viff- circus rosaire

another great fick- enjoyed this tons.

For nine generations the Rosaire family has entertained audiences all over the world with their legendary animal acts. From lions and tigers, to bears and chimpanzees, to a famous horse named “Tony the Wonder Horse”, the Rosaires are renowned for their unique and respectful way of training and performing with wild animals.


The Rosaire’s roots are deeply embedded in circus tradition. Their forefathers were court jesters, acrobats and animal trainers who traveled through the villages of Europe captivating audiences with their family side shows and wild animal menageries. However, the circus life of their ancestors is a very different one today. Major declines in audience attendance and increasing, yet legitimate concerns for animal welfare have greatly impacted the Rosaire’s traditional way of life.

Jobs are scarce in circus and living the life of gypsy performers is taking its toll. The Rosaires are acutely aware that their traditional way of making a living is slowly dying. However, they continue struggling to keep it alive because it's in their blood and it's all they know.

When tragedy befalls the family not once but twice, they decide to attempt what they've been unable to do for over 50 years - quit the road and create a family circus on their property in Sarasota, Florida.

an evening with janis ian

wow a smal venue, cap college, holds 386...janis and a guitar!

brilliant story teller and muscian,

great finish to a great week! i feel so much lighter now.

another viff

Driven by the need to help others where he can, Henry has been going out to Kiev for over 15 years to help improve upon the medieval brain surgery he witnessed there during his first visit in 1992. Today the patients see him as the great saviour from the West, desperate parents want him to save their child, and his Ukrainian colleague Igor Kurilets sees him as a guru and a benefactor. But for all the direct satisfaction he gets from going, Henry also sees grossly misdiagnosed patients, children who he can't save, and a lack of equipment and trained supporting staff. "It's like selling your soul to the devil, but what can you do? My son had a brain tumour as a baby and I was desperate for someone to help me. I simply can't walk away from that need in others".


great flic, likely to win an award. humanity that humbles. liked it alot.

another VIIF

throw down your heart - bela fleck

a documentary on the banjo! did you know the banjo has its roots in africa? i didnt know...so bela takes his banjo and travels the lands of africa exploring the original, traditional and now current strings instruments and collaborates with the local musicians. he reaches all cultures from tribe to city r&b

great world music and a well filmed event. altho, a little long.

you can learn about the journey at
throwdownyourheart.com

whos afraid of kathy acker> viff flic

She was an American experimental novelist, prose stylist, playwright, essayist, postmodernist and sex-positive feminist writer. One of the leading experimental writers of her generation. She moved the literary world off its self righteous axis! She basically committed suicide by choosing not to accept traditional medicine ideas to fight breast cancer. Great flic, worth a watch!

* i am without my movie going viff pal this year- seems life has gotten in the way.. she would like this gritty flic*

viff opening gala

last night was the opening gala for viff. the party included drinks, food and entertainment...all in the space and time of the aquarium!

it is such an awesome place- the jelly fish tanks are my fav although hanging out and watching the baby beluga play was pretty kool.

viff- blindness

a disturbing but great flic. not for the faint of heart

watch for the "cleansing" scene...powerful....and hurtful.

more this weekend. two tonight, four each sat and sun...whoppiee!

six feet under

one of the best series out of HBO can now be bought at *gasp* dare i say, walmart!
$20 bucks per season. a deal and worth the watch.

daylight robbery- docu on the bush connection

wow, just blown away from the documentary...worth a watch. especially if you are not a supporter of bush.

DAYLIGHT ROBBERY

Did the toppling of the statue of Saddam Hussein in the centre of Baghdad on April 9th 2003 signal the start of the biggest heist in history?

Within months of the invasion of Iraq twelve billion dollars had been flown in; shrink wrapped bundles on pallets aboard US airforce planes, flown to a secret vault in Saddam's old palace in the Green Zone. The money was meant to re-build the war-torn country. But what happened to it?
Panorama goes on the trail of the money from California and Texas to Kurdistan and London to find out who got rich and by how much. An estimated $23 billion has gone missing in corruption, fraud and mismanagement and Iraq is still without sufficient electricity, clean water, schools and hospitals. But members of the rich list - from giant US corporations like Halliburton and Parsons to small time adventurers like Custer Battles - are rolling in money. It is not just foreigners who have become war profiteers - some prominent Iraqis took advantage of their public position to cream off billions leaving their own army with defective equipment, hampering the fight against the insurgents.

If the wild west of Iraq is full of cowboys there are some sheriffs as well. US Congressman Henry Waxman has given company whistleblowers a public platform despite government efforts to stop him. He has become the scourge of the Bush Administration over fraud and waste in Iraq. Inspector General Stuart W Boowen, has been to Iraq nineteen times to expose the shoddy workmanship, the failed projects and bribery that have plagued this broken nation. And Iraqi judge, Radhi Hamza al-Radhi, fled his country because of the death threats but is determined to recover some of the money and put the guilty behind bars.

Daylight Robbery talks to these people and more to find out just where all the money has gone.

Daylight Robbery was produced by Darren Kemp for the BBC.
need to know more?
cbc.ca/documentaries/passionateeyemonday/

Vancouver International Film Festival

it is that time again. saw some great flics last year..i get free passes through work.this weekend will be another marathon movie schedule!

check out the flics at:



viff.org/home.