Classy ensemble sustains a soap-opera that is a minor-league Short Cuts.
The action in this small but satisfyingfilm takes place over 24 hours in a small town on Nova Scotia. Writer/director MacIvor, who also plays the dumber of the film's two venal
villains, has come up with a minor-league
Short Cuts
, held together by Oh's Carol, a neurotic real estate agent. The 2004 film is also notable for the presence of Page (a Nova Scotian native), before her breakthrough in
Hard Candy
and Oscar-nominated work in
Juno
.
MacIvor skilfully weaves together the stories of a dozen people in a town where everyone knows everyone else's business. "Did you ever hear of live and let live?" asks one character. "We don't do that here, thank God," is the reply.
Unlucky-in-love Sandra (Jenkins) runs a down-at-heel diner; her daughter Emily (Page) is on the verge of losing her virginity; Dan Jarvis (Allodi), abandoned by his wife, is bent on suicide, but not very good at it; the mayor (Chaykin) is running a planning scam; Carol's cop husband, Buddy (Gross), is having an affair with Sandra; and handyman Duck (Rennie) seems to function as a Greek chorus but, as it transpires, has desires of his own.
MacIvor lets you slowly into his characters' lives: slick pacing and fine, unshowy ensemble acting ensure it never bogs down.
The mix of comedy and pathos may sail close to the wind at times and there are a few too many scenes in which people stare out to sea, but this is an enjoyable soap opera for grown-ups.
Peter Calder
Cast:
Sandra Oh, Paul Gross, Rebecca Jenkins, Maury Chaykin, Ellen Page, Callum Keith Rennie, James Allodi
Director:
Daniel MacIvor
Running time:
99 mins
Rating:
M (offensive language, sexual references)
Screening:
Academy
