This Week in Film rounds up noteworthy new releases in theatres, rep cinema and avant-garde screenings, festivals, and other special cinema-related events happening in Toronto.

NEW RELEASES

Sushi Girl (Projection Booth East/Projection Booth Metro)

One of the best received films at FANTASIA and Toronto After Dark, Sushi Girl is part detective story, comedy, action, drama, and thriller with a just a pinch of love story thrown into the mix. The best part is that the film operates as a stark single-set-piece style play, allowing the actors to really steal the show. Which actors, you ask? How about classic icons like: Mark Hamill (Star Wars), Tony Todd (Candyman), James Duval (Donnie Darko), Noah Hathaway (The Never Ending Story), Danny Trejo (Machete), Sonny Chiba (Kill Bill), and more! Fair warning however, this film is pretty violent. So maybe don't go on a first date, or at least hold off on the cheap all-you-can-eat sushi.

Also opening in theatres this week:

• The End of Time (TIFF Bell Lightbox)
• The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey (Various)
• Hyde Park on Hudson (TBD)
• Kirikou et les hommes et les femmes (TBD)
• La Mise à l'aveugle (TBD)
• Rust and Bone (TBD)

REP CINEMA

Searching For Sugar Man - (Sat, Dec 15, 9pm, Bloor Hot Docs Cinema)

Searching for Sugar Man tells the incredible true story of Rodriguez, the greatest '70s rock icon who never was. Discovered in a Detroit bar in the late '60s by two celebrated producers struck by his soulful melodies and prophetic lyrics, they recorded an album which they believed would secure his reputation as the greatest recording artist of his generation. In fact, the album bombed and the singer disappeared into obscurity amid rumors of a gruesome on-stage suicide. But a bootleg recording found its way into apartheid South Africa and, over the next two decades, he became a phenomenon. The film follows the story of two South African fans who set out to find out what really happened to their hero. Their investigation leads them to a story more extraordinary than any of the existing myths about the artist known as Rodriguez.

More rep cinema screenings this week:

• Detropia (Friday, December 14, Bloor Hot Docs Cinema)
• Meet the Fokkens (Friday, December 14, Bloor Hot Docs Cinema)
• Dr. Strangelove (Friday, December 14, TIFF Bell Lightbox)
• Deadlier Than the Male (Friday, December 14, TIFF Bell Lightbox)
• Samsara (Friday, December 14, Revue Cinema)

SPECIAL SCREENINGS

The Roncesvalles Village BIA presents a FREE screening of: Miracle on 34th St. (G) 96 min (Saturday, December 15, 11am - Revue Cinema)

Something to kick start the ol' Christmas spirit! Kris Kringle (Edmund Gwenn), visits New York. He meets a busy Macy's event planner, Doris Walker (Maureen O'Hara) and her practical daughter Susie (Natalie Wood), who doesn't believe in Santa Claus. So Kris takes a job as the season's department store helper in an attempt to change things. The film begins at the Thanksgiving Day Parade and runs through the hectic Christmas shopping season. The perfect nostalgic holiday classic.

Please bring a non-perishable food item!