Daily Riffs From TIFF - Day 3

Greetings, my film fans and welcome to the third day of TIFF. Today, yours truly, only managed to see one film, however it was a powerful one. I had intended to rush PEDRO ALMODOVAR'S latest CRUZ missile, BROKEN GLANCES, but as they say, the spirit is willing but, the flesh is weak. As a result, my first flick was CITY OF LIFE AND DEATH, directed by LU CHUAN.

This movie, depicted the Rape of Nanking, which took place in December 1937, during the Japanese invasion of China, was a very timely selection after seeing the Ellsberg film. This was a truly, harrowing film and its being shot in black and white, lent it a documentary-like verisimilitude. The director's depiction of the battle scenes, were some of the most brutally realistic ones I have ever seen and can be compared with the best of KUBRICK, PECKINPAH and SPIELBERG. CHUAN'S camera captures the total horror of war and its utter devastation on people and property and he marshals his extras as compellingly as SERGEI EISENSTEIN. He has a masterful use of montage and puts the viewer, right into the picture. That said, this movie seemed to have been made as a ''propaganda'' piece, as the Japanese are depicted as bloodthirsty savages, without so much as one redeeming quality. The question then arises: can a propagandist film be art? One film that should be considered in this debate, is LENI RIEFENSTAHL'S TRIUMPH OF THE WILL, which is considered in some circles both.

The ''rape'' of the title refers to the raping of the of the Chinese women, by the Japanese soldiers. The movie also reveals a little known fact that the Chinese women offered themselves as voluntary prostitutes to slake the Japanese lust.

The movie only concentrates on a few characters on both sides, in order to personalize the story, for the viewer. It was ultimately too long, but it did provide for a sobering experience, proving, once again, the utter destruction and futility of war.

I had intended to rush my next film, THE ART OF THE STEAL, a documentary directed by DON ARGOTT, but alas, it was not to be.

Today, I have my brother's nuptials and some business-related activities, so I will only be able to squeeze in one film. Monday, I should be firmly ensconced in the ''cinematic'' saddle again and I hope to see three or more.

Goodbye for now and enjoy your weekend my movie mates.

T.T.F.N.