Tkaronto (2007)

Ray and Jolene come to the city in search of new answers to old age questions. They walk away with themselves.

Director:

Shane Anthony Belcourt

Writer:

Shane Anthony Belcourt

Stars:

Jonah Allison, Rae Ellen Bodie, Lorne Cardinal

Cast

Credited cast:
Jonah Allison	...	Inferno Dad
Rae Ellen Bodie	...	Tarrot card reader
Lorne Cardinal	...	Max Cardinal
Jeff Geddis	...	John
Sandy Jobin-Bevans	...	Best Dad Ever
Cheri Maracle	...	Linda Cardinal
Melanie McLaren	...	Jolene Peltier
Mike McPhaden	...	Kevin
Duane Murray	...	Ray Morrin

Storyline

Tkaronto is a reflective and provoking exploration of two Aboriginal 30-somethings, Ray and Jolene, who make an unexpected connection at the pinnacle of a common struggle: to stake claim to their urban aboriginal identity. Ray Morin, A Métis writer, is in Tkaronto (the original Mohawk word for "Toronto") to pitch his TV series, Indian Jones. This looks to be his big break. The only problem is Ray's growing disdain for TV execs who are more motivated by ticking off the Aboriginal box and tapping into "hot" Aboriginal funding than they are genuinely interested in the project itself. Ray feels caught between a rock and a hard place as his non-aboriginal wife puts the pressure on for him to take the job. Jolene Peltier, an Anishnabe painter, is in Tkaronto conducting interviews for a series of portraits on prominent Aboriginal people. When Elder Max Cardinal gives her an eagle feather and sweetgrass, it confirms her deep-seated feeling that she should walk a spiritual path. But can ...

---

Plot Keywords:

aboriginal | low budget film | toronto ontario canada | native american | one word title | 

---

Taglines:

In the search for each other we find ourselves

---

Genres:

Drama

---

Details

Official Sites:

Official site

Country:

Canada

Language:

English

Release Date:

21 October 2007 (Canada)

Filming Locations:

Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Box Office

Budget:

CAD 20,000 (estimated)

Company Credits

Production Co:

The Breath Films

Technical Specs

Runtime:

105 min

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Color:

Color (NTSC Color)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

User Reviews

Tkerrible

This movie played like a college project. Needlessly long shots of people over-re-acting surrounded by time-filling shots of being in a sunny field. Many scenes of people whining for new-agey solutions to their self-absorbed mundane yuppy dramas. Whining, that is, unless they're raging against stereotypical straw men in the process of stereotyping. Most of the humor falls flat as a flounder dropped from the CN Tower. Would have been a better movie if it were completely a dialog between Max Cardinal and the Tarot Card Reader. Felt a bit bruised under the assault of constant button pushing. Here's hoping for better movies from this director.