I really love Indie movies. I am ashamed to say that this movie will only appeal to a small audience. But if you watch this movie, and you are patient, it will work its magic and you will be rewarded. I rated it 8 out of 10 because it was watchable, compelling, and who makes movies these days with this kind of under-stated pathos? The movie centers around a big, tall, polite and perceptive, under-achieving (is that a proper or adequate adjective to apply to any human?), native American man and his smaller, excitable pal-for-a-day who seems to possess to varying degrees a case of Tourette's, kleptomania, and one or two other psychological problems. (Yes, I was reminded a bit of Cuckoo's Nest but this film is not the emotional star studded roller coaster ride of Cuckoo's.) Filmed in the cold wintry climes of Canada (Winnipeg, Manitoba) right before the Christmas holiday, HEATER reminds us that the coldest thing around the holidays is often the behavior of humans towards other humans. And the most warming thing is often the gracious, giving, humble, humanity expressed by people, who, I believe, are too often looked upon as worthless, lower class, "under-achieving" parasites. This movie is a surprisingly compelling, sweet, sad, and simple film. And it is a humbling yet hopeful, homeless buddy movie that reveals much about what we in the west call civilization, good and bad. There are two remarkable scenes I want to point out. The first scene shows, (in the background), municipal workers endangering motorists and pedestrians by interrupting the streetlights in order to connect Christmas decorations to the power grid. The second scene is the long closing credits scene of the city streets being cleared of snow by a fleet of expensive state of the art vehicles, both of which spoke a thousand words about what we consider valuable services during the holidays or any other time. I understand, I know, we have to keep the streets clear, the cars moving, the business of business must not be interrupted, regardless of what it does to our humanity, and therefore our civilization. I believe this film should be among the most viewed of Christmas movies. It might help to keep us aware, that regardless of race, creed, religion or color, it could easily be us, or a loved one, out in the freezing cold, looking for shelter, and something to eat. (I was also reminded of the odd couple pairing of Al Pacino and Gene Hackman in the little known 1973 movie SCARECROW).
