The September screening of the Bowen Island Film Society, to inaugurate BIFS’ third season, is A Simple Curve.
A coming-of-age story with several welcome plot twists, A Simple Curve tells the story of Caleb, a 27-year-old man-boy who has deferred self-definition in attempting to look after his bereaved father Jim. Jim (played by Bowenian Michael Hogan) is a woodworker who can make magic with his hands but has no time at all for a balance sheet or the vagaries of customers’ wishes. To say Jim is uncompromising is a mild understatement; but then, as a Vietnam-era ex-pat, he’s made big decisions and lived with them. Meanwhile Caleb makes deals behind Jim’s back just to make the mortgage payments and keep the business running. The usual dynamics are hereby reversed, with the father as rebel and his long-suffering son in the unenviable role of emotional caretaker. Into this highly-charged setup comes the sudden reappearance of Jim’s old friend Matthew, a somewhat shady figure whose pronouncements occasionally have Mephistophelian overtones [horns wouldn’t look out of place on this guy’s head]. Also an aging draft-dodger, he has made accommodations and concessions to the outside world while Jim hasn’t, and has dollars and deals that may just help Caleb and Jim out of their financial quagmire – but at what ultimate cost? And is Caleb’s willingness to listen to Matthew’s ministrations brought on by financial desperation or is it in his blood to make a deal? Some of the big questions in this film are left poetically unresolved, which is only to writer/director Aubrey Nealon’s credit.
Apart from the strong dialogue, which include several highly-entertaining rants by Caleb [I’m convinced that the rant is Canada’s premier contribution to verbal culture, combining as it does American ebullience and British reserve], the fine ensemble acting is enjoyable to watch. The small-town environs, visual scenographics -- the big, mute landscape of the Slocan Valley is used effectively as a metaphor for big, difficult emotions -- and comfortable relations between characters put me in mind of North of Sixty, one of the best all-Canadian TV series ever.
A Simple Curve, which was released in 2005, has won 2 Leo (Vancouver film and television awards) Awards, was nominated for 8 others, and was also nominated this year for outstanding feature film by the Directors Guild of Canada.
A Simple Curve screens on Saturday, September 30, 2006 at 7:30 pm at Collins Hall. The running time is 92 minutes. Rated 14A. Starring actor Michael Hogan will be in attendance for a q+a after the screening. As always, facilities for the hearing impaired will be available. Bring your own pillow to improve seating comfort. Doors and concession open at 7 pm. Reserved tickets are available for film society members only by phoning 604-947-0450 and will be held until 7:15 pm. Ten percent of all door admissions are donated to the Bowen Island Community Hall and Arts Centre fund. For further information, Bowen Island Film Society membership forms are available at the Ruddy Potato, VONIGO and the Office at Artisan Square.
Review by Michael Epp
