Sabali (Canada)  

The French title translates as The Heart of Mrs. Sabali, which is apt, because a transplant alters the life of a mousy, middle-aged woman (the oddly cast Marie Brassard), who leaves her sexless relationship in search of a new love. She has an ardent suitor (Tu Dors Nicole’s Francis La Haye) who paints lobsters on tree rings and may be inappropriate in other ways. At the same time, that new organ keeps pulling her in the direction of the family of the African woman who donated it—and this leads to several musical interludes with blind Malian singers Amadou et Mariam.

Following all that? It doesn’t matter, really, because the chief appeal of this 80-minute feature from Quebecer Ryan McKenna is fantastic set design, which emphasizes almost shocking blocks of primary colours, especially around the fictional railroad company where everyone seems to work. A quirky treat on many levels.

International Village, October 2 (9:15 p.m.); Cinematheque, October 4 (4 p.m.)