Animated film Iron Boy (Le Corset), directed by Louis Clichy, is about strength in weakness. Eleven year old Christophe can’t seem to keep straight. When falling becomes an issue, he is fitted with a body brace that he has to wears 24/7. That means he can’t help much on the farm. He can’t even perform as an alter boy at church. But when he wanders up to the organ loft, the organist has him turn pages, and eventually teaches him to play.
A distant father, resentful brother, and the struggle to keep the farm all add to Christophe’s problems. But there is also the bloom of first love. The attractive hand-drawn animation has a very familiar look to it. Christophe’s struggles, as well has his family’s, will depend on finding strength—not to overcome the weaknesses, but rather strength that grows out of the weaknesses.
Nina Roza, directed by Geneviève Dulude-De Celles, is Canada’s Oscar® submission for Best International Feature. Mihail, an art curator, emigrated from Bulgaria decades ago with his daughter Roza. He is commissioned by a collector to travel back to his homeland to authenticate the artwork of a supposed eight year old child prodigy. He is skeptical, but he also sees that this could be an opportunity for the girl to escape the seemingly dead-end community she is in. But would that be for the best? He must consider the life he created for his own daughter—and now grandson, and how that fits with the Bulgaria he left.
A family struggling with dementia is at the center of Queen at Sea, directed by Lance Hammer. When Amanda (Juliette Binoche) comes to check up on her mother Leslie (Anna Calder-Marshall), she discovers her stepfather Martin (Tom Courtenay) having sex with her. Appalled that he would do that when the doctors have said she is incapable of consent, Amanda calls the police which creates an escalating crisis. Martin is adamant that he is the one who has to care for her. We see that this may well be true, even though it is also too much for him.
The tensions gives way to trying to find ways for Leslie to be cared for, but each option has its own problems. The real power of this film in in the roles of Martin and Leslie. Courtenay and Calder-Marshall deliver outstanding performances that capture the life of two people who have been together and have loved, but in a very changing relationship that they cannot truly understand. Queen at Sea opens in theaters in November.
