Donovan's Echo (2011)

A series of uncanny déjà vu events force a man to re-examine his tragic past, memory, instinct, and future.

Director:

Jim Cliffe

Writers:

Jim Cliffe (screenplay), Melodie Krieger (screenplay)

Stars:

Danny Glover, Kyarra Willis, Karen Holness

4 wins & 6 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Danny Glover	...	Donovan Matheson
Kyarra Willis	...	Magnolia Matheson
Karen Holness	...	Jasmine Matheson
Bruce Greenwood	...	Finnley Boyd
Kevin McNulty	...	Dean Belton
Natasha Calis	...	Maggie Walgrave
Lanette Ware	...	Susan Boyd
Hiro Kanagawa	...	Kaisha
Katina Small	...	Maggie Walgrave - 35 years
Stephen Jefferys	...	Speaker (as Stephen Jeffreys)
Chelah Horsdal	...	Doctor
David Lewis	...	Kit
Sonja Bennett	...	Sarah Walgrave
Sunita Prasad	...	Medical Assistant
Ian Tracey	...	Ray

Storyline

In late 1994, former physicist Donovan Matheson returns to his hometown to live in the house he abandoned almost thirty years ago following the deaths of his wife and then eleven year old daughter, Jasmine Matheson and Magnolia Matheson respectively, in a car accident caused by Christopher Bailey, an underage driver who stole a car for a joyride. Donovan, who focused his work on cold fusion, believes he is at fault for their deaths as he believes he could have saved them if not for other things in his life, including his excessive drinking which has only worsened in his grief. The house had been kept up by Donovan's friend, police sergeant Finnley Boyd, who Donovan had only sporadically kept in touch with in the intervening years. Although not clear why he moved back, Donovan comes to believe, in a sense of déjà vu, that the purpose of his return ultimately is to save an eleven year old girl he meets, Maggie Walgrave, in his constant encounters with her, her bookstore owner mother ...

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Plot Keywords:

past | memory | instinct | astronomy | afterlife | 

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Genres:

Drama | Fantasy | Mystery | Sci-Fi | Thriller

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated PG-13 for some violent content

Details

Official Sites:

Official Facebook Official site

Country:

Canada

Language:

English

Release Date:

15 February 2012 (USA)

Also Known As:

El destino está escrito

Filming Locations:

Fort Langley, British Columbia, Canada

Company Credits

Production Co:

Common Man Films Ltd.,Donovan's Echo Productions,Maniacal Toon Media

Technical Specs

Runtime:

91 min

Did You Know?

Trivia

Selected as the opening film gala event at the 2011 Calgary International Film Festival.

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Goofs

In the newspaper clipping Donovan pulls out near the beginning of the movie, there is a typo. It says "Police and ambulances responded quickly to the seen.. (should be "scene").

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Soundtracks

Gene Pool
Songwriter Mark Kevin Wilson
Produced by Vintage Masters Music
Performed by Lucian Blaque
Courtesy of Fervor Records Vintage Master, a division of Wild Whirled Music

User Reviews

A retired nuclear physicist involved in the Manhattan project searches for meaning surrounding a personal tragedy that altered the direction of his life.

Outstanding performances by Danny Glover and Bruce Greenwood ground this interesting introspective investigation into déjà vu., time, and personal loss.

Well directed by Jim Cliffe, we see Glover's character Donovan slowly emerge from the fog of alcoholism, fighting to solve a mystery surrounding haunting déjà vu experiences. The viewer is drawn through this well constructed story at a very comfortable pace, with a sprinkle of humour that makes this drama extremely entertaining.

Donovan's Echo is multi-layered yet suitable for family viewing. It is bound to stimulate some interesting discussion afterwards.

Special mention must also be made of the very strong performance by Natasha Calis who plays Maggie.

With elements of an art-house film, Donovan's Echo will be remembered as THE sleeper indie success of 2011.