VIFF 2009 suggestions?

[Melek Ortabasi]

Hi all,

I am currently deciding which films to see at the Vancouver Int'l Film Festival, which is taking place next month.

I have extremely limited time and childcare issues to boot, so I don't think I can see more than 3 films (at the most).

The list of Japanese films being shown can be found here:
http://www.viff.org/tixSYS/2009/filmguide/Country/JJ

The only one I've decided on is the new Koreeda film, _Air Doll_. It is described as "surprising," so I don't know what to think of that, but being a fan of his other films I've put it on my list.

Those of you in the know: can you recommend which are worth seeing, and which are not? In your opinion anyway? Any standouts? You can reply to me off-list, or if you think your reply will be of interest to others, please feel free to reply to the whole list.

The ones I'm particularly curious about are _Kamui_ (is it really the best ninja movie ever, or is this just fanspeak??) and the anime coproduction, _McDull..._. But I'm open to all other suggestions.

Best regards,
Melek

-- 
Melek Ortabasi, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor
World Literature Program
Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences
Simon Fraser University
Unit 250-13450
102 Ave., Surrey, BC
V3T0A3 CANADA
Phone: 778-782-8660

"Education is what survives when what has been learned is forgotten." -- B. F. Skinner, "Education in 1984," _New Scientist_ (1969)