Original-Cin TIFF Picks, Thursday, Sept. 7

By Kim Hughes and Karen Gordon

Armie Hammer and Timothee Chalomet flirt in already-acclaimed Call Me By Your Name 

CALL ME BY YOUR NAME (Special Presentations/Next Wave)

Thursday, Sept. 7 (7:15 pm) Ryerson Theatre; Friday, Sept. 8 (9:30 am), TIFF Bell Lightbox 1

This sumptuous adaptation of André Aciman’s 2007 novel by director Luca Guadagnino (I Am Love, A Bigger Splash) could also be filed under ‘coming of age stories’ or ‘summer flings’ except that it chronicles a gay romance. You just don’t see that every day, especially with mainstream actors like Armie Hammer in the lead and who, it must be said, seems way too chic to be slumming with this hyper-academic multilingual crew. Not so Timothée Chalamet as Hammer’s torn but smitten paramour. James Ivory’s screenplay sings while wistful songs by Sufjan Stevens underscore a stunning northern Italy tourists will seek but never find. - KH

Saoirse Ronan and Billy Howie romance awkwardly in Ian McEwan's On Chesil Beach

THE PRICE OF SUCCESS (Special Presentations)

Thursday, Sept. 7. (6 p.m.) Elgin. Saturday, Sept 9 (9:15 a.m.) TBLB 1. Saturday, Sept. 16. (12:15 p.m.) Scotia 1

Tahar Rahim stars as Brahim, one of the hottest comedians in France. He got there with his older brother Mourad (Roschdy Zem) as his manager.  It’s been a sweet ride for two kids of immigrant parents.  But when a more experienced manager approaches, Brahim has to decide where his loyalties lie. Director Teddy Lussi-Modeste directs from a script he co wrote with Rebecca Zlotowski  The movie dips into melodrama, but Lussi-Modeste keeps the tone light and the brother’s relationship has a tenderness to it. - KG

ON CHESIL BEACH (Special Presentation)

Thursday, Sept. 7 (5 pm) at Winter Garden Theatre; Friday, Sept. 8 (12:45 pm) at TIFF Bell Lightbox 1

For a novel that can be read in an afternoon, Ian McEwan’s On Chesil Beach packs a punch even though not a lot happens between the book’s foreboding opening (“They were young, educated, and both virgins on this, their wedding night, and they lived in a time when conversation about sexual difficulties was plainly impossible”) and its agonizing conclusion. McEwan’s faithfully adapted screenplay is dependably excellent. But it’s the performances of leads Saoirse Ronan and Billy Howle as the hopelessly maladroit lovers bursting from the screen.  - KH