Coming out is a near-universal queer experience. The coming-out story recurs again and again in queer cinema: it’s our version of the coming-of-age tale. But where the traditional narrative and reality diverge is at the assumption that coming out is something that only happens once in a lifetime. In the movies, the quiet boy starts […] More »

[Editor’s note: From time to time we feature guest bloggers on a variety of topics. To enquire about contributing, email editor at this magazine dot ca.] BY MITU SENGUPTA Danny Boyle’s Slumdog Millionaire is one of the most celebrated films in recent times. The cinematically spectacular film tells the rags-to-rajah story of a young, love-struck […] More »

The ninth edition of the Planet in Focus International Environmental Film & Video Festival wrapped this Sunday, having screened over 100 of the world’s best films on a wide range of environmental themes and subjects by Canadian and international filmmakers. Awards were handed out prior to the final screening and Norman Lofts was presented with […] More »

Sam Bozzo’s documentary is based on the book “Blue Gold: The Fight to Stop the Corporate Theft of the World’s Water” by Maude Barlow and Tony Clarke. Both address the very prevalent and serious issue of global water privatization and deterioration. The film confronts a lot of concerns that most people may not even be […] More »

Plastic is everywhere. It sounds like hyperbole but take a look around you right now and you’ll quickly realize how true that statement is. Then think of the items you’ve bought in the last month and all the plastic packaging you discarded. Now think about this: there is no way to organically breakdown plastic. It’s […] More »

[Editor’s Note: Sarah Gopaul will be reviewing a selection of films from the Planet in Focus film festival over the next few days. She is a regular contributor to popjournalism.ca] This documentary addresses a very sensitive subject in Canada — should unpasteurized raw milk be regulated and made available to consumers? Both arguments are very […] More »

Film still from Food, Inc., premiering at the Toronto International Film Festival The Toronto International Film Festival revs up today, the annual ten-day celluloid extravaganza/endurance test. Much of the press coverage will be fast-breaking nonsense about Hollywood celebu-bots and in-depth analysis of their restaurant choices. But there are actually some movies about the real world […] More »

Yes, it really is June already. So go ahead, check out the June Film Club Newsletter. If you’re in the Toronto area, mark this coming Wednesday on your calendar: there’s going to be a special benefit screening of Mystic Ball to support Burmese cyclone victims at 7pm at The Bloor Cinema. It’s just $10, and […] More »

On December 5, 2002, Dilawar, a young Afghan taxi driver, was arrested, handed over to US troops and taken to Bagram Air Force Base for interrogation. 5 days later he was dead. In his five days in that dungeon, he was hooded, chained to the ceiling of his cell, and beaten repeatedly. His legs were […] More »

Joe Strummer: The Future is Unwritten, a recently-released film about the Clash front man who died in 2002, opens with a young and fierce looking Strummer in the recording studio. Headphones on, he starts spitting out the lyrics to White Riot: “An’ everybody’s doing / just what they’re told to / an’ nobody wants / […] More »

Oscar nominations are out! In keeping with the spirit of the event, I would like to personally thank the Academy for its inclusion of the powerful and timely Persepolis, which has been nominated in the Best Animated Feature category. The hand-drawn cartoon, directed by Marjane Satrapi and Vincent Paronnaud, is adapted from Satrapi’s graphic novel […] More »