Toronto International Film Festival Top 10 Films in 2010

Curling by Quebecois filmmaker Denis Cote

Toronto International Film Festival has compiled its list of the top 10 Canadian feature films and short films in 2010. “It’s a pretty diverse list, everything from micro-budget movies to international co-productions,” Steve Gravestock, TIFF’s associate director of Canadian programming said.

In alphabetical order:

Les Amours imaginaires: Xavier Dolan’s second film, following his acclaimed debut, J’ai tué ma mère, features a ménage a trois involving two friends, a young man and a young woman, competing for the affections of another young man.

Barney’s Version: a rare bird indeed, a big-budget international co-production of a novel by a revered Canadian writer (Mordechai Richler) featuring a cast with international star appeal, including Paul Giamatti and Dustin Hoffman.

Curling: Quebecois filmmaker Denis Cote’s latest, which earned him a Best Director award at the Locarno Film Festival earlier this year, is the story of the relationship between a single father and daughter and the people in their village. A “gentle comedy” and a slight departure from Cote’s past works, Gravestock noted.

The High Cost of Living: Deborah Chow’s first feature-length film offers some star appeal in lead Zach Braff as a man with a dark secret who comforts a pregnant woman who loses her child in an accident.

Incendies: Denis Villeneuve’s searing drama about twins who journey back to their mother’s Middle East homeland to fulfill her last wishes.

Last Train Home: a documentary from Lixin Fan about the heartbreaking struggles of Chinese factory workers as they attempt to return to their home villages for an annual holiday visit.

MODRA: filmmaker Ingrid Veninger in her first solo effort as director creates a subtle, affecting drama about teenage love.

Splice: director Vincenzo Natali delivers a cautionary tale about the folly of playing God by combining the DNA of different species, starring Sarah Polley, Adrian Brody and a break-out performance by Delphine Chanéac.

Trigger: veteran filmmaker Bruce McDonald’s very busy year includes a Toronto-centric comedy/drama after two former female rockers on one memorable night, featuring the final performance of Tracy Wright, who died earlier this year.

Trois temps après la mort d’Anna: Quebecoise filmmaker Catherine Martin, whose work has previously graced the top 10 list, follows a woman’s retreat into solitude following the tragic death of her daughter.

 

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