From world premieres to anniversary restorations and live music, the Toronto International Film Festival has so much to offer. There are so many great films to see, with origins from around the world. With opening weekend past, and films continuing to play their repeat screenings this week and into next weekend, here are 5 films we have seen (so far), to help you choose your next big picture watch.

On Swift Horses

Directed by Daniel Minahan, the film is adapted from the novel of the same name, and features a star studded cast of Jacob Elordi (Julius), Daisy Edgar-Jones (Muriel), Will Poulter, Sasha Calle, and Diego Calva. A period piece set in the 1950’s, following Muriel and Julius, often in different places but connected so deeply in their own explorations of desire, and risks they take as they not only explore this desire but in gambling too. The concept and performances are great, but this is never enough to combat the very slow pace this film finds. About halfway through, I found myself checking by watch, with still an hour to go and never really picking up again. I enjoyed its exploration of the risks we take in knowing ourselves in a heteronormative world, but it just never really went any further than that to keep me enthralled until the end.

The End

Speaking of the end, the latest from Joshua Oppenheimer, The End, was one of my most anticipated of the festival. With mixed reactions out of Telluride, I can happily say that I really enjoyed this film. I like to go into movies knowing as little as possible, so imagine my surprise when everyone started singing and I found out this was a musical. The film begins with what could be a simple question in a horror film; what if you thought you were the last family left on Earth, but then another person arrived. The family, played by Tilda Swinton, Michael Shannon, and George MacKay, rich from Shannon’s destructive jobs before the end of the world, soon welcome an unexpected guest to their underground bunker, as the film prods at questions about wealth, capitalism, climate change, denial, and apathy. This one just really worked for me, I love musicals, and it is absolutely gorgeous to watch. Slightly long in the middle, but I was still entertained through out.

Anytime Anywhere

From Italy comes Anytime Anywhere, a surprisingly tense film about a stolen bicycle. The film follows Issa, an immigrant from Senegal living in northern Italy, who is struggling to find a job. With a new bicycle, he is able to work in food delivery, but when this bike is stolen, he goes on a journey to to whatever it takes to get it back. This film was a devastating glimpse into the life of an immigrant, showcasing the importance of a bike, something that often seems to small in my everyday life, but could mean to the world to someone like Issa. I found the film felt a bit slow at the beginning, as they had to establish Issa’s life in Italy. But since this aspect took longer than usual, the second and third act felt a bit rushed for my liking. I wish Issa’s story spent a bit more time with each person he encountered on the way, like the girl from the hostel, making this feel more like a true, high stakes odyssey through Italy rather than a day in his life. The final moments of the film were shocking, and I loved the direction this chose to go in, showing the very real consequences that Issa’s experience can have not only on him, but to those in the communities which refuse to support immigrants looking for help.

You Are Not Alone

From Italy we cone to Quebec, Canada, with You Are Not Alone. This french love story science fiction (yes, you read that right), is anything but ordinary, following an alien disguised as an old man, who hunts on lonely men. His next victim is Léo, who is alone and the perfect target. Until he meets Rita. As his relationship progresses, he must deal with the stalking alien, while still trying to move out of his own loneliness and despair and into something new. I loved the metaphor this film made, about the alien and his relationship to the fire growing inside Léo, seemingly Léo’s only defence to the alien. It was slightly slow in the middle, but with the unique look at love and making the choice to begin the journey into hope and something new, it mostly works. The ambition in the metaphors and the trust it has in its audience is what really makes this one stand out.

K-Pops

Anderson .Paak is best known for his work in music. His latest work brings him and his real life son to the big screen, starring the two in K-Pops. The film follows .Paak’s BJ, as he travels to South Korea to attempt another start in the music industry, this time in K-Pop music. What he does not expect to find is a son, from a relationship 12 years prior, in an experience on a television competition show where they both help each other to find who they truly are. The film is at its best when exploring the real-life relationship between .Paak and his son Soul Rasheed. But this really is Anderson .Paak’s vanity project, where any exploration of Korea’s culture or K-Pop seem quite glossed over. There could have been a more in depth look at the bridging of two cultures, but this is unfortunately overshadowed by the overstuffed plot and .Paak’s own prioritization of BJ’s personal journey over anything else. Maybe more entertaining for K-Pop fans, as there were many cheers from the audience, but as someone with little knowledge of the topic, it didn’t do much for me.

These films were screened at the 2024 Toronto International Film Festival. Images courtesy of TIFF.