TIFF ’08 – Extra (FREE) Filipino Helpings: Emm Gryner, Coppola

by Leonard

With Brillante Mendoza’s ‘Serbis’ having finished its TIFF ’08 run, Lino Brocka’s essential classic ‘Bayan Ko’ showing last night (review forthcoming) and one more screening of Adolfo Alix Jr.’s ‘Adela’ this Saturday, fans of Filipino cinema have had no shortage of festival offerings to enjoy.  In fact, the chance to watch the best films the Philippines has to offer may even leave us wanting.

Emm Gryner performs at Yonge Dundas Square, Wednesday 5:30pm

Fortunately, a closer look at the Festival schedule reveals a few other hidden gems that should make us just as proud to be Filipino.  And best of all, they are FREE.  (Ah, our second most favourite “F” word. The first one is ‘FILM’ by the way.) 

Robert Duvall in Apocalypse Now (1979)

 

MOVIES ON MOVIES: Hearts of Darkness – A Filmmaker’s Apocalypse @ Wednesday, September 10 at 8:30pm, Yonge Dundas Square – FREE!

We bet you didn’t know that Francis Ford Coppola filmed the Vietnam classic ‘Apocalypse Now’ high in the mystic mountains of Laguna, Philippines.  As big as Brando, Sheen and Duvall  were, the Philippines played as big a role in the making (and near-destruction) of this film.  Hearts of Darkness is not only a look at filmmaking in the face of adversity but a tentpole footnote on our country’s relationship with American showbiz.

 

EMM GRYNER @ Thursday, September 11 at 5:30pm, Yonge Dundas Square – FREE!

Emm Gryner performs with Great Lake Swimmers in support of the Canadian road-trip drama One Week.  Where has Emm Gryner been?  We love Emm Gryner and her music, but we love Emm Gryner’s Mom just as much.

~ by Leonard on September 10, 2008.