SIFF 2010 - Here's what I'm excited about so far...

I did a posting a few days ago of what I've seen, and what I'm looking to see.  Thought I'd do a narrowed update of the things I recommend from personal experience.  And an update list of the growing number of things I want to catch based on both general reading and the programmer's recommendations:

Things I've seen and recommend:

• Castaway on the Moon - Strongly recommend.  A Korean man is having a very bad day/life. Jumps off a bridge intending to end it all. Instead ends up stranded on a small island that's on the Han river. As he struggles to remake his life through self sufficiency he's observed by a young woman who's a shut in, living with her parents but not setting foot outside for three years. Together they overcome their fears together while only loosely connected across a distance (or at least a body of water). The view from a distance theme reminded me of Gigante (another a must see film) but it's a completely different film. Well shot, sweet, interesting and quirky - but in a good way.
• American: The Bill Hicks Story - When I saw this documentary about Bill Hicks at SXSW I didn't really know much about the comedian.  Afterwards I felt I'd learned something about his life - but more importantly got to learn about his take on world.  Plus he was very funny.
• Cherry - Cherry seems to have been created in part to prove that one can make a film about a guy in college determined to shed his virginity without the need to include a scene with the same guy fucking a pie (metaphorically speaking of course).  By that measure they've definitely succeeded.  Overall I found the film relatively enjoyable, but at the same time felt something pulling it all together was missing.  Not bad, not great.  But a must see if you're trying to catch all the reasonable coming of age/teen comedy materials.
• Leaves of Grass - Edward Norton twin movie.  Fun, light, and he's probably going to attend.  So just do it.
• The Freebie - I highly recommend adding The Freebie to your list of to-do's at SIFF. Not so much for any revelation within the story but for the on screen chemistry of the main couple and the overall production.  At the film's start we're introduced to a couple in their (I'm guessing) later twenties who've been married a few years. They're downright adorable right down to their crossword puzzle races in bed. Having been together a bit they've noticed that hanging out has begun to trump sex.  After a night hanging out with their friends their pillow talk turns to the idea of each of them being with another person for one night (aka the "freebie" of the title). From this point on the film's arc is fairly predictable - at least to anyone who has seen a movie on the problem of separating rationale planning (this sounds like a good idea and we can handle it) to the emotional response (which just is).  It also seems equally predictable to everyone in the film short of the couple involved.  
• The Reverse - Truly a dark/black comedy. I didn't know that going in, which introduced a strange queasiness as I laughed at horrible events and began to question my moral compass (at least more than usual). Set in post WW-II Poland a woman, her mother and her grandmother do what they need to survive under tough but arbitrary Communist rule. I didn't completely love it, but I was interested in the characters AND laughed. The music over the end is just a brilliant touch. Be warned, if you cannot picture any circumstance in which a bathtub filled with sulfuric acid (or equally caustic agent) can be a source of humor, stay away
• The Topp Twins: Untouchable Girls  - Very near the start of this documentary a man relates an experience at a party at a comedy festival. Learning from he hailed from New Zealand the producer asked him to give him a sense as to the state of comedy was there, for example who's the biggest act there? When he responded it was the Topp Twins, yodeling lesbian twins, the fellow coughed and suddenly recognized someone else he needed to talk with. That anecdote is a perfect start to this film which gives outsiders a quick but effective crash course in the twin's career. The movie is both interesting AND entertaining.  See it.  It sounds weird but you'll like it - trust me...
• The French Kissers - Generally cute, unusually honest coming of age story about two teens looking to tongue wrestle with their female classmates.  If you're a fan of coming of age and don't mind a bit raunchy humor mixed in it's worth adding to your list.  Can't get the damn closing credit track by Vaselines out of my head.
• Farsan - Aziz, living in Sweden, though presumably from his language skills not a native of the country he has an adult son who's assimilated and married to a Swedish woman.  Aziz works in a bicycle shop as a jack of all trades. Friendly with his co-worker, boss and practically everyone he meets Aziz seems generally content. He has strong beliefs on what woman want, his role in the cycle of life and the importance of family.  His main excitement and pleasure in life is the impending birth of a grandchild.  Of course there's a little more to the story than is being told by practically everyone we meet. This ranges from his son and wife (about their pregnancy), his boss (about his issues at home), and Aziz himself (especially about his confidence with the ladies).  Leading to some truly laugh out loud moments, yet sweet and tearful ones as well. 

Things I haven't seen on my growing list of things I'll be seeking out include the following (not in any particular order)

• Bass Ackwards - Sundance selection with a local connection I believe.  Yep, I know local connection can be risky - but in this case I'm willing to chance it.
• Disco and Atomic War - heard amazing things about this from Telluride.  The one film I'd sent over to SIFF programmer's asking them to keep an eye out for after I came back from there.
• Hipsters - Russian musical fun - at least from what I'd heard.
• Howl - Sundance selection - mainly curious
• I Kissed a Vampire- I'll admit, just like the name.  But now that I read the description from IMDB ("A musical look at the torment of falling in love when you're in the middle of becoming a vampire") I'm totally sold.
• Marewencol - good buzz from SXSW.
• Micmacs - good buzz from SXSW - plus it's the director of Amelie.
• My Year without Sex - Can't recall all the things I'd heard (believe it was a little mixed), but missed at VIFF and would like to catch it.
• Reykjavik-Rotterdam - believe I'd hard good buzz from folks I trust in Palm Springs.
• Robogeisha - just the name.  Gotta give me this one too, sorry.
• Skateland - Was curious to see at SXSW but couldn't get to it.
• Tucker & Dale vs. Evil - From the Fantastic Fest sub-series within SXSW.  Sounded interesting.  Plus, they're apparently competing against ALL OF EVIL - so you gotta love their odds...
• Winter's Bone - heard great things from folks who went to Sundance and a really interesting random guy I spoke to on line at SXSW. :-)
• Farewell - from director of Joyeux Noel
• Cell 211
• The Army of Crime
• Waiting for "Superman"
• The Wild Hunt - Dark side of LARP'ing?  I'm so there.
• Perrier's Bounty
• Holy Rollers - Missed this last week at press screenings due to them changing up the order of films at the last minute - but I'll be back to try again, and how couldn't I want to try a story about Hassidic Ecstasy dealers.
• 8: The Mormon Proposition

And of course this list will continue to grow.  Seen something you liked?  Something caught your eye in the program?  Would love your suggestions in the comments.