Jackson Martin, Reece Moffett, and Nick Serino star as three young friends in Canadian film Sleeping Giant.

Jackson Martin, Reece Moffett, and Nick Serino star as three young friends in Canadian film Sleeping Giant.

Sleeping Giant captures the restlessness of youth

Canadian film Sleeping Giant to be screened at the Vernon Towne Cinema May 16.

The Vernon Film Society will be showing the third movie of its spring season Monday, May 16 at the Vernon Towne Cinema.

The movie is Canadian film Sleeping Giant, which won Best Canadian First Feature Film at the Toronto International Film Festival and has been nominated for other awards at festivals around the world.

Directed by Adam Cividino, the movie tells the story of three teen boys spending the summer on the shores of Lake Superior. The trials of adolescence, with its emotional ups and downs, boredom and excitement in equal measure are all here in this isolated cottage community.

As the summer plays out, the volatile dynamics of the group of three boys and a pretty girl, who has known one of them for years, push the group to a dangerous imbalance.

If you’ve ever spent a teenage summer in a rural area with little supervision and nothing much to do, you’ll instantly recognize both the ennui and the creeping atmosphere of mystery and menace that Cividino’s film so expertly captures.

Boasting fine performances by the young cast, a singular visual style and some exquisite and insightful writing, Sleeping Giant is a stellar debut by this first-time director.

Barry Hertz of The Globe and Mail states: “Cividino creates a volatile, captivating and singular look at adolescence, wholly free of the sanitized antics of Hollywood.”

The film screens May 16 at 5:15 and 7:45 p.m. It is rated 14A for coarse and sexual language. Tickets are $7 (cash only), available at the theatre and the Bean Scene.

 

Vernon Morning Star