Zombies, Verhoeven, and more highlights from TIFF at Vancouver International Film Festival

September 27, 2016

3 min read

Person holding a black cat close to their face, looking at the cat with a neutral expression indoors.

Among the many films coming to this year’s Vancouver International Film Festival (Sept 29-Oct 14) are a number that recently won accolades at the Toronto International Film Festival. Among the highlights are a claustrophobic domestic drama, an unconventional rape-revenge movie from the director of Showgirls, and Shia LaBeouf.

After Love – This Belgian movie takes place inside a household where a couple has lost that loving feeling. From a Variety review: “… audiences will be clawing to get out as (director Joachim) Lafosse’s suffocating, play-like drama unfolds — the discomfort mounting like so much poison gas as Lafosse captures the toxic hostility of ex-lovers forced to live together long after both parties have decided to separate.” Sounds like a typical Monday to us.

Four people holding hands and running indoors in a living room with shelves and framed pictures on the wall.

American Honey – According to a Variety review, this fourth feature from British-born director Andrea Arnold is “Part dreamy millennial picaresque, part distorted tapestry of Americana and part exquisitely illustrated iTunes musical… [it] daringly commits only to the loosest of narratives across its luxurious 162-minute running time. Yet it’s constantly, engrossingly active, spinning and sparking and exploding in cycles like a Fourth of July Catherine wheel…” American actor Shia LaBeouf (Transformers) stars alongside a cast of unknowns.

Person with dreadlocks dancing outdoors under a blue sky with clouds, wearing a purple bra and a yellow garment.

Elle – Paul Verhoeven is best known for audience-satisfying yarns like Basic Instinct, Starship Troopers and Showgirls. More recently, the Dutch filmmaker has seemed to retreat to a smaller, more intimate (and European) style of filmmaking. Elle follows Tricked (2012) and Black Book (2006), and stars Isabelle Huppert. Variety calls it a “remarkable rape-revenge drama, a possible career high” for the director.

Gimme Danger – American filmmaker Jim Jarmusch’s long-awaited documentary of what many consider one of the greatest of American rock bands, the Stooges. Includes archival footage and contemporary interviews, including with lead singer Iggy Pop.

Four people sitting on a patterned rug in a music studio with guitars and microphones around them.

The Girl With All the Gifts – You wouldn’t know if from the title, but this is a zombie movie – one that the Guardian calls “provocative and imaginative” and “fiercely intelligent.” It’s based on a 2014 novel of the same name, directed by Scottish director Colm McCarthy (British TV series Sherlock, Peaky Blinders) and stars British actress Gemma Arterton.