I caught this one at the Vancouver International Film Festival and has one of my local fav's Tygh Runyan (Antitrust, Disturbing Behavior and 15 Minutes). But most of all my favourite Vancouver actress, Carly Pope (Orange County, Disturbing Behavior and TV's Popular).
The movie was well written by Vancouver UBC student Ori Kowarsky, and avoided all Hollywood elements of a tragic love story between two twenty-something's that are restricted from seeing each other due to religious beliefs. More so than the writing being excellent for a small Canadian movie I was blown away by the filming in this show afterwards when the cast and crew announced it was filmed on HDTV (a DV format). This was stellar! Never once did I think this was something put together on DV and worked on later to look like film. So inspiring now that I'm deciding to start filming a few shorts as soon as next month. The color that was used in the movie had some very filtered film effects but still had a film grain texture to it that made a very warm looking picture. Another bonus was watching the opening credits and discovering that Tygh also did a portion of the score in the movie. It had a real ambient mellow tone that was very subtle and enjoyable.
Well let me get back to the cast and crew. Like I mentioned earlier the cast and crew were present after for a Q & A. I jokingly entertained the idea that Carly being an American teen idol would be present for the picture's premiere but was shocked to find out she showed up. She was just as stunning in person as on film. I think if she continues to do more independent pictures and story driven work she will be capable of sticking around a while longer as well unlike the rest of the nameless Popular cast. It was really great to see the entire cast except for Tygh (who was filming elsewhere), be able to show and support the picture for Ori.
I can't see this being a big theatre release but if you get the chance to see it on DVD/VHS or a movie channel sometime over the next year, please check it out and support Canadian work as good as this.
