Expiration

EXPIRATION - A delightful discovery from the Victoria Indie Film Fest.

A fresh new Montreal filmmaker's no-budget film that outclasses most big budget projects. Every shot is beautifully composed, memorable characters you really care about, and each scene has a reason and depth. Smart sound track too.

Gavin Heffernan wrote and directed and co-starred as the reluctant protagonist on a journey "amidst the chaotic, yet seemingly predestined events of a Fall Montreal night". It is a labour of love project and it worked!

On the DVD, the real, not promotional, "making of" doc gives you as sense of the energy, sacrifice, and care that went into the production. And the "director's commentary" recorded hours after a marathon final editing session reflects the same. Gavin sounds somewhat dazed and, sitting in front of three uncorked Coronas, shares with us the triumph and wonder of a cool auteur's film, beautifully realized.

I'll be showing it soon as part of my weekly film series. Like POST CONCUSSION, discoveries like this are what I live for.

This movie was made with lots of hart and spirit and little money. It's an honest movie fun to watch. I know I have enjoyed it. I think Gavin Heffernan is in the right field and is going to be around for a long time as he will get more experienced we can expect great things coming up.

Dope fiends and the strange prowl the night, yet the normals often drop in for a visit. So is Expiration, a work of understated devililishness, probing into the depths of the putrid city streets after dark.

Heffernan is a madman, one of which we need more of and yet one who must stand alone and be unique. He'll slaughter pigs by hand if it would make a better film, and that takes dedication and love and a fair amount of industrial strength glue in my business.

Not to be missed, Expiration undoubtedly appreciates upon viewing, and I fully expect it's vintage to be prime in two to three years after maturing in French and American oak.

Had the pleasure of meeting many talented directors and filmmakers out

at the Victoria film fest 2004 (best fest ever), and I have to say to

the world, this 23-year-old-kid is the Real Deal.

I've been in film for many years and I was just blown away by his

feature debut from a creative, technical and poetic point of view.

American Beauty meets After Hours with loads of unexpected thrills

(let's just say I'll never play roulette again) and grace (especially

between the 2 leads). Go out and find this movie and watch it. If you're

a studio head out there - give this guy a deal. Good stuff Gavin.

Warren P. Sonoda, director, Ham & Cheese.

After watching this film i immediately had to find out who made it , and find out everything else they had done....then, had to find out what all the actors had done...then i had to see what everyone was getting up to next.

well, don't bother. save yer bandwidth. The guy who wrote it, directed it, and starred in it. Gavin Hefferman. 23 years old, took a year to complete between pre and post while studying. its filmed on digital with a 10k budget, using a cast of unknowns. I found this out after watching it.

i think this is one of the BEST films I've seen this year. all the characters are totally believable, the script isn't far-fetched, but when its unusual or foreign, its still very believable. i think there's maybe 3 songs used in the whole film, and one of those is classical played on hifi in the script.

I think if i knew how the film was made, and the budget, i probably wouldn't have enjoyed it as much, i would have expected more. but with out that level of expectation, trying to chop down a young filmmaker, i thoroughly enjoyed the whole moofee. i couldn't think of a fault now if i tried.

I could write about details or plot or crap, (if thats what you want, read a different review) I gotta go and give friends my copy to watch......