The Pervert's Guide to Cinema

TIFF 2006 started Thursday night at 5:00 with the screening of The Pervert's Guide to Cinema. Director Sophie Fiennes was in the house at the ROM and during the Q@A afterward she shared her stories working on the two-and-a-half hour film with philosopher and psychoanalyst Slavoj Zizek. Slavoj was a funny and engaging throughout and talked to us from the Bates Motel in California, from a motorboat in Bodega Bay (of The Birds fame) and from fateful room 773 from Coppola's The Conversation with Gene Hackman, among other locations. Some might argue with his insights but he referenced an amazing and eclectic array of movies, everything from science fiction (The Matrix, Alien Resurrection, Solaris - not the one with George Clooney) to David Lynch, Hitchcock and Disney. The film was packaged in 3 parts for broadcast on Channel 4 in the UK which would be the most comfortable way to enjoy it (rather than the seats at the ROM) but it was a great kickoff for what is shaping up to be a fun FilmFest. Look for the the super ego, the ego and the id at a film near you. MMMM on my 5-M rating scale.

Couldn't get into the after party at the beautifully redesigned Gardiner Museum of Ceramic Art so we headed to Michelle's Brasserie in Yorkville for delicious Tuna Nicoise.