February 19, 2015

We shared the theatre this morning with more than 400 students from Grades 5-7. I have to say the buzz in the air was louder today than yesterday, but once the film started everyone was well behaved.

This BC film was predictable from start to finish, but enjoyable. The story follows a blind high school student who wants to join the cross-country running team. His father, a parole officer, pairs him up with a troubled youth who seems destined for jail. After a shaky start the two become friends and, of course, win the big race!

February 18, 2015

Although not a happy-go-lucky story, the film was very well made. That is most impressive considering the writer/director is just 25. The film won many awards, including one at Cannes.

Set in 2015 (the near future), a newly-elected government has made it an option, without any legal recourse, to place unruly children in the care of the state. One single mother is doing the very best she can to raise her disturbed son, and this is their story. I thought the friendship with an equally troubled neighbour was very well done.

The opening film of the 2015 Film Festival was a good one. When I looked at the schedule this morning I wondered why they would have Grades 1-4 attending a sub-titled film. When we got to the theatre (just ahead of two bus loads of students) we had our answer; our friend Joel and another fellow were going to read the sub-titles. I thought it might be distracting, but once they got the mic levels high enough it worked out well. Of course with so many kids in the crowd it was a bit noisy but it didn’t distract from the film.

Finn is a nine-year old boy whose mother died on the night he was born. One day as Finn passes a deserted farmhouse he meets a man who turns out to be his grandfather. While the grandfather plays the violin, Finn sees an image of his mother and decides he should learn to play so he too can create the magic to bring her back. His father doesn’t share his enthusiasm and by the end of the film we understand why.

In her introductory remarks the theatre owner said reviews for this movie were either glowing or compared to watching paint dry. Fortunately both Pat and I give it a glowing review.

There isn’t much of a plot line; we watch a young boy growing up. Because the same actors are used throughout the movie you not only watch the boy grow from about eight years old to adulthood, but you see the changes occurring in the members of his family. A very unique movie.