With the final curtains drawn, red carpets rolled up, and the return to a balanced work/life schedule (well, as balanced as it can be), it’s time to reflect on the movies that stood above the rest for me from this year’s Toronto International Film Festival.
From star-studded world premieres to intimate, career-defining turns, TIFF’s 50th anniversary (TIFFTY!) lineup delivered a captivating spectrum of storytelling. Sifting through a slate of 18 (!) powerful dramas, biting comedies, and stunning debuts was no small task, but five titles left an incredible mark.
My top five picks for TIFF this year are Good Fortune, the hilarious and surprisingly heartfelt feature debut from Aziz Ansari; Hamlet, a visceral and emotionally shattering re-telling of a classic with Riz Ahmed; Homebound, a beautifully acted drama that explores the crushing weight of ambition and division; Mile End Kicks, a sharp, nostalgic coming-of-age story set against the vibrant Montreal music scene; and finally, Tuner, a whip-smart thriller starring Dustin Hoffman and Leo Woodall.
Executive produced by legend Martin Scorsese, Homebound is an immensely moving film from director Neeraj Ghaywan (Masaan and Sacred Games) and delivers a potent look at modern India. It follows two childhood friends whose deep bond becomes painfully strained.
Vishal Jethwa (Mardaani and Tiger 3) plays a Dalit named Chandan, and Ishaan Khatter (A Suitable Boy and The Perfect Couple)plays a Muslim named Shoaib. They share a desperate, singular ambition: to beat the odds and win one of just 3,500 police jobs from 2.5 million applicants. For them, wearing a police officer’s uniform is a path to dignity that their society denies them.
Homebound is far more than a simple narrative about two friends chasing a dream; it is a profound and often heartbreaking political and social statement. Ghaywan handles the intersecting oppressions of caste and religion with immense clarity, making the mounting pressures on Chandan and Shoaib feel palpable and suffocating. The chemistry between Vishal Jethwa and Ishaan Khatter is the film’s undeniable emotional engine, ensuring that every indignity and setback registers with devastating impact. It’s a beautifully shot, superbly acted film that never lets the poetry overshadow the painful, immediate reality of its subjects.
For me, the journey of these two young men was a stark reminder of the immense privilege afforded by growing up in a country like Canada, geographically and generationally removed from the systemic and societal divisions that remain deeply entrenched in India. The film lays bare the soul-crushing weight of institutionalized bigotry, transforming what should be a universal dream—the right to dignity and opportunity—into a brutal, high-stakes gamble.
A theatrical release date in Canada for Homebound is yet to be announced. Janhvi Kapoor also stars.
