John and the Missus (1987)

User Rating:

7.9/10   

Director:

Gordon Pinsent

Writers:

Gordon Pinsent (short)
Gordon Pinsent (writer)

Genre:

Drama

Plot:

A small Canadian town is devasted when a local mine--the town's only source of income--is closed. One...

Plot Keywords:

Independent Film | Character Name In Title

Awards:

2 wins & 4 nominations

Cast

Gordon Pinsent	...	John Munn
Jackie Burroughs	...	Missus
Randy Follett	...	Matt
Jessica Steen	...	Faith
Roland Hewgill	...	Fred Budgell
Timothy Webber	...	Danny Boland
Neil Munro	...	Tom Noble
Michael Wade	...	Sid Peddigrew
Jerry Doyle	...	Alf Sheppard
Jane Dingle	...	Mavis Sheppard
Barry Green	...	Wallace Cahill
Ricky Raymond	...	Robert Cahill
Austin Davis	...	Len Peacock
Judy Furlong	...	Stella Peacock
Brian Downey	...	Burgess

Runtime:

USA:100 min

Country:

Canada

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Iceland:12 | USA:PG | Canada:PG

Filming Locations:

Petty Harbour, Newfoundland, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada

Company:

Big Island Motion Pictures

Indelible Image

It's very rare that a film manages to sear an image into one's mind powerful enough to stay for years. This simple little film from Newfoundland/Labrador really managed to do that for me. I first saw this film back in... I'm pretty sure it was in elementary school. Anyway, the storyline itself is very straightforward and plays with some fairly familiar 'human-centric' thematics. This focus on emotion can surely be appreciated on the narrative level. And, sure, the acting is commendable.

But the best films surely have something more than storyline/acting/narrative elements going for them. The best films have a *uniquely cinematic* element as well. A purely visual element. To my surprise, this unassuming film turned out to have that cinematic element. Or I've certainly realized so over the years, as it has stuck in my mind. Or one image in particular certainly has. As you're perhaps aware, there are a few things in life that are 'inherently cinematic', one could say. Fireworks? Human faces? Automobiles? ... Water. This film might actually contain the best use of water as an inherently cinematic element. It only comes near the end, if I'm recalling correctly, and involves the house in question.

You'll know it when you see it. It sticks in the mind. It's memorable as hell. ... So this is most certainly a sadly neglected film. Even when Canadian cinema is discussed, this very rarely gets mentioned. Well, fine, then it can always be remembered as an overlooked gem.