Emile (2003)

User Rating:

6.4/10   

Director:

Carl Bessai

Writer:

Carl Bessai (written by)

Release Date:

9 January 2004 (Canada)

Genre:

Drama

Plot:

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

Plot Keywords:

Magic Realism | Saskatchewan | Flashback | Victoria British Columbia | Brother Brother Relationship

Awards:

1 win & 2 nominations

Cast

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

Also Known As:

Émile (Canada: French title)

MPAA:

Rated R for language.

Runtime:

Canada:95 min (Toronto International Film Festival) | USA:92 min

Country:

Canada | UK

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

Iceland:12 | UK:15 | Brazil:10 | Canada:14A | USA:R | Finland:K-11

Filming Locations:

London, England, UK

Company:

BV International Pictures

Trivia:

When they filmed the part where Emile goes on the train, they didn't block off a section of the platform. As a result, you can actually see someone whip their head around after Ian McKellen passes by them.

Goofs:

Errors in geography: 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.

Movie Connections:

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

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.