A Simple Curve - A review
December 3rd 2006 06:32
Canadian-made, A Simple Curve (1995) is a gentle yet illuminating tale of the choices we make or don't make in life.
27-year-old Caleb works in a small carpentry shop with his hippy father Jim, in the magnificent Kootenay Rockies. Caleb is just 27, although he's old beyond his years. He refers to himself as "nearly 30." Caleb (Kris Lemche) and his father, Jim (Michael Hogan), have always seemed more like old friends than father and son. Jim is an easy-going father who dodged the American draft to forge his own future by founding a carpentry shop in British Columbia's Kootenays. Jim and Caleb spend the days crafting a variety of fine products, but lately the bills have been stacking up and tensions between father and son rising. Now faced with the very real possibility of their business failing as a result of direct competition with mass produced particle board products and Jim's misguided perfectionism, the family business teeters on the verge of bankruptcy until the arrival of Jim's old friend Matthew (Matt Craven) instils Caleb with a much needed dose of pragmatism. Though Jim has long voiced displeasure of Caleb's proposal to open a luxury fishing lodge that may bring in more money and keep the family business afloat, Caleb decides to take his fate into his own hands.
To me, there are a few moments in the film where things aren’t totally polished, but its sharp writing and performances make up for it I would’ve liked the film to be slightly longer with more depth to the characters and their actions. One of the outstanding scenes is where Caleb is taking his girlfriend on a date, and is for some reason breaks the ice by revealing that he has slept with the waitress, also the girl sitting at the next table and her friend.
The scenery is unrelentingly beautiful, I just wanted to hop on a place and breath in some of that Rocky-fresh air. In accordance with the title, this film has gently and simple curves that collimates in changes for the characters. A Simple Curve possess wisdom intermingled with excellent performances and gentle humour.
This is the beauty of film festivals, being able to absorb yourself in another culture for ten days. Seeing this film at the historic and recently re-opened Chauvel in Sydney was a perfect way to spend a rainy Sunday afternoon.
27-year-old Caleb works in a small carpentry shop with his hippy father Jim, in the magnificent Kootenay Rockies. Caleb is just 27, although he's old beyond his years. He refers to himself as "nearly 30." Caleb (Kris Lemche) and his father, Jim (Michael Hogan), have always seemed more like old friends than father and son. Jim is an easy-going father who dodged the American draft to forge his own future by founding a carpentry shop in British Columbia's Kootenays. Jim and Caleb spend the days crafting a variety of fine products, but lately the bills have been stacking up and tensions between father and son rising. Now faced with the very real possibility of their business failing as a result of direct competition with mass produced particle board products and Jim's misguided perfectionism, the family business teeters on the verge of bankruptcy until the arrival of Jim's old friend Matthew (Matt Craven) instils Caleb with a much needed dose of pragmatism. Though Jim has long voiced displeasure of Caleb's proposal to open a luxury fishing lodge that may bring in more money and keep the family business afloat, Caleb decides to take his fate into his own hands.
To me, there are a few moments in the film where things aren’t totally polished, but its sharp writing and performances make up for it I would’ve liked the film to be slightly longer with more depth to the characters and their actions. One of the outstanding scenes is where Caleb is taking his girlfriend on a date, and is for some reason breaks the ice by revealing that he has slept with the waitress, also the girl sitting at the next table and her friend.
The scenery is unrelentingly beautiful, I just wanted to hop on a place and breath in some of that Rocky-fresh air. In accordance with the title, this film has gently and simple curves that collimates in changes for the characters. A Simple Curve possess wisdom intermingled with excellent performances and gentle humour.
This is the beauty of film festivals, being able to absorb yourself in another culture for ten days. Seeing this film at the historic and recently re-opened Chauvel in Sydney was a perfect way to spend a rainy Sunday afternoon.
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Comment by Cibbuano
Hunt Famous
Orble Post of the Day
Fat Cult
Techbreak
I live right across from the Chauvel too!
Comment by Tracy
Movies and Life
I got some free tickets so that's why!!
That's a good spot to live, there's some amazing houses around there,
Tracy