Docs opening this week

One often doesn’t get the chance to rave about performances in a documentary film website, so Cate Blanchett makes up for missed opportunities with this week’s big opener Manifesto. Cate the Chameleon gives not one but thirteen award-caliber performances in this innovative hybrid film by Julian Rosefeldt. The film, which adapts a screen installation project by Rosefeldt and Blanchett, sees the actor assume thirteen different roles across twelve narrative threads that perform the manifestos and doctrines of recent artistic movements. Each performance is just as delicious as the other as Blanchett serves an all-you-can-eat buffet of great acting. Read the POV review of Manifesto here.

There’s a scrumptious buffet for the belly and brain in this week’s other new doc, In Search of Israeli Cuisine. This film by Roger Sherman sees chef Michael Solomonov tour the kitchens of Israel in a quest to define the national flavour. A savory array of dishes and a passionate range of personal stories illustrate the elusiveness of a single distinct taste within a country that has such a complex palette. The chef’s personal tour of the country region by region illustrates the significance of each dish that reflects the variety of experiences and histories across the land. Read the POV review of In Search of Israeli Cuisne here.

Other screenings of note this week include a bountiful Errol Morris retrospective at Hot Docs Ted Rogers Cinema that features his Oscar winner The Fog of War and doc landmark The Thin Blue Line in anticipation of next week’s release of Morris’s new film The B-Side. There’s also a big screening of DOXA opener The Road Forward in Toronto on National Aboriginal Day featuring music performances by Cheri Maracle and Wayne Lavallee, while retro screenings of Monterey Pop mark 50 years of a landmark music doc.

Opening this Week:

A Better Man
Dir. Attiya Khan, Lawrence Jackman | Canada | 79 min.
-Toronto, ON: Hot Docs Ted Rogers Cinema – Mon, June 19 – Thurs, June 22

Chasing Trane: The John Coltrane Documentary
Dir. John Scheinfeld | USA | 99 min.
-Winnipeg, MB: Winnipeg Cinematheque – Wed, June 21 – Thurs, June 22

Expo 67: Mission Impossible
Productions de la Ruelle | Canada | 68 min.
-Montreal, QC: Cinema du Parc – Fri, June 16 – Thurs, June 22

The Gardener
Dir. Sébastien Chabot | Canada | 88 min.
-Kingston, ON: The Screening Room – Fri, June 16 – Thurs, June 22
-Ottawa, ON: ByTowne Cinema – Wed, June 21 – Sat, June 24

In Search of Israeli Cuisine
Dir. Roger Sherman | USA | 96 min.
-Toronto, ON: Hot Docs Ted Rogers Cinema – Fri, June 16 – Thurs, June 22

In the Turn
Dir. Erica Tremblay | USA | 91 min.
-Edmonton, AB: Metro Cinema – Sat, June 17

Jeremiah Tower: The Last Magnificent
Dir. Lydia Tenaglia | USA | 102 min.
-Montreal, QC: Cinema du Parc – Fri, June 16 – Thurs, June 22

Kedi
Dir. Ceyda Torun | Turkey/USA | 79 min.
-Montreal, QC: Cinema Beaubien – Fri, June 16 – Thurs, June 22
-Montreal, QC: Cinema du Parc – Fri, June 16 – Thurs, June 22

Manifesto
Dir. Julian Rosefeldt | Australia/Germany | 95 min.
-Calgary, AB: Globe Cinema – Fri, June 16 – Sun, June 18; Tues, June 20 – Thurs, June 22
-Vancouver, BC: Vancity Theatre – Fri, June 16 – Thurs, June 22

Obit
Dir. Vanessa Gould | USA | 93 min.
-Kitchener-Waterloo, ON: Princess Cinemas – Thurs, June 22

Risk
Dir. Laura Poitras | Germany/USA | 92 min.
-Edmonton, AB: Metro Cinema – Wed, June 21 – Thurs, June 22
-Vancouver, BC: Rio Theatre – Sun, June 17

The Road Forward
Dir. Marie Clements | Canada | 101 min.
-Toronto, ON: Fort York – Thurs, June 22
—>Featuring director Marie Clements in attendance with musical performances by Cheri Maracle and Wayne Lavallee

The Stairs Feature | Review
Dir. Hugh Gibson | Canada | 95 min.
-Ottawa, ON: ByTowne Cinema – Sat, June 17
—>director Hugh Gibson will be present to participate in a post-screenings panel discussions on harm reduction in Ottawa.

Vancouver: No Fixed Address
Dir. Charles Wilkinson | Canada | 75 min.
-Vancouver, BC: Rio Theatre – Sun. June 17 – Mon, June 18
—>Filmmaker in attendance!
-Vancouver, BC: Vancity Theatre – Tues, June 20

Retro Screenings:

The Fog of War
Dir. Errol Morris | USA | 2003 | 107 min.
-Toronto, ON: Hot Docs Ted Rogers Cinema – Fri, June 16

Gates of Heaven
Dir. Errol Morris | USA | 1978 | 87 min.
-Toronto, ON: Hot Docs Ted Rogers Cinema – Sat, June 17

The Last Waltz
Dir. Martin Scorsese | USA | 1978 | 117 min.
-Toronto, ON: Hot Docs Ted Rogers Cinema – Fri, June 16

Monterey Pop
Dir. D.A. Pennebaker | USA | 1968 | 78 min.
-Toronto, ON: Hot Docs Ted Rogers Cinema – Sat, June 17
-Toronto, ON: Revue Cinema – Sat, June 17

My Winnipeg
Dir. Guy Maddin | Canada | 2007 | 80 min.
-Ottawa, ON: ByTowne Cinema – Sun, June 17 – Mon, 18

The Thin Blue Line
Dir. Errol Morris | USA | 1988 | 103 min.
-Toronto, ON: Hot Docs Ted Rogers Cinema – Sun, June 17

Vernon, Florida
Dir. Errol Morris | USA | 1981 | 55 min.
-Toronto, ON: Hot Docs Ted Rogers Cinema – Sun, June 17

Via: POV Magazine