January 14, 2004

Culture ¢ the other press ©

Film Review: Emile

Trevor Hargreaves OP Contributor

Just when you thought Ian McKellan had given up seri- ous acting for pabulum supporting roles (Gandolf and Magneto anyone?), he makes a low-key appearance in this sedate yet engaging film. McKellan stars in the title role as Emile, an ex-pat Canadian returning to Canada after many years to receive an honorary degree from UVIC. When he arrives in Victoria, he visits his recently separated niece and her daughter, both of whom he has never met. The film weaves an intricate script, quickly establishing an intense yet distant relationship between his newfound family. While familiarizing himself with his relatives, Emile is also forced to reconcile the fact that his personal and family life has been a failure at the expense of his academic achievements. Utilizing a com- plex series of flashbacks to further the narrative, the film reveals the sad secrets of their family history while simul- taneously building upon a quiet happiness of the devel- oping family dynamic.

Originally from a small Saskatchewan town, it’s revealed that Emile left to pursue an academic life in England forty years prior. Upon his departure, tragedy befalls his family resulting in the placement of his niece in an orphanage. Emile is contacted by the orphanage and made aware of the situation, but in a truly self-cen- tred act, he refuses to adopt her, due mainly to the fact that single parent families are forbidden on his campus. This comes back to haunt him years later when he stays with her.

As the years of resentment harbored by his niece unfold, the film takes on the unmistakable air of modern Canadian cinema. It’s sensitive yet slightly odd. This film would make a welcome edition to future chapters of Katherine Monk’s Canadian film compendium Weird Sex and Snowshoes. While it doesn’t contain any elements of the books inflammatory title, the dreamy atmosphere of the film and sociologic elements are pure Canadiana cel- luloid. This is the third film by Bessai as part of a trilogy of films examining the topic of identity. Each film has focused on an individual in crisis with titles accordingly named after each character (i.e. Johnny and Lola). Emile elaborates on this subject as it focuses upon topics of acceptance and redemption. While I’m sure it isn’t exact- ly going to rival Lord of the Rings or X-Men in box office receipts, it is a film worth your attention. The script is complex and almost existential at times. Word has it that McKellan accepted the project as somewhat of an hom- age to Canada for the enjoyable weeks he spent here while filming the X-Men movies. While his recent big screen productions have focused on spectacular effects to impress the audience, this film relies purely on a well- crafted script and strong performances by McKellan and supporting actors Tygh Ruynan, Chris William Martin, Ian Tracy, Deborah Kara Unger, and Theo Crane.

Local Celebrity Hero Makes it Back to the Small Screen

Tanya Perone OP Contributor

Michael J. Fox will be back on television for two episodes of Scrubs (NBC Thursday nights) next month, playing the role of a doctor who suffers from obsessive- compulsive disorder. The sitcom’s popular comedy theme promises to have us all anticipating laughter at whatever specific compulsion Fox’s character possesses. Regardless of giggles or not, it will be nice to see him in action again.

Fox began his career at age 15 on a Canadian-based series called Leo and Me. He then dropped out of high school (though obtained his GED in 1994) to pursue his acting career and appeared in several American tele- vision series before landing the role of Alex P. Keaton on NBC's popular Family Ties (Sep 22, 1982—May 17, 1989). And as all good career stories go, his success only grew from there. Feature film hits such as, the Back to the Future trilogy, Teen Wolf, Mars Attacks! and many more helped secure his popularity, not to mention his added success with the television series Spin City. Fox has also contributed his talents to work on projects such as, Remember Pearl Harbor and Made For TV/Cable Movies like Dont Drink the Water and High School, U.S.A.

He married Family Ties costar Tracy Pollan on July 17, 1988, and together they welcomed their first child Sam Michael on May 30, 1989. Twins Aquinnah Kathleen

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and Schuyler Frances arrived on February 15, 1995, and lastly, Esmé Annabelle was born Nov 3, 2001. Today, though his family roots are in Canada, the Fox family considers home to be in New York. Getaway spots include a ranch in Connecticut, a beach home in Long Beach, California, and frequent visits Martha's Vineyard, located off the coast of Cape Cod, Massachusetts.

Fox owns his own production company, Lottery Hill Entertainment, and also established the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research in May 2000, two years after publicly announcing that he had been diagnosed with young-onset Parkinson’s disease.

Tanya Perone OP Contributor

Havent checked out a play yet this year and already feel- ing the live-arts itch? Well, consider Phantasm Players next production, Baby with the Bathwater at the Hawk’s Nest Theatre in Surrey, BC.

Christopher Durang’s two-act farce is about two par- ents—one an alcoholic and the other an unsatisfied writer, an absurd nanny, and the innocent baby who has them all asking, “What the hell is he...er...she... ...er...the baby thinking?”

Baby with the Bathwater asks the audience to share the first magical moments of infancy with both child and parents, through all the dark and darker moments that unite a family in dysfunction. The bottom line is it’s a fabulous satire on why you should really think about parenting BEFORE you become a parent.

Who are the Phantasm Players? Graduates of Queen Elizabeth Secondary School in Surrey formed the theatre group in the fall of 1993. Their goal was to keep alive

the spirit of the work they felt so passionately about

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while in school and to keep that same spirit alive for any other graduates who wished to join them, while still pursuing each individual’s personal goals separate from theatre. Today, Phantasm Players encourages member- ship to anyone who has either worked or graduated from the Surrey district.

Phantasm Players is registered under the Society Act of British Columbia, which allows for fundraising opportunities, including the support of various drama programs within the Surrey district. Their first produc- tion, Crimes of the Heart, came in 1994 and sixteen more productions followed. Today, Phantasm Players is one of the Surrey district's theatrical pride-and-joys as they proudly represent their successful small community.

Baby With the Bathwater will be showing Jan 28-30, 7:30pm at the Hawk’s Nest Theatre, 16060 108 Ave. Surrey. For more information call the theatre at 604.578.4803 or Phantasm Players Theatre Society at 604.582.9231, <info@phantasmplayers.ca>.

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