Acts of Imagination

This kitchen sink drama, all about a brother and sister trying to make ends meet in Vancouver after migrating from the Ukraine, is one of those movies you almost instantly forget about. It does have some appealing quantitities I suppose, most specifically, Stephanie Hayes' performance, but the negatives far outweigh the negatives. Boring camera work, a laughable male lead who's accent comes and goes chewing up the scenery, and a script that ultimately goes nowhere leading to a dull conclusion that in the end, you just don't care for these characters and you're left shrugging your shoulders and saying, 'Meh'. I'm all for independent Canadian cinema. But it doesn't have to have the effect of fingernails scratching on the blackboard.

I liked this film. I found this film in the corner of a rental store in Vancouver on commercial drive. I think that the concept was closely perceived, beautifully acted (who is Stephanie Hayes?), troubling and haunting. It's not an action film for ten year old boys to enjoy, but has character levels that slowly unfold. The portrayal of the brother-sister relationship moved me. From the beginning of the film where the character slowly peels an orange to the end where she actually begins to "recognize" the people around her, it's an interesting journey worth taking. I liked the music very much and I think it set and supported the mood of the film. I am surprised more people don't know about this film.