Normal (2007)

A deadly car accident brings together a group of previously unrelated people, each of whom is forced to deal with the emotional fallout.

Director:

Carl Bessai

Writer:

Travis McDonald

Stars:

Carrie-Anne Moss, Kevin Zegers, Callum Keith Rennie

6 wins & 11 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Carrie-Anne Moss	...	Catherine
Kevin Zegers	...	Jordie
Callum Keith Rennie	...	Walt
Andrew Airlie	...	Dale
Tygh Runyan	...	Dennis
Camille Sullivan	...	Elise
Lauren Lee Smith	...	Sherri
Michael Riley	...	Carl
Britt Irvin	...	Melissa
Allison Hossack	...	Abby
Cameron Bright	...	Brady
Tara Frederick	...	Sylvie
Benjamin Ratner	...	Tim (as Ben Ratner)
Zak Santiago	...	Bob the Social Worker
Hrothgar Mathews	...	Jerry

Storyline

A grieving mother cannot "move on" after her son's death, keeping his room as it was, wanting her younger boy to be like his dead brother. A youth leaves juvenile detention, going home to an angry father and a lonely young step-mother. A college teacher whose brother has autistic behaviors separates from his wife and is attracted to a student. The narrative discloses slowly the mother, youth, and teacher's connections to a car accident. The paroled youth talks to the dead boy's girlfriend and must sort out his relationship with his step-mother; the professor encourages his brother to go on a date. Can the mother see her living son for who he is? In what ways can each be normal? In what ways can each be normal?

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Plot Keywords:

car accident | sex with collegiate | ensemble cast | prodigal son | male nudity | 

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Genres:

Drama

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for sexuality and language

Details

Country:

Canada

Language:

English

Release Date:

7 October 2008 (USA)

Filming Locations:

Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada

Box Office

Budget:

$2,500,000 (estimated)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Head Gear Films, Normal Film Company, The, Raven West Films Ltd.

Technical Specs

Runtime:

100 min 100 min

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

In many of her scenes, Carrie-Anne Moss is alone in the screen.

User Reviews

Nothing Radically Novel, But I Liked It

This film is actually for the beginners. Beginner everything. Beginner cine-goer, beginner observer, beginner lover, beginner recuperating person. It did not tell me anything I already did not know. But I liked the style of representation in this film. Similar situations do happen in real life, though sometimes much less predictable, much more pivotal, and beyond redemption. There is, however, no point in making a film on what is the worst that could happen. It makes all the more sense to show while on your way to the last stand, at the edge of loneliness, what it is that you would cling on to or let go of. Sometimes that thing is within your reach, sometimes it is not. Sometimes it is well-deserved, sometimes it is just a matter of chance. This film looks into some such characteristic cases.

Pretty much everyone in this film did what they had been asked of, I think. That was not much of a challenge. They are making more films like these nowadays, so probably it will not leave any deep impression for the days to come. But still, watching it just once will not be an utterly disappointing or revolting experience. You can raise questions, of course. But as you will soon realize, the answer to most questions is "It was never really meant to be a masterpiece or anything." And that pretty much sums it up!