Saint Monica

2002
PG
1h 22m

IMDb RATING

YOUR RATING

Genevieve Buechner in Saint Monica (2002)

Portuguese-Canadians Icelia and her ten year old daughter Monica have just moved from the Portuguese neighborhood in Toronto's inner city to a small basement suite in the outer suburbs follo... Read allPortuguese-Canadians Icelia and her ten year old daughter Monica have just moved from the Portuguese neighborhood in Toronto's inner city to a small basement suite in the outer suburbs following Icelia's acrimonious break-up with Monica's father, Vincent. While Icelia tries to ma... Read allPortuguese-Canadians Icelia and her ten year old daughter Monica have just moved from the Portuguese neighborhood in Toronto's inner city to a small basement suite in the outer suburbs following Icelia's acrimonious break-up with Monica's father, Vincent. While Icelia tries to make ends meet by doing housekeeping work, her brother Albert, who also lives with them slee... Read all

See production info at IMDbPro

IMDb RATING

6.1/10

146

YOUR RATING

See production info at IMDbPro

Awards
- 3 wins & 3 nominations total

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User reviews5

6.1146

Featured reviews

6SnoopyStyle

small Canadian indie

Monica (Genevieve Buechner) is a 10 year old Portuguese-Canadian in Toronto. Her mother (Brigitte Bako) is struggling with her ex-husband. Her family lives in a basement apartment. She is desperate to be an angel in the upcoming religious procession. She steals a pair of angel wings from the class. While riding public transit, she loses the wings. She spots them again and finds that they're being worn by troubled homeless lady Mary.

The cute little girl is pretty good. This is a small Canadian indie. The family drama and the immigrant life are slightly interesting. I thought the wings quest would be more compelling with more twists. It has some interesting religious potential ideas. Mostly, the potential could be further developed.

5artur_ciejka

Basic plot, appropriate acting, good camera work

The plot is basic. There is very little that happens in the movie. It is rather slow paced. This is not the strength of this movie.

The acting by Monica the child protagonist is fine. I usually expect children to be terrible actors, but her performance is appropriate.

There are quite a few interesting camera angles used in this movie. This gives it a fresh look. This is the strength of this movie.

A child learns that her only wants are not so important, and so by the end she acts like an angel to a woman with psychiatric problems.

Recommendation: watchable, not really memorable, will work for younger viewers as a lesson in moral behaviour.

7billchiu

outside and inside

love for something, such as religion, can exist just on the outside - a show and display but no more, without joy - with noise and style and fanfare but empty/fake. This film shows a love for faith of a personal sort, from some voice that seem unimportant, powerless, insane, even hopelessly confused, can be something that is complete/enough, and no one would even notice it. This reviewer is not religious and dislikes fundamentalists.

Saint monica is art film, e.g. it is strange and thinking is involved. If that is your thing then this film might delight you.

1+1=4, 4-1=1

7themarina1

Brilliant Acting Makes this Worth Watching

The story of a little girl who wants to be an angel, badly enough that she "borrows" some wings. I wasn't particularly fond of the plot of this movie but the acting was AMAZING. Genevieve Buechner is an outstanding talent. Her every move and line is effortless and seems natural. Every look sincere and innocent. I can't say enough of the acting. It really is brilliant.

6/10 I didn't like the movie but the acting made it well worth watching. Keep an eye out for this little girl!

junior_harrison

MORE MORE MORE!!

I would like Canadians to stand up and support their feature films when they are released. I loved this film, it captured the beauty of Toronto, the innocence of childhood. In today's world of Hollywood films for profit, it's rather refreshing to know that people are still making films that matter to the mind and not necessarily the pocket.

As movie patrons, I know there's room for every movie - I think we should seek out the 'under-hyped films' and give them support as well as the 'blockbusters.

The young star of the picture Ms Buechner portrayal as Monica was effortless, the films story lines were intelligent and thought provoking.