In a change-up from recent years, the first Thursday has again become slim pickings. No afternoon slot at all. Very few evening choices if you want to fit in two films. I've never been sure of the deep politics behind this, but this year I suspect it has something to do with the fact that the opening gala, Fugitive Pieces, is from local heavyweight producer Robert Lantos and currently lacks a US distributor. The schedulers seem to be ensuring maximum attention on their centerpiece pick at the expense of other choices.

Ratings are provisional and on a scale of one to five.

Fados [Spain, Carlos Saura, ***1/2] Performances of Portuguese fado music, enlivened through dance and stagecraft, trace its evolution from the 19th century, into Brazil and Africa, and into the world of hip hop. A lovely, stirring music performance film finds its formal innovation in the way it presents information impressionistically, rather than through the interview and narration of a conventional musicological documentary.

Mona's Daughters [Canada, Rafaël Ouellet, ***1/2] Feuding sisters, one a singer-songwriter, the other a punk rocker, mourn their country singer mother. Lo-fi slice-of-life drama notable for winning lead performances and a deceptively quick cutting style, given its contemplative mood.

Tags: cinema hut, toronto international film festival

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