Full Blast

Four out of Five stars.

In "Full Blast" the filmmaker (Rodrigue Jean) seems to opt for improv rather than scripted dialogue, either that or the actors are even more impressive than they appear. The story of five people in rural New Brunswick is a slice of life. Never once was I bored, because the characters were so realistic -- except for the GQ hairstyle on the character of Steph. The film drew me in with its bleak portrayal of living in a small town with nothing but beer, good friends, cigarettes and sex to remind one that they are still alive.

The cinematography of the film is exquisite: crashing waves against jagged rocks, broken down abandoned houses, the metaphors are transparent. Edits in the film seem like jump cuts, used instead of fade-outs to infer passing time. This technique reminded me of the brilliant 1996 French/Danish film "Breaking the Waves".

"Full Blast" takes place in a remote desolate town and revolves around Steph and his affair with an older woman, his sexual relationship with friend Charles, and Steph trying to stop his other friend, the unemployed Piston, from self-destruction during his break-up with wife Marie Lou. Steph eventually gets involved with Marie Lou and Charles wants more than just sex from his once childhood buddy. We are never quite sure whether Steph is bisexual or if he simply uses the women as a way of denying his homosexual nature. That plot remains unresolved as does the relationships in the film. But that is the point: the town goes nowhere and the characters go nowhere. Still, nowhere remains utterly transporting.

Reviewer notes: French subtitled. Winner of the Best Canadian Film Special Jury Citation Award at the 1999 Toronto International Film Festival.