MIFF 2019 - Day 16

Sea of Shadows

Another entry in the "we are screwed" genre of documentaries. This time focusing on the Vaquita whale in Mexico, it looks at how illegal fishing of the also endangered Totoaba fish, dubbed the cocaine of the sea, has reduced the Vaquita to an estimated 15 left in existence. But the Totoaba is worth a lot of money on the black market in China, so Mexican cartels, corrupt police and government all continue to profit from an ecological disaster. It's tense, capturing gunfights, murder, threats and more. And also the people trying to keep legally fishing the waters that have been closed off to them because of the crime. It's complex and angry making. A very well done and engaging doco.

Leftover Women

Watch this and never complain about Tinder again. Seeing the grief women in China have to go through for a date is crazy. Meddling parents, government propaganda and more, it's nuts. Following three women in their late 20s and early 30s, they're already considered old and stigmatised by propaganda as not doing their bit for the country by already being married. It puts you right in the middle of it all, and leaves you suffocated by the situation. Depressingly good film making.

I Lost My Body

Gah, waste of time. It couldn't be more French, in that pejorative way you mock French cinema. It's rubbish.

You Don't Nomi

I've never bothered to watch Showgirls, but this doco critically re-examining it has me second guessing myself. The doco itself is amazing, contrasting different ways to read the film, the history of the production and the fallout on the cast and film makers. Best of all, it uses almost entirely clips from Verhoeven's films to illustrate its points. Stylishly executed and really thought provoking.

Violence Voyager

Going to the top of the what the hell did I just watch list, this was pretty damn awesome. An animated film, sort of. More a puppet show done with incredibly painted cardboard cut outs, it looks like one of those old children's books, like ladybird or the little golden books. But it's a story of children getting kidnapped, mutated and fed to a monster created by a mad scientist. Grotesque imagery done in a kids book style. Add in things like ninja turtles references and it adds up to one of the most unique experiences I've had at the festival. So much fun.