|
EVENT DATES AND INFORMATION:
The 2009 Beach Blanket Film Festival runs from Friday, July 17 through Sunday, July 19. Each night the festival presents a feature film, preceded by a short film program and live entertainment. Gates open at 8:00 pm with entertainment beginning at 9:00 pm. The festival is located on Okanagan Beach on the East side of The Lakeside Resort. Bring your beach blankets, lawn chairs (and a sweater). See you at the beach! Remember, if it looks like rain, the show must go on (sorry, no refunds or exchanges).
THE FILMS:
Friday, July 17
 The Stone of Destiny
Director: Charles Martin Smith
Writer: Ian Hamilton (book),
Charles Martin Smith (writer)
Released: 19 December 2008
Genre: Adventure | Comedy
Rating: PG for language and some Incidental smoking.
Runtime: 96 minutes
Cast: Charlie Cox,
Kate Mara,
Billy Boyd,
Robert Carlyle,
Ciaron Kelly
Site: www.alliancefilms.com/en/89/details/display/12076
Synopsis:
Ian Hamilton a lawyer and the protagonist, is very angry at what he sees as the political and economic subjugation of Scotland by England, and sad that Scots are somewhat ashamed to be Scottish so he decides to perform a symbolic act to put heart into the marginalised Scottish nationalist movement. He creates a daring scheme with a friend to liberate the Stone of Scone back from Westminister Abbey in London, where it had resided for centuries following English military victories over the Scots in the Middle Ages. They both research the Abbey and create their scheme, but once his friend realized that Ian was actually serious about liberating the stone, he backed out. So Ian decided he would liberate the stone by himself, but before he left, he went to see the head of the university (a prominent campaigner for Scottish Nationalism, played by Robert Carlyle) to ask for funds for basic necessities. He provided, and later, at a party, referred Ian to Kay Matheson, a girl with strong Nationalist ideas, would help him retrieve the stone.
After a variety of rather comic mischances, the group retrieve the stone from Westminster Abbey and return it to Scotland. After repairing damage, they return it to the authorities (having achieved their political aims) and are arrested and charged, but not prosecuted, on charges relating to the case. The final narration on screen points out that though the Stone is now in Scotland, it is only 'on loan' and will return to Westminster for the next Coronation of a British monarch.
Saturday, July 18
 ONLY
Director: Ingrid Veninger and S Simon Reynolds
Writer: Ingrid Veninger and Simon Reynolds
Released: 2008
Genre: Drama
Rating:
Runtime: 73 minutes
Cast: Jacob Switzer,
Hudgins Lyle,
Ingrid Veninger,
Simon Reynolds
Site: www.onlythemovie.com
Synopsis:
Twelve-year-old Daniel (Jacob Switzer) has a lot of time on his hands. His
parents are consumed with running their motel in a small Northern Ontario town.
And although Daniel is supposed to be helping out by changing the bedding in
the rooms, something always seems to distract or divert him. Most of the time,
he's to be found crashing in one of the rooms, breaking stuff or trying to avoid the
kids from town, who see Daniel as a means of getting booze for their parties. On
one surreptitious trip to the pool, he is startled by the sight of someone floating
face down. That someone is Vera (Elena Hudgins Lyle), a girl his own age whose
parents are going through a nasty separation. Like Daniel, Vera's basically left to
her own devices.
Unlike their elders, Daniel and Vera aren't obsessed by quotidian concerns and, as they wander the motel grounds and the surrounding area, they discuss what's truly important to them. Their conversations are both touchingly direct and
evasive; it takes them a long time to face what's really bothering them – their
rather remote relationships with their parents. It is indicative of the respect and
understanding Reynolds and Veninger have for their characters that they allow
them the space and time to work their way toward these issues and risk confiding
in one another.
Sunday, July 19
 The Necessities of Life
Director: Benoit Pilon
Writers: Bernard Émond
Released: 2009
Genre: Drama
Rating:
Run Time: 102 Minutes
Language: French | Inuktitut with English subtitles
Cast: Denis Bernard,
Antoine Bertrand,
Paul-André Brasseur,Éveline Gélinas,
Elisapie Isaac ,
Louise Marleau,
Vincent-Guillaume Otis,
Luc Proulx,
Guy Thauvette,
Natar Ungalaaq
Site: www.thenecessitiesoflife-themovie.com
Synopsis:
The film uses the 1950s-era tuberculosis epidemic in the far north as its starting point. The spread of the disease forced many Inuit to go to various Canadian cities for treatment. Tivii (Natar Ungalaaq) is taken to a sanatorium in Quebec City. Uprooted, far from his loved ones and faced with a completely alien world, he finds himself unable to communicate with anyone.
When his nurse, Carole (Évaline Gélinas) realizes that Tivii’s illness is not the most serious threat to his well-being, she arranges to have a young orphan, Kaki, transferred to the institution. The boy is also sick, but has experience of both worlds and speaks both languages. By sharing his culture with Kaki and opening it up to others, Tivii rediscovers his pride and energy. Ultimately he also rediscovers hope through a plan to adopt Kaki, bring him home and make him part of his family.
|
|
