SIFF Screenings Week 3---May 13-16--OFFICIAL SECRETS, THE WOMAN WHO LOVES GIRAFFES, DAVID CROSBY: REMEMBER MY NAME, BRITTANY RUNS A MARATHON, RUNNING WITH BETO, SAUVAGE/WILD, EMMA PETERS, LE CHOCOLATE DE H, KITARU plus TOLKIEN

OFFICIAL SECRETS--Great Britain--Kiera Knightly expertly portrays a whistle blower who illegally publishes a top secret document that admits to lying about the Weapons of Mass Destruction, which throws England (and other countries, including the USA) into an the Iraq War.  The film works as an excellent, gripping thriller from start to finish.          GRADE------A

THE WOMAN WHO LOVES GIRAFFES--Canada--Riveting documentary about a young woman who spends a year studying and filming giraffes in Africa, then writes the definitive book on their behavior, plus more than a dozen other books, but is denied university tenure because of sexist attitudes in the 1950's.                                              GRADE-----------A

DAVID CROSBY: REMEMBER MY NAME---USA--Smooth, informative documentary about Crosby--he was abrasive and struggled with drug addiction, and now towards the end of his life , Stills, Nash, and Young have all written him off.  But you have to admire his talent and the talent of those characters who surrounded him, especially in his earlier days, like Joni Mitchell,   Cass Elliott,  and others who are discussed in this film.                GRADE-----------B+

BRITTANY RUNS A MARATHON--USA--Breezy, amusing comedy/drama of an overweight 30 year old with low self esteem, who finally decides to change her body and her attitude by training for a marathon race.  Beautifully funny and sad performance by Jillian Bell.           GRADE--------B+

RUNNING WITH BETO--USA--Engaging documentary about an engaging politician Beto O'Rourke who nearly beat lying Ted Cruz in the senate Texas race in 2018.                    GRADE-----------B

KIFARU--USA--The first half of this documentary is quite dull, but at the half way point, the last northern white rhino in the world becomes fatally ill, and the film becomes shockingly moving.
             GRADE---------B

EMMA PEETERS--Belgium--This slight, superficial Belgium comedy features a struggling actress convinced her acting days are over at age 35.  Her plans to  commit suicide are interrupted when she meets the handsome funeral director.                       GRADE----------B-

SAUVAGE/WILD--France--A young male prostitute seeks love even when being degraded and abused, in this explicit and disturbing character study.  Unfortunately, he doesn't know how to accept help or love when it is offered.   Rough stuff--which caused several dozen walk outs at the press screening.                  GRADE---------------B-

LE CHOCOLATE DE H--Japan--The trouble I have with many foodie movies:  I'd rather be tasting/eating the subject (in this case award winning chocolate from a master chocolatier) than listening to talking heads admiring the product.  Sometimes boring, sometimes amusing, sometimes moving.                  GRADE-------C+


PLUS--not from SIFF

TOLKIEN--Great Britain--A stylish, well mounted (if a bit restrained) telling of the academic career of J.R. Tolkien and his friendships/fellowships with three of his university mates, which helped contribute to his future middle earth books.                       GRADE---------B-



MY FAVORITES FOR THIS OPENING WEEKEND at SIFF:

JIM ALLISON: BREAKTHROUGH
THE WOMAN WHO LOVES GIRAFFES
THE FALL OF THE AMERICAN EMPIRE
YOMEDINE
MAIDEN
WILD ROSE