Reality behind reality by MATTHEW HAYS The opening words in the Rencontres internationales du documentaire de Montréal catalogue do ring a bit dire. Filmmaker and Rencontres president Jean-Daniel Lafond waxes philosophic on the state of the art of documentary filmmaking practice, particularly in the wake of 9/11. "How many September 11ths will it take," Lafond asks, "for our societies to question their own acts before dropping bombs?" A heavy question, for sure, but since so many documentary filmmakers are left-leaning political animals who work on shoestrings, it's little wonder Lafond would raise it. This year, the festival's fourth edition--which runs from Nov. 12-18--includes a broad range of worthwhile films that involve political themes, underdog protagonists and guerilla tactics. And the Rencontres, which has done such a superb job of bringing varied reality-based films to Montreal in its short history, will manage to raise pointed questions about myriad social issues with 2001's lineup. A few that stand out for me: Montreal filmmaker Garry Beitel, who made the excellent Bonjour! Shalom! (among others), returns with the fascinating 44-minute My Dear Clara. The film involves one woman's struggle to change Canada's immigration policy during WWII, an anti-Semitic policy that meant Jews fleeing Nazi persecution were effectively shut out of a potential Canadian asylum. Beitel has adeptly brought together archival footage, interviews and correspondences. One of the most respected of Toronto's experimental video scene, Richard Fung, premieres his elegiac Sea in the Blood at the Rencontres. The film recounts Fung's dealing with the news that his sister had a rare fatal blood disease; he learned of her death while trekking across Europe with his lover, who himself had been living with AIDS for a decade. Another true Fung original. And in the odd profile category, Olu Kundze must be a winner with the 30-minute Swedish entry Egg Lady, a doc about a woman who does nothing but break eggs for a living. As well as the screenings, there are panel discussions on issues surrounding doc filmmaking practices. Further info: www. ridm.qc.ca Kandahar, the brilliant Iranian film which played at the New Film Fest and has been gaining press due to its timely Afghanistan-related narrative, opens this Friday (Nov. 9) at the Cinéma du Parc with English subtitles. Finally, filmmakers behind the ripped-from-the-headlines movie Saved by the Belles, based on the true story of Montreal's mystery gay amnesiac, are holding an open casting call this month. Basically, the wackier you are, the better your chances, as this film involves all sorts of bizarre underground Montreal figures. Call D-Lux Casting at 875-7700. : COMMENTS: mhays@mtl-mirror.com