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Actor Tom Hanks greets fans as he arrives on the red carpet for the gala presentation of the film "Cloud Atlas" at the 37th Toronto International Film Festival, September 8, 2012.MARK BLINCH/Reuters

Even though the clouds had parted before the start of the Cloud Atlas premiere, it still rained stars down on the red carpet.

The hotly anticipated new Wachowski-brother-and-sister movie is an epic that connects six story lines spanning hundreds of year and examines the existential question of spiritual connectivity.

"It's really about how one action – one moment of kindess – can have a rippling effect through generations," said actor David Gyasi.

Gyasi is one of 13 principal cast members of the movie. Other stars included Hugh Grant, Jim Broadbent, Susan Sarandon, Jim Sturgess and Wachowski-favourite Hugo Weaving. Top billing goes to Tom Hanks and Halle Berry, each playing four different characters whose lives cross hundreds of years.

Because there were so many stars, it was a complete zoo on the red carpet. At one point there were so many, they were clogging the entrance of the red carpet. But the one benefit of this backlog of celebrity is that they had to be evenly distributed down the red carpet, which meant even those of us at the end of the line (ahem, that'd be me this time!) got interviews.

Though only the first few broadcast crews managed to get the elusive Wachowski siblings on camera. Once done these interviews, Lana Wachowski (who is transgendered and used to be known as Larry) strode to the stairs wearing a simple, but charming, black minidress with a full skirt. It was very punk-rock princess and totally matched her pink and purple dreads. Andy, her brother, was right be behind her, either pretending to be blind or playing it cool in his shades. (Note: this red carpet was indoors and the lighting was poor in the brightest spots.)

Hugh Grant was another big star to shrug off the media. One reporter lunged over the velvet rope and shouted a question at Grant. He didn't blink as he escaped up the stairs.

"And that, everyone, is the hot mess that is the TIFF red carpet," she said.

Susan Sarandon was also a walker-by. Though she took a different technique than Grant (who flat-out ignored the press). She pretended to be talking on the phone, though she had no phone. It's okay Susan, you don't have to act in front of us. Our feelings aren't hurt.

Another star to sneak by the press in the madness of the red carpet shuffle was Joseph Gordon-Levitt, the star of Rian Johnson's Looper. Gordon-Levitt, plainly dressed, was quickly escorted into the theatre by TIFF personnel. And that's just how big of a movie Cloud Atlas is – even celebs can't wait to see it.

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