Emile (2003)

In a story weaving the past and present together, Emile seeks redemption from the family he abandoned.

Director:

Carl Bessai

Writer:

Carl Bessai

Stars:

Ian McKellen, Deborah Kara Unger, Theo Crane

1 win & 3 nominations.

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Ian McKellen	...	Emile
Deborah Kara Unger	...	Nadia / Nadia's Mother
Theo Crane	...	Maria / Nadia (age 10)
Tygh Runyan	...	Freddy
Chris William Martin	...	Carl
Ian Tracey	...	Tom
Janet Wright	...	Alice
Nancy Sivak	...	Superintendent
Frank Borg	...	Taxi Driver

Storyline

As a young man, Emile left his Saskatchewan farm life behind to head to university in Britain, with his brothers, the older brusque and controlling Carl and the younger sensitive Freddy, left to run the family farm. This move was despite Freddy showing greater potential and thus probably benefiting more from academic life. However, Carl wouldn't allow Freddy to leave because of his mechanical expertise which was required to tend to the farm equipment. Emile vowed to return, but never did, which affected Freddy the most. Now in early retirement, Emile, still living in Britain, travels to Victoria, Canada to accept an honorary degree from the university there. In Victoria, he decides to stay with now deceased Carl's grown daughter Nadia, and Nadia's ten year old daughter Maria. Emile had never made any attempt over the years to connect with Nadia or Maria, who only really know him by name. On the surface to Nadia, Emile's visit is purely a need on his part for a free bed while in ...

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Plot Keywords:

farm | honorary degree | family abandonment | great uncle great niece relationship | acceptance | 

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Genres:

Drama

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for language

Details

Official Sites:

Ravenwest Films [ca]

Country:

Canada UK

Language:

English

Release Date:

9 January 2004 (Canada)

Also Known As:

Émile

Filming Locations:

London, England, UK

Box Office

Budget:

CAD 3,000,000 (estimated)

Company Credits

Production Co:

BV International Pictures, Emile Productions Inc., Helkon SK

Technical Specs

Runtime:

92 min 95 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

While in British Columbia, Ian McKellen developed an obsession with Beaver Tails - a long donut with sugar on it. He told the director that his character had to have a line with "beaver tails" in it, which is how that piece of dialogue got into the movie

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Goofs

The film was shot in British Columbia but some parts of the action are set in Saskatchewan. In one Saskatchewan scene, there are mountains on the horizon. There are no mountains in (or visible from) Saskatchewan.

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Connections

Featured in Weird Sex and Snowshoes: A Trek Through the Canadian Cinematic Psyche (2004)

User Reviews

fans of Deborah Unger will not be disappointed.

This is definitely a character based movie. As such it's never a total waste to watch Ian McKellan work - playing someone trying to come to terms with the difficulties and poor choices in his past, and Deborah Unger truly nails her character - a woman who is bruised and bitter but determined not to give up on life. It's always a treat to see a movie filmed in Canada that doesn't pretend to be somewhere else. Alas the resolution seemed a little too easy and contrived, and I found the soundtrack monotonous and intrusive.