A Simple Curve

Saw this at VIFF, as the Canadian Images opener. There are some lovely aerial shots of the area. This is great. And there are some really funny character moments, and solid comic dialogue. But where, oh where, did the story/plot go? This is a film that cannot be described as "character driven" -- there is an attempt at plot on some level, to do with a long-lost family friend who returns to start up a business. But somewhere that gets lost, and the comic scenes end up driving the film along.

Something happened in post, I'm thinking, as it just feels like a whole bunch of story hit the floor and not the screen.

Don't get me wrong -- the director/writer has talent. But at the end of the night I was happy to know I hadn't had to fork over hard cash to sit through it. There was just no drive to keep my attention.

A SIMPLE CURVE is exactly the sort of movie that most viewers would never watch but which could prove rewarding if you actually give it a chance. While it has no explosions or big-name actors, it does have some excellent acting and production values.

As for the story, it took some time to grow on me because the people in it were so odd compared to the typical Western family. Instead of being set in the city or suburbs or even the farmland, this film was made in the middle of no where in the mountains of Western Canada. While this was odd, the types of people in the film were also quite odd. The father, Jim, was a 70s hippie who came to the country to avoid the draft and has extremely high ideals and an unusual moral compass. He's often uncompromising but also with an odd sense of right and wrong. Caleb, his 27 year-old son, is devoted to him but also extremely frustrated with Jim's inflexibility--given that their business is going down the drain and Jim will seemingly do nothing to change his ways. Despite feeling little in common with the pair, I kept watching and realized that in spite of the weirdness of their ideals compared to the mainstream, their struggle was in many ways quite universal--a tough dad and a son who secretly wants to punch him in the face--a theme that seldom makes it to film. In many ways, this reminded me of THE JAZZ SINGER--except that A SIMPLE CURVE is much more watchable.

Through all the film and its little quirks, the acting and writing were lovely and the rugged scenery was very welcome. About the only negatives were the unresolved bits and pieces in the plot by the end of the film as well as the unlikability of many of the characters. Still, given all its strengths and how non-derivative the plot is, it's well worth seeking out as an answer to the usual Hollywood fare.

Comparable to John Sayles' Sunshine State in its overarching theme: that the dreams of one generation, however noble, may not be the dreams of their children. Can you achieve your own identity without rebelling against your parents? The movie suggests you can't -- a conclusion expressed in more colourful terms by Matt Craven's character Matthew.

It's not a fast-moving movie, but I was pulled in, thanks to the performances of Lemche, Craven and Battlestar Galactica's Michael Hogan. Looking forward to director Aubrey Nealon's next project, though one suspects bits of autobiography were all over the feature film debut of this New Denver, B.C. product.

After viewing Aubrey Nealon's first feature "A Simple Curve" I was struck by the ability of this young writer to evoke such a compelling impression of growing up in the wilds of British Columbia with Hippie parents intent on getting back to the land. Nealon wrote and directed this beautiful film and really demonstrates the makings of a great filmmaker.

This coming of age story really does a brilliant job of intertwining the story of the young protagonist Caleb and his father Jim. The tension set off between the two characters is heightened by the interesting similarities between Jim's first days in the Valley and Caleb's struggle to escape. The more Caleb rebels against the ideals of his father the closer he comes to him.

The dialogue moves seamlessly from drama and high seriousness to dry wit and sarcasm, weaving together the stories of a strong cast of central characters. The writing for each character is excellent and the actors' performances only serve to flesh out Nealon's already keen instincts for character development.

As a twenty something myself trying to escape the clutches of parental conditioning and New Age utopianism, I can say that this film really resonated with me. Like Caleb, I too have a father obsessed with Buckminster Fuller. And like Caleb, I am also struggling to make sense of myself in a world which does not conform easily to the ideals instilled in me by my parents.

I highly recommend this film.

I saw A Simple Curve in the theatre and am sad that due to its limited release most people won't have a chance to enjoy the grandeur of the cinematography the way its intended. Visually, the film manages to capture the Kootenay region in a way that few films manage. It is well worth hunting down a theatre that is showing this film - it deserves to be seen.

The story is also a wonderful one. A coming of age story with some nice twists, it has a gentle humour to it that manages to poke fun at all the hippie stereotypes while still showing respect for the idealism of the era.

Kris Lemche as Caleb manages to give a consistently strong performances despite the fact his role is pretty demanding and he is in every scene. The wisdom and humour that Caleb shows through the movie is a pleasure to watch.