Blue-Grotto

Bathed in moonlight, soothed by a lullaby, haunted by something intangible, cradled in the wind, buoyed by water, and flying in a dream; four girls are connected through time in the place they inhabit. Alma in the 1900s, Erika in the 1940s, Angelika in the1980s, and Lenka in the present, all occupy the same landscape and their feelings - good and bad, happy and sad - are radiated to the others. Going back and forth in time, the girls struggle to know and be themselves.

"Funny how something can hurt that's no longer there."

Sound of Falling has all the elements I love in film; a camera that moves like a ghost through beautiful scenery, deep conversations, a mysterious storyline that unravels like a puzzle and must be put back together again and again, resonant themes, a director (presumably) not beholden to anyone or anything but their vision, stylish and sexy, actors firing on all cylinders, shocks and twists, flashbacks, wisdom revealed, a culture different from my own, music that transforms mood, compelling characters different from myself, people revealed from different angles, an enthralling story, visions that might be real or imaginary, and more.

Even though director Mascha Schilinski was attending to a sick baby in Germany and not able to attend the North American premiere screening of her film at the Toronto International Film Festival, I stayed as the credits rolled, the intriguing story and scenes turning over in my mind. Sound of Falling won the jury prize at Cannes. The film utilizes natural light and ambient sound, but also mesmerizing songs such as "Stranger" by Anna Von Hausswolff.

"You always see things from the outside, but never yourself."

Thai people believe that the lives and spirits of others can be absorbed and connected in the landscape. This beautiful, moving, and fascinating film is a testament to this.

Cass falls in love. Hard. Her lover lifts her up in every aspect of her life, and his unexpected death sinks Cass in a deep downward spiral. With the passing of time Cass is the unsmiling sad sack of her former self. This is until she enters a cartography shop in London to discover a magical map of the heart and someone standing nearby to help decipher it. Soon Cass is charting and rediscovering the significant places and moments in her life, combining past, present, and future, and opening her heart to wonders and love again.

"The greatest loss is not death, but what dies within us while we live."

This playful, romantic, and whimsical film encourages us to keep our hearts open and our dreams alive. Writer-director Yaniv Raz appeared at this world premiere screening at the Toronto International Film Festival with some of the actors. He said that the film was originally set in San Francisco, but moved to London ultimately. While the film lacks chemistry and is a little cheesy and unrealistic, even allowing room for exaggeration, I really enjoyed the story and theme of keeping your heart open to wonder, mystery, and love.

Insights about the world's oldest profession and the underground of humanity are provocatively revealed in this lively and intriguing documentary about the experiences of Andrea Werhun as an escort and exotic dancer in Toronto. Andrea plays the role of herself, co-writes, and narrates the film. Modern Wh0re aims to move the narratives about sex work beyond the typical "victims and villians" dynamic and bring about a new archetype where the workers are loved by their community and tell their own stories.

The film removes the stigma of shame and erases misconceptions and assumptions that society associates with the sex industry and female pleasure. In doing so it doesn't shy away from the dark side of sex work (lack of trust and protection, and possessive and disrespectful clients, and more). Conversations that Andrea has with her real-life mom and ex-boyfriend, are cathartic, deep, and emotional. Walls are broken down.

It is invigorating in the film that the truth is revealed instead of being ignored and hidden, and that sex-workers are celebrated instead of being shamed. "Shame," says Andrea "is the opposite of truth." Andrea was present at this world-premiere screening at the Toronto International Film Festival.

In sex work both parties feel free to be themselves, knowledge is power, the money is better than minimum wage, humor is essential form of survival, and the keys to being successful include basic things like listening, kindness and respect.