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FILM REVIEW
Toronto Stories
Directed by Sook-Yin Lee, Sudz Sutherland, Aaron Woodley and David Weaver. Starring Gil Bellows, Tygh Runyan, K.C. Collins, Joris Jarsky, Samantha Weinstein, Toka Murphy and Ricardo Hoyos.
By Sarah Gopaul | Posted on December 12, 2008
The filming activity in Toronto is fairly constant and the city is home to critically acclaimed directors David Cronenberg, Atom Egoyan, Bruce MacDonald, Deepa Mehta and Clement Virgo. However, T-dot is usually a stand-in for some American urban landscape; even the Canadians tend to disguise the location as anyplace, anywhere. It is therefore refreshing to see a film showcasing this fair city, where Toronto finally plays Toronto.
Toronto Stories unites four up-and-coming directors who reside in the title’s metropolis. Each has constructed a story, featuring one corner of the city and highlighting elements specific to that area. Shot on 35mm to capture the lush variances of the city, filmmakers stage a coming-of-age horror in Cabbagetown, a slacker romantic comedy in Kensington, a mollified crime-thriller at St. Clair and Vaughn, and a complex drama at downtown’s heart, Union Station.
The tale begins at the crowded Pearson International Airport, where a young boy (Toka Murphy) arrives without accompaniment or papers. He is taken into custody by immigration but escapes at the first opportunity, wandering the city alone. An amber alert is issued and he or his image pop-up in each of the subsequent chapters.
In Aaron Woodley’s “Shoelaces,” two children (Samantha Weinstein and Ricardo Hoyos) embark on a quest to find a reported monster living beneath the picturesque neighbourhood of Cabbagetown. Over the course of one day and night, the pair shares a profound experience of love, death and their first kiss. There is also a peculiar stop-motion animation that adds to the eerie climate of their expedition.
In Sook-Yin Lee’s “The Brazilian,” a lonely woman (Lee) and a man whose never been in love (Tygh Runyan) come up against their fundamental differences in their search for understanding and connection in the setting of Kensington Market. Those itching to see the former MuchMusic VJ naked, this is your chance.
In Sudz Sutherland’s “Windows,” Alton (K.C. Collins) and Doug (Joris Jarsky) reunite by chance on the streets of Toronto. The former partners in crime are forced to re-evaluate their toxic relationship when Doug’s antics threaten to compromise Alton’s hard-won stability. The blending of income levels in this yarn is quite realistic, as it is characteristic of several Toronto neighbourhoods.
And in David Weaver’s “Lost Boys,” a man fallen from grace (Gil Bellows) and living on the streets and alleys around Union Station spots the missing boy, but authorities question the credibility of his find because of his mental illness. This is by far the most gripping and complex of the stories told, making it a fitting closer.
Each of these stories is personal to the city, as well as its inhabitants. The filmmakers used their own experiences to bring authenticity to the narrative, in addition to researching the municipality. The chapters are simultaneously complete and continuous, as the city goes on evolving when the camera stops. Each segment comes in around the 20-minute mark and benefits from quality performances by every cast member – consumers of Canadian film and television will see a lot of familiar faces.
The soundtrack is also rooted in local talent, featuring songs by Final Fantasy, Broken Social Scene, Jason Collett, Glissandro 70, and Ohbijou. Furthermore, the powerful atmospheric score atmospheric score heard over “Shoelaces” and “Lost Boys” was composed by Woodley’s brother, E.C. Woodley.
In the tradition of New York Stories and Paris, Je t’aime, Toronto Stories is dedicated to and passionately embraces the city. Hopefully this will encourage more artists to embrace the city and let it be itself.
Filed Under Film, Reviews Tags: Aaron Woodley, David Weaver, Gil Bellows, Joris Jarsky, KC Collins, Ricardo Hoyos, Samantha Weinstein, Sook-Yin Lee, Sudz Sutherland, Toka Murphy, Toronto, Toronto Stories, Tygh Runyan
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