My first film this year was MOUTHPIECE, the story of a woman dealing with her feelings after her mother's death, as she prepares for the funeral and the eulogy she will deliver. I first heard about this film when I saw this TV clip of my daughter being interviewed about it:
https://globalnews.ca/video/4427766/2b-theatre-company-presents-mouthpiece
so I got tickets to see it with my mom (which turned out to be a great idea). The film is based on the play of the same name, which was created and performed by the two actresses in the film, Amy Nostbakken (as Tall Cassandra) and Norah Sadava (Short Cassandra). The unusual device of having two actresses portray the same character was strange and at first awkward, but it worked as a way to provide insight into the different sides of Cassandra and her inner turmoil and conflict over both how she deals with the world, and how she feels about her mother. At times the two actresses' movements and speech are synchronized, and at other times they behave independently or even at odds with each other. It was an effective way to tell the story and let us get to know both Cassandra and her mother.
I liked how the film was obviously set in Toronto, but without using any of the typical touristy shots such as the CN tower or City Hall. the film received a standing ovation when it ended.
I liked how the film was obviously set in Toronto, but without using any of the typical touristy shots such as the CN tower or City Hall. the film received a standing ovation when it ended.
In the Q & A session after the film we heard from Director Patricia Rozema (I've Heard The Mermaids Singing) and the two lead actresses. They talked about how different the film is from the play (which is staged simply and features only the two actresses, who voice all the other characeters themselves), how different acting is for stage vs screen (Rozema would tell them to "act like real people!"), and how different it is to perform the play again after having made the film (they now have the other actors' performances of the other characters in their heads as they voice those in the play). Rozema said she realized after making the film that she had made it for her mother, and when the actresses were asked if their mothers had seen the film, they pointed them out in the audience (it was the World Premiere of the film). I was glad I had seen it with my mom, shown below with a 9-day old baby we met while waiting in line!
Marilyn (95) and Denver (9 days old).
Perhaps the oldest and youngest attendees at TIFF this year?
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