Foreverland

I saw this film recently and had the chance to meet the writer/director, Max McGuire, at the Bytowne cinema in Ottawa. It was a powerful film whose intensity sneaks up on you. The storyline was made more relevant that the director is living first-hand with CF.

It is a road trip picture with a twist at the end that I will not reveal. Unlike some other road films, it is entirely believable, including all of the characters the two leads meet along the way.

During the Q&A session after the film, it was interesting to hear about the five-year journey it took for the writer/director to complete this project. It is truly a labour of love, and this usually leads to the most worthwhile films for audiences.

It is a solid addition to the recent catalogue of sleeper Canadian films. I hope it finds an audience both here and abroad, and that this talented filmmaker will continue to evolve his craft.

Canadian Will Rankin (Max Thieriot) has cystic fibrosis. He spends his days test driving coffins, speaking to med students, and pounding his chest to loosen the mucus. He makes it to his 21st birthday with limited fanfare. His CF friend Bobby dies and asks him in the will to drive his ashes to a healing shrine in Mexico. Along for the ride is Bobby's sister Hannah Crane (Laurence Leboeuf).

This is essentially a road movie with a compelling devastating disease. As with most road movies, they need a good central relationship and a series of intriguing yet comedic situations along the way. I really like the coffin shopping and crazy aunt Juliette Lewis. It would be great to have more of the little snippets of that calibre. As for the central relationship, the two leads are fairly interesting. I really like Thieriot in this. The relationship could do more developing if they get together earlier. Otherwise, I'm fine with their light touch. Overall, I like the characters and I like their journey.

My buddy Brent Peterson died from cystic fibrosis at 23. This movie was right on the money regarding all elements. I saw Brent in William. I saw Brent during the drinking scenes, the tapping of the body to have the mucus move around in order to breathe, the first pill scenes, his one love before he passed, his thirst for adventure, having awesome parents.

The final scene was moving and full of appreciation that I have lived into my 30s and the road ahead looks interesting.

Brent never asked for sympathy or your help -- he was a surfer, an individual, a funny guy who would always be down to go out and have a beer. The writer for this movie did a flawless job.

For those of you who know someone with CF.... this will make you cry and laugh... mostly cry. Its a beautiful story about a boy becoming a man and the adventure it takes him on. I have a friend with CF, I have watched her grow and adapt from an early age. She's twenty now and one of the strongest, most crazy people I know, crazy being a huge compliment. I have been on the outside of her life for some time now and I think the world/her world will crash when she goes. For those of you who know what its like to listen to a person with CF this movie is for you and for those who don't, remember its like drowning from the inside out.

Quite an enjoyable movie. A spiritual adventure for a young man. It was pleasurable with it's twists and turns..This is a real movie with a plot and capable actors, unlike most of the junk that is released today. No computer generated special effects.

An honest believable plot. that gracefully reveals itself at just the right pace.

There was a hint of the supernatural, done in the way without no gimmicks. The young man was totally believable. I'm sure most viewers will relate to him in some way whether they have a life threatening illness or not. Reminded me of myself, when I would hitchhike a lot as a young man. The world was so much simpler then.

It was a work of love for the director, he gave this movie 'soul'...