Victoria Film Festival 2021 review: Agnes Joy

The COVID-19 pandemic has changed a lot, but what Icelandic film director Silja Hauksdóttir proves with Agnes Joy is that no pandemic will ever change the motherly love that all mothers have for their kids and how the subject of growing up brings up emotions for any parent. Agnes Joy is a fabulous movie that […]

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Victoria Film Festival 2021 review: The Secret Garden

When I saw that I had a chance to review The Secret Garden, screening at this year’s Victoria Film Festival, I was full of anticipation, thinking that with such a beloved classic, it was likely that the original storyline and atmosphere would be respected, and since Colin Firth would be bringing his lovely English ways […]

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Victoria Film Festival 2021 review: Ronnie’s

Right from Ronnie’s opening credits, director Oliver Murray couples amazing footage with a who’s-who cast list, while a sweat-soaked Oscar Peterson plays a mindblowing version of his 1966 standard “Blues Etude.” Ronnie’s is comprised of a wonderfully curated collage of stills, sound clips, and archival footage that subtly guides us through a number of narrative […]

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Victoria Film Festival 2021 review: Shiva Baby

Directed by Emma Seligman, Shiva Baby manages to take an intentionally slow-moving plot and cram so it full of cringe-worthy, anxiety-inducing moments that I had to keep watching to see how it all played out. Shiva Baby revolves around its protagonist, Danielle (Rachel Sennott), a student paying for college through her relationship with an older […]

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New Music Revue: The Pirouettes keep us grooving, reflecting with new album

The Pirouettes Equilibre (Kidderminster Records) 4.5/5 Equilibre, the third full-length from French electronic-pop duo The Pirouettes, is an upbeat, calming, and invigorating double album—two records that mix the two members’ points of view—that that had me groovin’. Leading off this album is “Allo,” a slow number perfect for what I was doing the first time […]

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Victoria Film Festival 2021 review: iHuman

Have you ever asked yourself what will happen if a robot controlled every aspect of your everyday life? Or if one day, instead of being policed by actual humans, you might have a robot pull you over? Norwegian director Tonje Hessen Schei answers these futuristic questions with their highly informative documentary iHuman, screening at this […]

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Victoria Film Festival 2021 review: Harry Chapin: When in Doubt, Do Something

Harry Chapin was one of the most loved and respected musicians of the 1970s. His name was listed on par with Bob Dylan, Neil Young, and Cat Stevens when talking about the best songwriters of his day. But for reasons unknown, Chapin’s name has faded from popular memory; most Camosun students today probably don’t even […]

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New City of Victoria youth poet laureate James Summer aims to give back

James Summer has been selected as the City of Victoria’s youth poet laureate for 2021. Through the position—which is open to poets between the ages of 14 and 24—Summer will engage with youth through poetry. As part of the position, Summer, who was chosen for the position by a committee made up of people from […]

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Victoria Film Fest movie Coral Ghosts explores climate change through coral reefs, family

Considering the current state of our economy and society, grocery stores, hospitals, and law enforcement are completely essential. There is no doubt about that. However, with its line-up of powerful films that bravely take on important themes, this year’s Victoria Film Festival (VFF) successfully establishes just how essential movies are to us in 2021. One […]

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New Music Revue: Chris Garneau’s new album a stripped-down success

Chris Garneau The Kind (The Orchard) 4/5 NYC-based singer-songwriter Chris Garneau’s fifth album The Kind is pretty close to perfect for a cold pandemic day huddled away in your apartment. This album addresses what we try to hide: smothering relentless shame, the strength we can find in darkness, and how we manage to get by. […]

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