Saint Monica (2002)

Portuguese-Canadians Icelia and her ten year old daughter Monica have just moved from the Portuguese neighborhood in Toronto's inner city to a small basement suite in the outer suburbs ... See full summary »

Director:

Terrance Odette

Writer:

Terrance Odette

Stars:

Genevieve Buechner, Clare Coulter, Maurizio Terrazzano

3 wins & 3 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Genevieve Buechner	...	Monica
Clare Coulter	...	Mary
Maurizio Terrazzano	...	Albert
Krista Bridges	...	Miss Mederos
Brigitte Bako	...	Icelia
Emanuel Arruda	...	Hospital Security Officer
Bubba	...	City Worker
Conrad Coates	...	Calm Man
Ashley Cruz	...	Cortney
Kelly Fiddick	...	Drop In Man
Oscar Goncalves	...	Vince
Matt Gordon	...	TTC Attendant
Joan Heney	...	Drop In Woman
Sadie LeBlanc	...	Amanda
Celeste Lisboa	...	Grandmother

Storyline

Portuguese-Canadians Icelia and her ten year old daughter Monica have just moved from the Portuguese neighborhood in Toronto's inner city to a small basement suite in the outer suburbs following Icelia's acrimonious break-up with Monica's father, Vincent. While Icelia tries to make ends meet by doing housekeeping work, her brother Albert, who also lives with them sleeping on their living room sofa, is Monica's reluctant guardian and chauffeur. "Reluctant" as he would rather sleep or watch videos than take care of his niece. Icelia is unaware that Albert still associates with Vincent in order to receive what he believes are small favors from Vincent. Meanwhile, Monica, often left to her own devices, is a solitary girl whose primary fascination and focus is Catholicism, most specifically its rituals and symbols. As such, Monica wants more than anything to go back to her old Catholic school, located miles away, rather than attend her new secular school, and be one of the guardian angels ...

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Plot Keywords:

actress breaking typecast | church play | little girl | homeless woman | portugese canadian | 

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Genres:

Drama | Family

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated PG for some mild thematic elements

Details

Country:

Canada

Language:

English Portuguese

Release Date:

7 September 2002 (Canada)

Also Known As:

Sainte Monica

Filming Locations:

Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Company Credits

Production Co:

Day For Night Motion Pictures, Rave Film, Sienna Films

Technical Specs

Runtime:

82 min 82 min

Color:

Color

User Reviews

MORE MORE MORE!!

I would like Canadians to stand up and support their feature films when they are released. I loved this film, it captured the beauty of Toronto, the innocence of childhood. In today's world of Hollywood films for profit, it's rather refreshing to know that people are still making films that matter to the mind and not necessarily the pocket.

As movie patrons, I know there's room for every movie - I think we should seek out the 'under-hyped films' and give them support as well as the 'blockbusters.

The young star of the picture Ms Buechner portrayal as Monica was effortless, the films story lines were intelligent and thought provoking.