reviewvancouver: 2015 Vancouver International Film Festival : John Jane

Monty Python: The Meaning of Live

UK, 2014, 92 min, Director Roger Graef, James Rogan

Showtimes Sept 25 at 11.45am in International Village 10, Oct 2 at 4pm in the Vancouver Playhouse & Oct 7 at 9.15pm in the Centre for Performing Arts

In 1969, surrealist comedy troupe known as Monty Python’s Flying Circus exploded onto British television sets, and from that moment television programming would never be the same again. The six members of Monty Python were: Terry Jones, Terry Gilliam, Eric Idle, John Cleese, Michael Palin and Graham Chapman.

Last year, all except Chapman who died of throat cancer in 1989, came together again for the first time in 34 years to perform at London’s O2 stadium. The surviving five members are greyer and heavier now, but still retain their iconic brand idiosyncratic humour.

Roger Graef and James Rogan’s mockumentary (pun intended) looks at their preparations for the ten day gig at O2 stadium and running parallel to a review of each comedian’s contribution to synergism of Monty Python. In interviews with the principal performers, they unilaterally concede to being dumbfound as to why the “brand” has remained popular with a new generation of fans.

Python disciples, however, have no such qualms about shelling out good money to see reruns of old comedy sketches performed by a bunch of septuagenarians. Certainly, in this age of cynicism, base silliness combined with high satire obviously has universal appeal. Besides,who can argue with four and a half decades of success.

Paco de Lucía: A Journey (Paco de Lucia: La Búsqueda)

Spain, 2014, 92 min, Director Francisco Sánchez Varela, In Spanish with English subtitles

Showtimes Sept 27 at 11.15am in International Village 9, Sept 28 at 9:15pm in The Cinematheque & Oct 1 at 10.45am in International Village 9

Director Francisco Sanchez Varela has made a tribute style musical biopic of the life and career of legendary Andalusian flamenco guitarist, Paco de Lucía. The film’s format is pretty conventional, but the production quality is top drawer. You certainly don't have to be a fan of flamenco to enjoy it.

de Lucía (a name he took from his Portuguese mother) was a leading proponent of the New Flamenco style, who despite his huge talent, was not always fully appreciated by the rather purist flamenco community.

Sanchez Varela’s documentary generously traces de Lucía’s career from child prodigy to early professional with José Greco's flamenco troupe, to virtuoso guitarist at the height of his powers and onto celebrated maestro in his sixties. The film inevitably features interviews with contemporary crossover jazz musicians: Carlos Santana, Ruben Blades and John McLaughlin.

The most entertaining moments in the are the numerous candid conversations the director has with his subject – his own father. The film ends abruptly, indicating that Paco de Lucía died (of a heart attack in February, 2014) before it could be finished.