov. 6 at 10:30 a.m.
Meru
This exhilarating documentary showcases the lives and efforts of three of the top mountain climbers in the world. They attempt to climb Meru, which rises at the head of the Ganges River in India, a peak that has never been successfully reached. This peak requires the skills of both a rock climber and a snow/ice climber and the three men must carry all of their own equipment. No sherpas or animals used; they do it all on their own. The cinematography, though brilliant, is not the only reason this film has received such high praise. It is the candor and honesty of the director in bringing this story to film.
See Meru Saturday at 10:30 a.m. or Sunday at 1:30 p.m.
The Second Mother
A cheerful housekeeper finds her life comically turned upside down when her estranged daughter turns up. Issues of love, class, motherhood and privilege are dealt with in this delightful story set in Sao Paulo, Brazil.
The film shows Saturday at 1:30 p.m.
Jimmy’s Hall
This movie recounts the incredible true story of activist Jimmy Gralton. In 1921, Jimmy’s sin was to build a dance hall on a rural crossroads in Ireland. As the hall grew in popularity, its free spirited reputation brought it to the attention of the church and politicians.
See Jimmy Hall at 3:45 p.m. Saturday.
Coming Home
Gong Li is one of the top mature actresses in China and she is superb in this role of a woman who awaits the return of her much-loved husband.
Set in the time of the Cultural Revolution, her husband has been sent to prison work camps for dissidence. When he returns, she does not recognize him. Whether she has amnesia or Alzheimer’s disease is not relevant as the story focuses on the nature of love and how we see marriage and family.
Coming Home shows at 7:30 p.m. Saturday or at 3:45 Sunday.
Beeba Boys
Acclaimed director Deepa Mehta’s latest feature is an Indian gangster film with Vancouver Sikhs playing the starring roles. A cautionary tale of betrayal, violence and plot twists, Beeba Boys is a unique take on an established genre, making it a conventional gangster film with a distinctly Indo-Canadian flare. Many moments of hilarity relieve the tension of both actors and audience.
See Beeba Boys at 7:30 p.m.
Join film society members for coffee and conversation before the closing- night movie.
Tickets are available at Wearabouts or pay cash only at the door. Single admission is $7; a festival pass good for any five movies is $30 and a gold festival pass for the entire slate of films is $35.
Shuswap Film season pass holders and film festival gold pass holders get tickets at discount prices but not a guaranteed seat, so get there early.
Hard-of-hearing assistance is available at all Salmar theatres. Tune into the FM channel posted at the theatre and use your iPod or transistor radio and ear buds.
And add good food to the great film experience by having a reel lunch at the art gallery from 11:30 to 1 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.