Jason Collett takes the trick
The musician and Euchre enthusiast chats with The Strand about the philosophies behind his new album
by Annie Bender, Film & Music Editor
Already well-established as a mainstay on the Toronto scene both from previous solo work and from his membership in the esteemed Broken Social Scene collective, Jason Collett has little left to prove when it comes to songwriting. But then, he's never been out to prove himself. Not one to overthink the artistic process, Collett places high value on collaboration and praises the work of his peers as enthusiastically as he discusses his own.
Post the First CommentCruelty and desperation in Un prophète
Director Jacques Audiard delves into the criminal culture of Arabic France
by Maddy Wall, Staff Writer
The latest film from director Jacques Audiard, Un prophète, set out to explore the world of the Arabs in France and ended up creating a complex world of crime, violence and religious uncertainty. The film, which won the Grand Prize of the Jury at Cannes and is nominated as best foreign film in this year's Oscars, is now being hailed as part of a renaissance of French cinema.
by Hilary Lynd, Staff Writer
We've all had those moments where we discover a song or band that makes a heavy impact on our lives. For some reason, the moment becomes as treasured as the music itself. When I stumbled across Woodpigeon on a rainy night in early February of 2009, this was the case.
Last Train Home: Globalization in China's backyard
Director Lixin Fan explores the real implications of migrant work for rural families in China
by Jenn Kucharczyk, Staff Writer
The Toronto Human Rights Watch Film Festival opened on Feb. 24 at the Isabel Bader Theatre with Montreal-based director Lixin Fan's debut feature film, Last Train Home. Released in 2009, the film has already been screened at a number of festivals to critical acclaim, and won Best Feature Documentary at the International Documentary Film Festival in Amsterdam last year. Just hours before the film's Toronto debut, Fan sat down with The Strand to discuss the social issues and artistic motivation behind his latest project.
by Natascha Malta, Staff Writer
Toronto has plenty of successful indie bands who have managed to make it big. But for every Broken Social Scene, there are dozens of smaller bands trying to make a name for themselves. Being a little band in the big city can be hard. It can take a lot of effort and unpaid shows to get people to pay attention to your band in the seemingly endless parade of other groups out there.
by JingJing Liang, Staff Writer
From the renowned director of Goodfellas and The Departed, Martin Scorsese's first film of 2010, Shutter Island, is a phenomenal movie, but one that will also receive a lot of critiques. The film is breathtakingly artistic in its camera work, but painfully dark in its overall mood. Despite many repressively uncomfortable scenes that are packed with personal intensity, the film contains numerous meaningful and noteworthy themes.
