Awaiting Atwood

Awaiting Atwood was a surprising delight, written and directed by Beth Mairs of BAM North productions. Those who know and love Atwood's work will appreciate the references to many of her novels interwoven throughout this adventure parody. The film features sidesplitting dialogue and breath taking scenery as we follow the hapless middle-aged adventuresses on their travels from Northern Ontario to Toronto. Actors Mairs and Betty Ann McPherson deliver solid performances as the two protagonists, and are supported by a cast of engaging, seemingly everyday folk encountered on their travels. A cameo appearance by Atwood herself near the end of the film adds a certain cache and brings us full circle in truly understanding what I take to be the film's main message, which is to appreciate the journey, to question the destination and to celebrate the people and places we love. Thank you for this refreshing and unique addition to the adventure 'genre' - I look forward to more from Mairs and BAM North!

This (very) low budget movie is a Northern gem you don't have be a northerner to appreciate. I first saw it at a tribute to Margaret Atwood - who does appear in the film - eventually. Then had to see it again at the Female eye Festival. The story is trig-comic, the laughs come just at the right time. Beth Mairs carries off the difficult job of being both Director and actor really well. She's funny, sweet, completely endearing. The only slight criticism I had was that for some viewers (overseas students, and perhaps any in the far south) a map of the terrain, the vast area of Georgian Bay on Lake Huron, would highlight the sheer madness of taking the "short" cut without taking the ferry. Can't wait to see more from BAM and Beth Mairs.

Awaiting Atwood is goofy, ridiculous and fun. The two main characters, in all their middle-aged glory, are on a journey to what they believe is a rendez-vous with an icon: Margaret Atwood. Travelling by canoe, bicycle and hang glider through the wilds of Northern Ontario, battling the elements, they run into extreme characters, existential angst and adventures that, of course, are loosely based on Atwood novels. No spoiler alerts here, you'll have to watch this movie to find out if their quest is successful. But I can guarantee that the trip is worth it; your travel companions are a hoot, there are always strange twists and turns, and there are many laughs on the way. This is a movie unlike any other. Highly recommended.

Filmmaker Beth Mairs takes a decidedly screw ball approach to the dire genre of adventure films. Poking fun at the cult of hero worship that pervades most adventure films, Mairs presents two lovable and flawed women who take the road less traveled from Sudbury to Toronto to meet their idol Margaret Atwood. The humour in this satirical adventure film is fearless, following tangents and bursts of imagination that had the audience roaring with laughter. As smart as it is funny, Mairs uses the Canadian landscape and the differences between urban and rural living to highlight some of the critiques of Canadian culture that Margaret Atwood herself posits in her work. The films flaws come from the exuberance of a first time filmmaker putting all their ideas in one film but it is so charming and original that much is forgiven and you laugh through the ride.

Awaiting Atwood is a charming and hilarious adventure spoof. Writer, director and co-star Beth Mairs, is a wonderfully talented comic actor and is surrounded by great foils: including other actors and just regular folk she and co-star, Betty Ann MacPherson, meet on their funny and awkward journey from Northern Ontario to Toronto. The plot is simultaneously silly and engaging with lovely surprise ending.

Mairs may be a newcomer to comedy fiction but she has crafted a tight piece of cinema. In terms of production values Awaiting Atwood punches far above its weight class.

I didn't stop smiling for a long time after the credits rolled!