The Angel Inn

The Angel Inn (Canada 2013) Written and directed by Kirk Schriefer Genre: Romance Drama Running time: 90 minutes

Reviewed by Joan Nicks: Adjunct Professor Brock University, film critic, programmer, writer.

The Angel Inn (2013), a low budget independent film, written and directed by Kirk Schriefer, adopts the narrative tool of pitching reluctant characters into a reunion. In Schriefer's film, the story is the thing...carried by three friends who attend a memorial service for a former friend. Confronted with the shocking news, Janet (Carla Albi), Pete (Daniel Kelly) and Stan (Matthew Gonzales) are stalled in a picturesque small town when they co-inherit their friend's pub.

There are intimations of reflection in The Angel Inn, notably in the theme of inheriting the baggage of the past, unloading that baggage and facing today's generational drift away from the limitations of the small town, exemplified by the bar itself. The Inn acts as ballast to the narrative problem of reconciling sticky personal relationships.

Carla is keen to return to her job in New York City, while Pete assumes the hard work, long hours and commitment of bar life. All three characters are self-interested figures forced to abandon big-time ambition (Carla's New York job) and childhood games (Pete and Stan's peeing competition at the tree house). Sexual betrayal, blame and guilt are at the heart of the story, carrying the past into the present, with Carla internalizing the pain of a personal decision she made before leaving Pete, family and farm for the Big Apple.

A trio of wisecracking old-timers – a Scot, an Irishman and an Englishman – is cast as prompts to the three main characters. Regulars at the bar, they perpetrate a running sight gag meant to keep alive the spirit of the former owner. Neither "wise men" nor oracles, they are drunken tricksters -- broadly written stereotypes played as farce -- but something of a nagging conscience through the haze of beer and pranks.

The bar scenes convey the textures of any local bar with a tradition of serving a small-town clientèle out for a night, a date and a brew, or a fight. An anonymous drunk looking for trouble ensnares Carla into his dark mood. A mêlée ensues and the bar is in a shambles as is its muddled future. Schriefer is a keen observer of the drudgery, dogged work and late hours of the bar scene. He also understands that local bars constitute a music scene for young talent, and he populates the bar scenes with various local bands.

The bar interior is a convincing recreation of the extant historic Angel Inn in Niagara-on-the- Lake, Ontario.

This is Schriefer's first feature film and his strengths are apparent. Schiefer is a storyteller and in person is an engaging conversationalist, energetically talking about writing scripts, and possesses a zeal for the values of indie films.

The Angel Inn is a great story driven drama about three friends returning home because a mutual friend had passed away. In his will, Stan Winston (Matt Gonzalez), Pete Miller (Daniel Kelly), and Janet Sloan (Carla Albi) co-inherit their friend's bar to their surprise. There are many memories that came to mind to the three and each of them has their own ideas of what was to become of that place. The question is, who's decision will reign supreme of the three. And will they be able to reconcile the past that haunts them when they return to their small rural town.

This low budget independent movie has great story driven content. The audience is driven to the relationships between the actors and how the conflict of their past drives them. Matthew Gonzales, who plays Stan Winston really drives that guy you love to hate character home. Bent on profiting for his future gain, he tries to manipulate the other two to see it his way. Contrary to popular belief, playing a villain isn't as easy as you think. The antagonist is basically the guy who sees he is in the right just like the heroes in the film. Sometimes it is the opposite of an actor's core values so to be believable in that role takes some time and preparation and Matthew does it well. I'd keep watch for all these actors as they did a fantastic job in the film.

The cinematography adds to that small sleepy independent feel and all this wraps up into one nice package. It makes one reflect after seeing the movie about how the past would influence you and when you return to a place after all these years, would you reconcile with people you just lost touch with. An inspiring movie and worth a watch.