Caught this canadian indie at the Montreal Fim Festival-FFM back in 2002, where it received the prize for Best first film: a finely written and well crafted jewel to add to the crown of canadian jewish-themed films, from "The Apprenticeship of Duddy Kravitz" to Lea Pool's "Emporte moi" or "Felix and Meira". Set in Vancouver one summer before law school, it pits the doubts of a good son having fallen in love with an unconventional non-jewish girl, against the orthodox certainties of his established lawyer-father. As in any apt variation on the theme, wether coming of age or life-turning drama, the film seeks out the gray touches, and sensibly hits several: family loyalties, duty or desire, even national allegiance (in one strong scene where the beleaguered father recalls the price & privilege of having a free homeland wanting you as citizen...). A sincere and likely autobiographical Canadian film to rediscover. Promising director Ory Kowarsky was already a graduate lawyer at the time of filming: where is he now, why only one film, which tent did he choose?
Review of Various Positions
