The best and worst of Whitehorse, during the Available Light Film Festival, February 2009
Weirdest advertisement at the festival: Telefilm Canada: “Just watch it.” (You know, like Nike, except Nike dropped that line years ago.)
Best example of eastern European humour in an eastern European film: A character from Slepé Lásky (directed by Juraj Lehotský): “We wish you a pleasant artistic experience.”
Best blogging line, by the narrator of the film RIP: A Remix Manifesto, directed by Brett Gaylor, about the mash-up artist Girl Talk: “He dropped AC/DC in the middle of Black-Eyed Peas. People were blogging about it for weeks.”
Best synopsis and review of Slumdog Millionaire, directed by Danny Boyle and Loveleen Tandan (the film did not play at the festival), heard in a bar in Whitehorse: “So this kid wins a hundred million rubbles or whatever. The movie’s based on Who Wants To Be a Millionaire?—you know that one? You know it’s funny to hear it in East Indian. But I got to tell you, it was time well spent.”
Most palpable expisode of drunkenness on the streets of Whitehorse: Man walking ten feet behind woman: “Hey, hey!” Woman: “If you’re gonna act like a drunk, I’m gonna treat you like a drunk.” Man: “Hey, hey!”
Worst evaluation of Whitehorse, uttered by a woman at the screening of RIP: A Remix Manifesto: “I just pretend I’m somewhere else. You know, we’re in Whitehorse, you do what you have to, to survive.”
Second-worst evaluation of Whitehorse, uttered by a store clerk during the purchase of a letter opener made of moose antler: “So, it’s a letter opener or a weapon of self-defence.” (nervous laughter) “So if you get mugged, you know what to do.” (stabbing motion) “It’s the Yukon, you never know what can happen.”
The three weirdest events at the Yukon Sourdough Rendezvous Festival, running at the same time as the film festival: axe toss, wife-carrying contest, and hairiest legs competition (women only).
Best solo played by the guitarist in the military band near the baggage carousel at the Whitehorse airport: “Free Bird” by Lynyrd Skynyrd.
Dumbest thing said by a guy with big muscles on flight 525 from Whitehorse to Vancouver, referring to the exotic dancers flying home from the Sourdough Rendezvous: “Jesus Christ. Look at that.”
Read more at Michal’s blog, Yukon Diary.
