We’re only halfway through the Vancouver International Film Festival and there’s still great music movies to be seen. Hopefully you already caught Nas: Time is Illmatic – a documentary exploration of the hip-hop album’s legacy 20 years later. (If not, there’s still a chance to see it at the Vogue Oct. 16).
And there’s more:
N: The Madness of Reason; the late Raymond Borremans was a French intellectual and musician, fascinated by Africa and dedicated to its people. His great project, unfinished at the time of his death in 1988, was an African encyclopedia, but he got only as far as the letter N. This documentary speaks for him in memoriam. Run completed Oct. 9.
Dominguinhos; a celebration of music and the story of a fascinating life, this documentary introduces viewers to Brazilian musician Dominguinhos (1941-2013): His life, his art, and the culture that sustained him. The famed accordion player is hardly known in these parts but his music is ripe for crossover discovery. Run completed Oct. 9.
Bedbugs: A Musical Love Story; tormented by bedbugs, an ostracized woman learns an unexpected lesson about acceptance. Oct. 10, Vancity Theatre.
God Help the Girl; a jubilant indie musical from Belle & Sebastian lynchpin Stuart Murdoch about three young Glaswegians starting a band. Oct. 11; SFU Woodwards.
In Search of Chopin; VIFF favourite Phil Grabsky’s latest in his beautiful-sounding series on composers (In Search of Mozart, In Search of Beethoven) takes a look at one of the all-time greats. Oct. 12, SFU Woodwards.
Jalanan; a first-time Canadian filmmaker has made the most successful documentary in Indonesian history. Daniel Ziv’s Jalanan (“Streetside”) has shone a light on urban poverty, garnered political attention, and made stars of its subjects: Three street musicians in Jakarta. Oct. 12, SFU Woodwards
