by Cheryl Hann, Arts Contributor
Let’s not call this a review. Let’s call this a preview, and since Dalhousie grad Laura Dawe’s first feature film, Light is the Day doesn’t come out until later tonight, let’s not spoil anything.
If you picked up last week’s copy of The Coast, you already know the romantic DIY tale of how this movie was made. With its budget, actors and soundtrack taken from outside the system, Light is the Day is a bona fide testament to what can happen when you mix equal parts ambition, talent and aesthetic wherewithal. Throw in a dash of an incredibly supportive arts community, and you’ve got a pretty impressive film/cake.
Light is the Day (henceforth abbreviated LITD) makes full use of Dawe’s artistic perspicacity. The movie opens with a credit sequence that’s so good it will make you puke. It’s like someone sent Jared Hess back in time to do the credits forPretty in Pink.
Post-credit sequence, the film continues to deliver powerful right hooks, directly to your eyeballs. From tight shots of the most attractive people (stars Corey Hinchey, Erika Ellsworth and Tim Mitchell), to wide shots of the most wonderful, golden-in-the-sunlight scenery (shot outside a magical house in Pictou County), LITD never lets you forget Dawe’s first love: painting. The director’s background in visual art imbues the film with a kind of ethereal charm that makes it easy for you to overlook any of Dawe’s “Hey, this is my first film” mistakes.
The film is sincere, and though some of the dialogue feels stilted, it comes from a real place. The scenes in the movie where apocalyptic refugees Painter (Ellsworth), Michael (Hinchey) and Charlie (Mitchell) make drunken small talk around a fire are wonderful. Perhaps because everyone is actually drunk, and Dawe just let the camera roll.
And while it’s true that the film’s stars are non-actors, and that prior to this film, Dawe was a non-director (actually, she was the Gazette Arts editor for the 2009/10 season), it is equally true that, as the film progresses, everyone comes into their own.
And they do it to an uncontrollably rad soundtrack. LITD features music from atomically cool and uplifting local bands such as Cousins, Omon Ra, and OmmaCobba. It also features shout outs to a ton of super talented local artists, and a scene wherein (I’m pretty sure) Charlie masturbates to a picture of Ruby Jean front woman Rebekah Higgs ironing clothes.
But, even if you’re not winked at directly by LITD, you should still check it out. It’s really amazing what a close-knit group of like-minded people can accomplish with only $15,000, a shared passion, and a lot of wine.
Light is the Day *screens at Park Lane this Friday, Sept. 24 at 9:30 p.m.. You can get tickets at atlantic.bside.com/2010/films/lightistheday_atlantic2010
Recent Comments