The 47th Annual Toronto International Festival (TIFF) came to a close on Sept. 18, 2022, and this proud Canadian jewel – once again – delivered countless movie options for professionals and fans of all ages.
This critic experienced 40 feature-length films over 11 days and noted five of my festival favorites in a Phoenix Film Festival Sept. 16 article, The Best of TIFF 2022 – Part One. Let’s double that total of my top choices, as here are five more flicks, The Best of TIFF 2022 – Part Two.
I hope you see these movies soon at a nearby cinema, and let’s compare notes!
“All Quiet on the Western Front” – Director/co-writer Edward Berger delivers his nightmarish and haunting vision of Erich Maria Remarque’s 1929 novel about the horrors of WWI. This epic carries jaw-dropping and sweeping technical achievements but also effectively follows a young German soldier’s (Felix Kammerer) specific journey, one that lands him in a trench-warfare hell. Berger doesn’t always hold us in the trenches, as he thankfully offers some reprieves to catch our collective breath, including several moments with the ever-reliable Daniel Bruhl, who plays Matthias Erzberger, a politician attempting to negotiate a ceasefire.
“The Banshees of Inisherin” - Martin McDonagh's fourth film is his most picturesque, as he shot in gorgeous Counties Mayo and Galway, but "Banshees" is also his most straightforward. The story marches on ryegrass and clover around a simple one-sided quarrel between two men (Brendan Gleeson and Colin Farrell). However, the grim conflict feels like a spaghetti western/fable concoction, and these ingredients churn in a cauldron forged by Irish history.
Gleeson and Farrell are at the peak of their powers. Kerry Condon is a delightful and grounded scene stealer, and Barry Keoghan could earn his first Oscar nomination.
“EO” – A circus donkey finds freedom through happenstance, travels the Polish countryside, and meets a wide assortment of people and other animals along the way. Director/co-writer Jerzy Skolimowski’s arthouse presentation of frank animal-advocate messaging presents both human kindness and depravity, and the filmmaker doesn’t pull his punches. Isabelle Huppert makes a small supporting appearance in this grand ensemble, and six donkeys play the lead, EO, who tries to make sense of his ever-growing worldview.
“Hawa” – Sania Halifa makes an impressive acting debut and makes a lasting mark as Hawa, a Parisian teen who suddenly decides that former U.S. First Lady Michelle Obama should adopt her. With Ms. Obama visiting Paris for four days, Hawa races all over The City of Light to secure her future-parent dream. Director/co-writer Maimouna Doucoure and Halifa convincingly capture Hawa’s desperation and elevate the drama around the possibilities. Grammy-winning singer Oumou Sangare plays the girl’s grandmother in a key supporting role.
“Viking” – A space agency interviews and hires five ordinary citizens to live together in a Biosphere situation on Earth, so scientists can anticipate five astronauts’ behavioral issues on the first manned mission to Mars. Director/co-writer Stephane Lafleur’s movie sounds heavy, but it’s quite the opposite. His eccentric and hilarious picture soars and spins on its axis with oodles of subtle and blatant sociological humor, as the players, led by a mild-mannered gym teacher (Steve Laplante), have varied responses to their cooped-up circumstances.
