Toronto also hosted the first screening of my second- favourite film this year, Sundance winner Like Crazy. The irresistible low-key drama tells of the heart-wrenching long distance romance between former university students, played by Anton Yelchin and England's fast rising star Felicity Jones. It's bound to become an instant classic like The Notebook.
Ultimately when the festival's People's Choice Award was announced on Sunday afternoon the winner took everyone by surprise. Lebanese filmmaker Nadine Labaki's second feature Where Do We Go Now? had premiered in Cannes in the Un Certain Regard section and had won nothing there, yet is probably the kind of audience pleaser that Toronto loves. Her previous movie, Caramel, had been an international hit.
Where Do We Go Now?, co-written by Labaki, who also co-stars, tells the heart-warming tale of a group of Christian and Muslim women, who are determination to protect their isolated, mine-encircled community. It was recently announced as Lebanon's official entry for foreign-language Oscar consideration.
In a sense Toronto, like Venice and Cannes, handed out their award to a film that needed a kick. Cannes winner The Tree of Life certainly garnered greater audience attendance-even if many people walked out-and who knows if anyone will get to see Venice winner Aleksander Sokurov's Faust?.
Where Do We Go Now? however should prove an international hit for Labaki yet again.