Victoria Day (2009)

Over the course of one week in 1988, the search for a missing teammate, parental expectations, a burgeoning sexual awakening and the rock concert of the century all threaten to jolt a 16-year-old into adulthood.

Director:

David Bezmozgis

Writer:

David Bezmozgis

Stars:

Mark Rendall, Sergiy Kotelenets, Nataliya Alyexeyenko

2 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Mark Rendall	...	Ben Spektor
Sergiy Kotelenets	...	Yuri Spektor
Nataliya Alyexeyenko	...	Mila Spektor
Holly Deveaux	...	Cayla Chapman
John Mavro	...	Sammy Balaban
Scott Beaudin	...	Noah Hartsman
Melanie Leishman	...	Melanie
Jeff Pustil	...	Jerry Chapman
Mitchell Amaral	...	Jordan Chapman
Greta Onieogou	...	Sara
Duane Murray	...	Coach Ken
Brendan Price	...	Brad McCoulough
Scotty Cook	...	Tim Wilson
Murray Oliver	...	Policeman #1
Philip Williams	...	Fireworks Guy

Storyline

It is May 1988 in Toronto. The school year is coming to a close. The Victoria Day long weekend heralds the beginning of summer. In Boston, Wayne Gretzky's dynastic Edmonton Oilers are playing in the Stanley Cup Finals. Best of all, Bob Dylan is coming to town. Ben Spektor, 16, attends the concert with his two closest friends, Sammy and Noah. Though the year is 1988, they exist as if in a time warp, idolizing the music and culture of the 1960s. Outside the concert, Ben sees what looks like a routine exchange: two teenagers buying drugs. In a way he could never have predicted, the consequences of this drug deal will alter the course of his summer and, quite possibly, the rest of his life. This one event, barely significant at the time, initiates Ben into love, as well as death, and forces him to confront his conscience, his friends, and his family. Over the span of one week, seemingly disparate forces converge on him - the search for a missing boy, his romance with the boy's sister, the...

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Plot Keywords:

missing | bob dylan | coming of age | making out | nude colored bra | 

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Genres:

Drama

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Details

Country:

Canada

Language:

English Russian

Release Date:

17 January 2009 (USA)

Also Known As:

Imera nikis

Filming Locations:

Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Box Office

Budget:

CAD 1,700,000 (estimated)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Markham Street Films

Technical Specs

Runtime:

88 min

Color:

Color

Did You Know?

Goofs

When the two hockey players are talking at the railing at Ontario Place beside the water, a crew member's shadow is intermittently visible on the side of Ben's face.

User Reviews

Refreshingly good English Canadian cinema

I'd like to take this space to thank the filmmakers for doing right by Canadians, and creating a good English Canadian film, re-confirming that Quebec has competition in good film-making in Canada.

I grew up elsewhere in Ontario, but the feeling of the times in the film is familiar. I think this film captures far better than Breakfast Club what it was actually like to be a teen in the 80s.

I did feel that the ending was too abrupt. It felt not like a conclusion but simply running out of script, and that's the main thing holding me back from rating this higher than 7.

But I appreciated the good acting, particularly from Mark Rendell. I also appreciated that the cinematography worked to bring the characters forward, rather than drawing needless attention to itself.

So, yeah, I'm glad I saw it. I don't say that often.