By Anne Brodie The Toronto Japanese Film Festival, one of our premiere film fests, drawing international films, fans and creators to town begins its 12th annual edition at Kobayashi Hall at the Japanese Canadian Cultural Centre, June 8 to 22. The Centre offers top current and premiering films, visiting filmmakers, musical performances, art exhibitions, and of course, Japanese food. A… View Post
By Anne Brodie Writer-director Marie Clements’ devastating Bones of Crows follows a Cree woman from childhood through her life and one hundred years of violent, hateful abuse of indigenous people in Canada. Set against historic government decisions that resulted in discrimination as policy in Canadian law, its dynamic, deeply felt human stories are the driving wheel. Our shameful past comes… View Post
Menopause remains a health concern that numerous women in my medical practice feel uneasy discussing. This health issue continues to be surrounded by silence, stigmatization, and, unfortunately, normalization. The inherited belief that women are destined to endure the transitional phase or “change of life” is a myth that needs debunking. Understand Your Symptoms, Explore Your Options Presently, ongoing research and… View Post
By Anne Brodie Comic Sebastian Maniscalco handles what could have been underwhelming material well in this standard family dysfunction comedy About My Father pretty well. He doesn’t go broad or for the caricature as Sebastian, a man who has moved up the social ladder through his fiancée Ellie (Leslie Bibb). He’s believable and authentic. Sebastian comes from humble working-class Italian… View Post
By Anne Brodie Dir. Felix Van Groeningen’s adaptation of Paolo Cognetti’s novel The Eight Mountains will rip your heart out. Told simply, with the Italian Alps a looming, breathtaking presence, follows a friendship between two men over forty years. Pietro lives in a Turin apartment block and Bruno is a “mountain man” who herds sheep and makes cheese instead of… View Post
Tahirah Sharif is Lizzie a promising young police officer whose strange behaviour after a horrific accident raises questions about her. In Season 2 of The Tower, Lizzie returns to clear herself and gets right back in on the action with new cases that challenge her again and again. Very interesting character! She tells What She Said’ Anne Brodie about the… View Post