The Lotus Eaters

In conception a splendid film, investigating the tensions that occur in family life in the idyllic setting of Galiano Island off the coast of British Columbia, _The Lotus Eaters_ is marred by the fact that it has been packaged as a made-for-TV movie, diminishing itself throughout by the addition of chirpy music over potentially powerful scenes, as if to get ready for the interruption of commercials. A pity, really.

Hello Peter Harcourt. You granted me an interview at Carleton University about my having finished an MA in Philosophy and wanting to study for an MA in Film Studies. But we both agreed even if you only want to watch movies you still keep writing anyway. "The Lotus Eaters" uses very long shots to make it seem like an old '60s movie with the comedic use by all characters staring slightly off camera. The "idyllic setting" of the BC island is rendered by each frame being a composed colour photograph, picture postcard perfect. As for "made for TV" director Paul Shapiro and writer Peggy Thompson spent the rest of their careers doing well with work for TV. As a person nothing but Canadian, I picked up on the school principal in "The Lotus Eaters" REFUSING TO ALLOW HIS FAMILY TO HAVE A TV. I'm so glad movies I identify with stopped me from going to England to study philosophy with a friend of FRLeavis. But I do identify too with the movies in your book "Six European Directors"!!

This nostalgic film, set in the mid-1960's has a good story line involving a teenage daughter, a pre-teen daughter hooked on witchcraft, and a father, a principal at the school, who becomes involved with the young teacher. Set in a small town in Canada, the setting is beautiful and the story will keep your attention. The only weak area of this movie is its distribution, which is virtually unavailable on VHS, laserdisc or DVD. Too bad........this is one "must have" movie!

I happened to catch this flick on television a couple of years ago. My mother was away taking care of my dying aunt and my father was working double shifts at the hospital. I mention that because the setting was perfect to watch this particular movie. Its peaceful and while seemingly cliché the dialogue and action is pitch-perfect. Its the type of film you want to watch alone on a night when you're in no mood to tune into the news or the regular sit-coms and can't sleep. Its really a shame that it hasn't received wider distribution, especially in the US. I can probably count every good film that's come out of Canada on one hand, and this one goes on my thumb. I'm still looking for a copy.

This film is awful. Not offensive but extremely predictable. The movie follows the life of a small town family in the mid-60's. The father, the principal at the school, is going through a mid-life crisis. Enter a pretty teacher from the big city who starts challenging her students' minds with some thought-provoking stuff, like think for yourself. The principal doesn't agree with her teaching but she is pretty. You can connect the dots. His teenage daughter (Winona Ryder wannabe Tara Frederick) is fed up with the small town lifestyle and wants to live. She gets some bad advice, hangs out with some bad boys and apparently family planning wasn't being taught at her school. Shocking! Seeing that director Paul Shapiro has mainly worked in TV, this movie plays like a more adult version of an after-school special or a very special episode of one of the more mundane sitcoms.