March 08, 2024

WIFF’S WEEKEND WATCH LIST — 3/8

Check out our recommendations of what to watch this weekend.

if you want a story that you will never forget

to kill a tiger

Vincent Georgie: Oscar-nominated for Best Documentary Feature, we very proudly showed this tremendous film at WIFF 2022 where it was nominated for the WIFF Prize in Canadian Film. Filmmaker Nisha Pahuja spent 8 years making this film and had endless hours of footage to edit down to this masterpiece of socially relevant storytelling. If there is any justice in this world, Nisha is clutching an Oscar on Sunday night. Couldn’t happen to a nicer person.

Synopsis: Indian farmer Ranjit takes on the fight of his life when he demands justice for his 13-year-old daughter, the victim of a brutal gang rape. His decision to support his daughter is virtually unheard of, and his journey unprecedented.

Available for free on NFB.

if you love something off-kilter

poor things

Vincent Georgie: Nominated for 11 Oscars, Greek visionary director Yorgos Lanthimos has cornered the market on askew visions of women in motion. Visually inventive and tonally original, star Emma Stone is outstanding and is well-supported by Mark Ruffalo, Willem Dafoe and Ramy Youssef. An oddball and an interesting ride.

Synopsis: Brought back to life by an unorthodox scientist, a young woman runs off with a lawyer on a whirlwind adventure across the continents. Free from the prejudices of her times, she grows steadfast in her purpose to stand for equality and liberation.

Available on iTunes, Amazon Prime and YouTube.

if you think scorsese is tops

killers of the flower moon

Vincent Georgie: Rightfully acknowledged as the best filmmaker alive, Martin Scorsese has given us one of his best films late in his career. This is a complicated, highly polished story starring an underrated Leo DiCaprio, a re-invigorated Robert DeNiro and an incandescent Lily Gladstone. Don’t be surprised when she’s called up to accept Best Actress. A World Premiere at Cannes 2023.

Synopsis: Real love crosses paths with unspeakable betrayal as Mollie Burkhart, a member of the Osage Nation, tries to save her community from a spree of murders fueled by oil and greed.

Available on Apple TV+, YouTube and Amazon Prime.

DOUBLE FEATURE

all hail, christopher nolan

Nolan will be winning Best Director on Sunday, by all accounts, for his impressive work on Oppenheimer. Well-established for large-scale visions, let’s take a look at an early film that put him on the map over 20 years ago and a follow-up film that cemented his status as an “up-and-comer”. At the Oscars on Sunday, he will have arrived.

memento

Leonard (Guy Pearce) is tracking down the man who raped and murdered his wife. The difficulty, however, of locating his wife’s killer is compounded by the fact that he suffers from a rare, untreatable form of memory loss. Although he can recall details of life before his accident, Leonard cannot remember what happened fifteen minutes ago, where he’s going, or why.

Available onAmazon Prime.

insomnia

The story of a veteran police detective (Al Pacino) who is sent to a small Alaskan town to investigate the murder of a teenage girl. Forced into a psychological game of cat-and-mouse by the primary suspect (Robin Williams), events escalate and the detective finds his own stability dangerously threatened.