Grab a Date and See a Sexy Flick at Hump Night!

It can be a difficult task, reconciling opposing tastes in films when it comes to a night out. For fear of sexist generalizations I’ll avoid gender specific pronouns, suffice it to say that there is always someone who “can’t stand mushy Rom-Coms”, and someone else who “won’t sit through another 2 hours of pointless explosions”. I have nothing personal against any genre of film, but my personal taste is certainly subject to pets and peeves - everyone’s is. So how do you choose a film that you and your significant other will both enjoy? Here’s a hint: They don’t call the Wednesday Night Line-Up “Hump Night” for nothing...

Don’t get the wrong idea and assume all the Wednesday night features have the same content, however. Each film has it’s own ratio of skin to sensuality, so take a moment and read up about the films in order to choose one that will excite and not offend. Whether you’re a romantic or an erotic (or both), Hump Night has something that will please even the most wholesome movie-goer.

I had the chance to screen a couple of Hump Night features, so I’ll get the ball rolling for you. Here are the synopses for both the UK feature, Brilliantlove, and the Italian film, Come Undone (Cosa voglio di piu). If you can answer yes to the majority of the questions following the synopses, these films are for you! If not, check the Hump Night Line-Up for something more your speed. Here we go!

Brilliantlove - United Kingdom, 2010, 97 minutes



The love and respect of a bohemian, sexually charged couple is tested. Manchester is a budding photographer whose favorite subject is the sexual images and acts shared between himself and his girlfriend, Noon. One evening, he accidentally leaves a package of developed photos behind at a pub, and they are found by an enthusiastic pornographer, Franny, who is eager to encourage the artistic career of the author. Franny tracks Manchester down, and tempts him with fame and fortune. Manchester can’t wait to reveal his first exhibition and move out of the storage shack he and Noon have converted into a modest flat, but Noon is skeptical of Franny, and unaware of the nature of the images he is about to release.

Is This Film For You?
Do formulaic, heavily structured films lose your interest?
Are you savvy of UK slang and pronunciation?
Are you a fan of indie-artistic subculture?
Can you handle full frontal nudity (male and female)?
Are you comfortable with incredibly graphic sex scenes?
Can you see a film rated 18ª?

If you answered yes to most of these questions, pick up your tickets at a CIFF Box office location, or online. Brilliantlove plays Wednesday, September 29th at Eau Claire Market #2 at 9:45 PM.

Come Undone (Cosa voglio di piu) - Italy, 2010, 126 minutes



Anna is in a long-term relationship with affectionate Alessio. They share an apartment, hobbies, and a comfortable love for each other. Tired of her daily routine as an office worker and sedentary girlfriend, Anna is seduced into a passionate affair with waiter Domencio, who has a wife and children himself. The two meet once a week during the hours of Domencio’s regular swim practice, but it soon becomes an insufficient amount of time to please the lovers. As things become more heated and suspicions begin to arise, they must decide if pursuing their lust is worth the consequences. This is a universal tale of temptation, love, lust, and redemption - but will go beyond your tired expectations of the classic love triangle.

Is This Film For You?
Do you yearn for more in your current relationship?
Have you ever struggled with temptation?
Are you a hopeless romantic, subject to fleeting passions?
Are you spontaneous, or wish you were?
Do you enjoy tasteful, yet lusty sex scenes?
Can you see a film rated 18ª?

If you answered yes to most of these questions, pick up your tickets at a CIFF Box Office location, or online. Come Undone (Cosa voglio di piu) plays Wednesday, Septmber 29th at The Globe Upstairs at 6:45 PM.

Vive L’amour! <3

The (Super-Fantastic!) Untitled Work of Paul Shepard

The modern relationship has finally become what it was always meant to be – sex. We tend to deny it, or cover it up with flowers or expensive gifts, but it truly only exists today because of a fundamental attraction between two people. It is no longer an economic necessity, social requirement, religious ritual, or even a basis for children. Instead, two people date today only because they want and choose to. The reality is that no one, no woman or man, must be in a relationship for any reason except choice. Being alone, and not relying on someone else for emotional satisfaction, is something that has finally become socially acceptable.
-- The Untitled Work of Paul Shepard

The Untitled Work of Paul Shepard (pronounced, She-pard, not Shep-herd), instantly made it into my current top-five picks for CIFF 2010. In this mockumentary of sorts, Paul (Kris Holden-Ried) is documentary filmmaker searching for his next hit. When he receives a call from former lover Sadie (Christine Horne), he’s struck by sudden inspiration. The artistic Sadie is putting out a book of poems on love and would like Paul’s okay before going on tour. Before Paul has looked at, let alone read the book, he’s convincing his hapless producer Jack (Degrassi’s Joey Jeremiah, Pat Mastroianni) to join him as he explores the meaning of modern love.

By the time he’s arranging interviews and dragging his wannabe cousin into the project as cameraman, Paul comes to realize that Sadie’s latest book, Poems and Thoughts for the Man I Love to Hate, are not a study on modern love, but is also inspired by him.


Over the course of filming, Paul interviews four ex-girlfriends, including Sadie, Haley (Zoie Palmer), the actress-turned-Porn fluffer, Lisa (Tricia Braun), his high school sweetheart, and Samantha (Mary Krohner), the possible love of his life. Through the course of the raw footage compiled by Paul’s small team, the general thrust of the documentary begins to take a different shape. Instead of a study on modern love, Paul becomes the subject of his own work, examining why he seems incapable of making a relationship work.

Holden-Ried is witty and charming in this quirky twist on a love story. His portrayal of the love-challenged filmmaker is genuine and endearing, while the remaining cast play their respective characters to a ‘T’. Don’t miss the Hump Night showing of The Untitled Work of Paul Shepard at the Globe Theatre, Wednesday, September 29th at 9:30pm.

The Auteur - A Definite Hump Night Crowd Pleaser!

Last nights film, The Auteur was a definite crowd pleaser. This hump night series film was a comedic satire centered around a porn director, Arturo Domingo and his artistic mark on the porn industry.

The minute the audience was introduced to Arturo played by Melik Malkasian, the laughter started. Arturo’s character is slightly overweight, with a beefy moustache (somewhat resembling Ron Jeremy’s appearance), and an accent that makes everything he says sound like he is the Zorro of the porn world.

We also get to see Ron Jeremy in this film who is known to many as the “Hedgehog." For those of you who have never heard of Ron, he is known as “The Porn King,” in the Adult film industry. Ron plays himself, and is also the film’s technical director, a job truly fitting considering his expertise.

Arturo’s character is comical as are his artistic visions, yet his love for Fionna is quite endearing. My favorite scene from this film had to be Arturo and his “googling”. Hump Night has come and gone but the belly busting laughs from last nights screening of The Auteur is what makes me recommend this film.

Want to learn more about “an artist with an uncompromising artistic vision,” check out the trailer. It’s not to late if you missed last nights screening of The Auteur you can catch it 9:30pm Sunday October 4th at the Plaza Theatre.

Who's Excited for Hump Night?!

Although Wednesday night is the night people usually make love (there’s nothing good on TV and one hasn’t had there after work social sports team practice so there not too tired) make a change and throw down a night on the town. Every year, the Calgary international Film Festival gets rowdy and features one of the best nights to screen some amazing films. Hump Night showcases the more ‘intimate’ side of interaction, love, dating, and relationships (the good and the bad, I might add). This year, we have a pantheon of excellent films for viewing at all the participating theatres around town.
In this years selection, The Auteur at Eau Claire, Cyborg She at the Plaza, No Heart Feelings at the Globe (upstairs), and the Year of the Carnivore at the Globe (downstairs) are all definite hits. Other films being screened include the shorts Love in Strange Places at the Globe (upstairs).
Join us for a night of risqué theatre: full of double entrendres, licentious puns, and an incredible amount of loving. See you at the theatre!

Hump Nights Quirky Comedy: The Year of the Carnivore

Ah yes at last it is Wednesday and the long awaited “Hump Night” has arrived! What is hump night you ask? Well mid week is often referred to as hump day, and therefore the night, “Hump Night” is when the fearless predators come out to play a little dirtier. Well at least they do in Sook Yin Lee’s directorial debut The Year of the Carnivore.
This is a quirky comedy about 21 year old Sammy Smalls who works a dead end job as a detective at a local grocery store, capturing shop lifters while entertaining us in her amusing under cover disguises. Sammy finds her self smitten for her musician friend Eugene Zasalavsky. As they take their relationship to a new level, Eugene tells Sammy that she lacks experience, and should get some more when it comes to getting down and dirty. So begins Sammy’s predatory hunt for intimate experiences that are quite out of the ordinary. Sammy’s comedic journey definitely teaches her a thing or two about what to do in the when the lights are out.
Wondering about your own inexperience, and looking for tips? I would not recommend experimenting with Sammy’s suggested schemes, as they may get you into trouble, unless off course you like that kind of trouble. However, I’m pretty sure you could learn a thing or two from Christina Aguilera’s lets get “Dirty” video, none the less you should definitely checkout Year of the Carnivore!

Catch Year of the Carnivore at 7:00pm tonight at the Globe Theatre.