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This week at TIFF Bell Lightbox: indulge your guilty pleasure for singing along to Grease; explore the varying degrees of religious conflict (both internal and external) with new releases, Habemus Papam and Where Do We Go Now?; enjoy the 1953 classic Gentlemen Prefer Blondes; or attend a conversation about Body Heat from renowned sexuality researcher Dr. Robin Milhausen.

Events

The first screening of Sing-a-Long-a Grease begins this week. Enjoy the brand new sing-along version of this classic, hosted by writer/performer Shawn Hitchins, it includes a free goody bag with items to help you participate. Your host will begin with a vocal warm-up and a demonstration of how to use those goody bag items. There will also be a hand jive lesson. Grease-themed fancy dress is, of course, strongly encouraged.

New Releases

Habemus Papam – A new pope is elected but is paralysed by stage fright, and a psychiatrist is called in to help. A satire exploring the duality of being an ordinary human and yet also having the responsibility of being God’s representative on Earth.

Where Do We Go Now? - Three women in a small Lebanese village use bizarre yet effective methods (including hash cookies and Ukrainian strippers) to quell the mounting tensions between Muslim and Christian residents. Directed by and starring Nadine Labaki, this film won the Cadillac People’s Choice Award at TIFF last year.

Ongoing Series

The Hollywood Classics series, Gentlemen Prefer Blondes: The Blonde in Fifties Hollywood Cinema begins this week with two screenings of Gentlemen Prefer Blondes, Sunday, June 3 at 1:00 pm and Tuesday, June 5 at 6:30 pm. This 1953 classic, which of course inspired Madonna’s famous Material Girl music video, follows two showgirls from Little Rock, Arkansas who set sail to Europe on the hunt for rich suitors. One is just a gold digger but the other is looking for true love.

Talks

As part of Science on Film, world renowned sexuality researcher and educator, Dr. Robin Milhausen, will be on hand to discuss Lawrence Kasdan’s noir classic  Body Heat on Wednesday, June 6, 2012 at 7:00 pm.

Check out tiff.net or visit any of the links above for details and showtimes.

Original artwork by Bennett O’Brian.

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Danielle La Valle

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