Saint Jude (2000)

Teen-aged sisters Jude and Maureen, living with their volatile father in Montréal, live a life of substance abuse, hustling and petty theft. After Jude's father kicks her out of the house ... See full summary »

Director:

John L'Ecuyer

Writers:

Heather O'Neill (story), Heather O'Neill,

Stars:

Liane Balaban, Nicholas Campbell, Raymond Cloutier

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Liane Balaban	...	Jude
Nicholas Campbell	...	Dad
Raymond Cloutier	...	Clarence
Bernie Coulson	...	Big Al
Kris Lemche	...	Gabe
Louise Portal	...	Georgie's Mother
Victoria Sanchez	...	Maureen
Victor Soumis	...	Georgie
Simon Peacock	...	Lenny
Tom Watt	...	Pat
Daniela Akerblom	...	Drunk Girl in Club
Robert Morin	...	Drug Dealer
David DiSalvio	...	Jude's Trick
Arizona O'Neill	...	4 year old kid
Mary Morter	...	Clarence's Mother

Storyline

Teen-aged sisters Jude and Maureen, living with their volatile father in Montréal, live a life of substance abuse, hustling and petty theft. After Jude's father kicks her out of the house for her abusive and thieving ways, Jude is forced to survive on the streets with the assistance of her odd assortment of friends, including middle aged pedophile Clarence, pre-teen male hustler Georgie, pimp Big Al, and Maureen's junkie boyfriend Gabe. Georgie has a crush on Jude, while Jude unrealistically fantasizes about a normal married life with Gabe. All the while, Jude is also trying to elude the sadistic Mink, who she inadvertently crossed.

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Plot Keywords:

hustler | montréal quebec canada | drug use | teenage girl | mother son relationship | 

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Genres:

Drama

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Details

Country:

Canada

Language:

English French

Release Date:

6 October 2000 (Canada)

Filming Locations:

Montréal, Québec, Canada

Box Office

Budget:

CAD 750,000 (estimated)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC), Lux Films, Movie Network, The (TMN)

Technical Specs

Runtime:

90 min

Color:

Color

Did You Know?

Quotes

Pat: I got money.
Jude: Wipe your mouth. You got a little bullshit there.

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Connections

References The Karate Kid (1984)

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Soundtracks

"Fragile Love"
Written by Chris Byrne, Martin Tielli, Andrew Rockridge
Performed by Chris Byrne, Martin Tielli, Andrew Rockridge

User Reviews

engaging, though flawed

Despite Baliban's excellent portrayal of wise child Jude, and a series of wonderful character bits sprinkled throughout, Saint Jude fails to scale the heights it so desperately wants to.

Over -directed by L'Ecuyer (those fast motion shots of a world passing the characters by are used a little too often), who fails to capture the absolute essence of the film. Jude looks far too clean for a kid slumming on the streets, (literally too clean) and features some very stagy, awkward monologues that would have been better off left on the cutting room floor.

All this said the film has some very engaging moments, especially those involving Jude's wanderings, which have that joyous though melancholy sense of a young woman trying desperately to put her adulthood on hold for as long as possible.