This entry was posted on Friday, April 20th, 2007 at 3:16 pm and is filed under Drama, U. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.
Director: Carl Bessai
Starring: Tantoo Cardinal, Carmen Moore, Callum Keith Rennie, Margo Kane, Michelle Thrush
This is surreal and haunting Canadian production is based on a stage play that was inspired by true events. Director Carl Bessai sometimes overdoes it on the style but does a great job of pulling the viewer into the terrifying world of Aboriginal prostitution, alcoholism and homelessness. It is dark, compelling and many scenes are difficult to watch. The symbolism gets a little too heavy at times, but the dialogue and acting is frighteningly authentic.
Carmen Moore plays Rebecca, a woman who sets out to find her aboriginal mother whom she has never known. Her search area is the dirty and dangerous mean streets that are being stalked by a serial killer (Callum Keith Rennie), who preys on marginalized native women. The theme of families and lives shattered and separated by alcohol carries on throughout.
Strong performances and direction that captures the chaos of alcohol and its effects power this difficult drama. It is not light viewing, but it is effective. There is a disturbing level of sexual violence that, though important to the story, is still shocking.
