Porcupine Lake

Not a single character in the entire movie is likeable. 1 star feeling sad for the hard work the movie makers did and 1 star for the dog. Only the dog can be watched in the entire movie. Please put a story when you make a movie next time.

This film was like walking back in time to the longest days of childhood summers. The detailed clues about small town life - from the plethora of business cards tacked on the bulletin board in the local snack shack, to the stickers covering plastic cereal containers at a chaotic breakfast table - have stayed with me. As someone who grew up always being the new girl, I identified with Bea (Charlotte Salisbury) as she tried to navigate and keep up with the rules of this place, dictated flawlessly by local girl Katie (Lucinda Armstrong Hall). Ingrid Veninger takes us on the beautifully heartbreaking ride of a very complicated friendship between two young girls on the verge of womanhood. Highly recommended.

(2017) Porcupine Lake DRAMA

Co-production design, produced, written and directed by Ingrid Veninger that opens with the mother, Ally (Delphine Roussel) driving her 13 year old daughter, Bea (Charlotte Salisbury) and the family dog, Callum to a small Ontario town to the father, Scotty (Christopher Bolton) diner/ coffee shop. And we find out that the diner itself has always been a part of the dad, Scotty's family for a long time. Until one day, Bea decides to sell some crafts outside from her dad's diner, and another teenager about the same age, Kate (Lucinda Armstrong Hall) decides to help her sale some. Both Bea and Kate then strike up a friendship. We are then introduced to Kate's family, with the one to pay attention to is her older adult brother, Romeo (Harrison Tanner) as he has a noticeable gash on the back of his head, and Bea asks Kate about it that regards a motorcycle accident. And that one of the riffs between Bea's mom and dad is that Bea's mom,Ally wants Scotty to sell the diner, while Scotty wants to keep it in the family. And that they are technically separated as Bea's mom actual profession is that she is a teacher in Toronto.

Upon watching this movie, I initially thought the town Be's mother was driving to was called "Porcupine Lake", but as it turns out as you continue to watch it that there is actually an area called "Porcupine Lake", so it would have been nice if the makers informed viewers what small town they are being driven to instead of looking it up. There is a small moment that is reminiscent to "Ladybird" in which Bea unexpectedly hops off her mom's car while she is driving, knocking her unconscious. Except that "Porcupine Lake" was released almost two months earlier on Oct 6 before "Ladybird" released on Dec1. The other issue I had with this movie, although a minor one was that at first I thought it was Bea's dog that was killed by Kate's brother Romeo, but as it turned out it some other dog, I never seen nor have noticed before, It just became relevant out of nowhere to which Romeo went to authorities and confessed to the crime. It is things like that viewers wish they are told a self-explanatory story line.

A film that delicately reminds us of that small window of innocence and the weeks leading to a new and more courageous way of being in the world no matter the chaos or uncertainty around us. Inner strength shines through these two young girls in stellar performances. The film transports you to another place and time in Canada and in your soul....that precious time before that first kiss that changes everything forever. Music by Zeus is subtle and adds to the films ability to take you back in time.

Beautiful and surprising coming of age film. Authentic to the core. I had the pleasure of seeing the premier of this film at TIFF 2017, and the entire cast and creative team and crew were present for the Q&A. The sense of family and heart and generosity, led by director Ingrid Veninger, during the Q&A was felt throughout the entire film.