Fest Track On Sirk TV Film Review: 100 YARDS [Toronto International Film Festival 2023 - Toronto, Canada - Remote]

The essence of honor and the code of family plays heavily into "100 Yards" [Centrepiece], a beautifully realized kung fu epic that turns out to be more metaphorical than practical in many ways but also grounded in the essence of what it is. The story follows initially a man who is trying to live up to his father's s teachings only in many ways to be bested because he cannot see beyond his own element of honor. 100 Yards refers to the distance within the Wushu Academy that these martial arts wizards must protect. From the beginning, there are certain rules...like no fighting on the streets to disturb the merchants. What works in this film quite well is the essence of quid pro quo especially between two men who really don't control the battle as much as they think they do. There is a reasoning for everything but also a consequence.

However because of the way the film is cionstructed it is tit for tat...there is no blood shed. It is a unique approach. The lead says during what seems like training but is more just an exercise: "I don't know how". The congruent lines and colors are all quite beautiful across the board and the lines of class and breathe are specifically drawn. However there doesn't seem to be much dread or stakes, except in two specific parts (which involves the two ladies that are in fact, in certain ways, the true power brokers). The movie plays into a 1920s gangster motif and the music reflects that with a bit of spaghetti western texture. The dressing up of these power broker woman in suits with hair slicked back is a cool and interesting choice. There is also a blend of French martial artists in the proceedings which gives a further air of internationality.

The choreography is very practical but effectly created. The movie looks like it is made on a soundstage but that is part of its approach of artifice versus the reality it shows. There is no CG and again that is the point. These kinds of films still can be made at the top level of craft and don't need anything more than the talent of these people. The story is fairly straightforward but again the way the two key (and pretty much only) women thrown in the mix operate really allow for a symbolic dichotomy which is interesting. One involves an essence of sacrifice as a means of gaining power and honor. The other in a way is a plant but the symbolic nature of her family, her path and, ironically enough, her job really bring to bear many different ideas and perceptions of society, even if this is set in the 20s. "100 Yards" is about boundaries but those within honor, family, our talent and our own minds. A-

By Tim Wassberg