I went to this movie partly based upon the favourable reviews on the IMDB and partly on the fact that it was filmed in Nova Scotia. Shortly after the opening scenes I began to think I had made a bad choice. A number of times I was tempted to get up and leave (and I rarely walk out of a movie), but decided there must be something redeeming about it. The ending is poignant but did little to take away the bad taste that I had accumulated. It portrays Cape Breton as a gray and ugly landscape whose citizens are intent on achieving early death from lung cancer and emphysema. The music is good after a shaky beginning. However, the lovely song, "Down on the Mira" has now been tainted by association with this movie.
This film may best be characterized as GRUNGE and DOWNLIFTING pretending to be art. I would seriously question any film festival that would award prizes to this bit of misanthropy.
This film may best be characterized as GRUNGE and DOWNLIFTING pretending to be art. I would seriously question any film festival that would award prizes to this bit of misanthropy.