The hottest ticket at this year’s Toronto International Film Festival was not for the new auteur film from Hayao Miyazaki or Ryusuke Hamaguchi, the latest vehicle for Kate Winslet or Sean Penn, or grand prizewinners at Cannes and Venice.
No, the most feverishly in-demand screening was for a 39-year-old movie that everyone in its sold-out audience could have watched at home, at the push of a button.
“Stop Making Sense,” directed by Jonathan Demme, is widely considered to be one of the finest examples of the form, a joyful documentation (and celebration) of Talking Heads’ 1983 tour supporting their album “Speaking in Tongues.” The Toronto festival screening marked the debut of A24’s new restoration of the film ahead of its theatrical and IMAX rerelease later this month.
“This is the greatest concert film ever!” he enthused with the musicians sitting next to him.
That reunion was an event in itself, following what the frontman David Byrne recently described, with characteristic understatement, as an “ugly” breakup in 1991.
Persons:
Hayao Miyazaki, Kate Winslet, Sean Penn, ”, Jonathan Demme, Spike Lee, “, I’m, David Byrne, haven’t, Chris Frantz, Byrne, Tina Weymouth
Organizations:
Roll Hall of Fame
Locations:
Cannes, Venice, Toronto