Niagara, Niagara (1997)

Director:

Bob Gosse

Writer:

Matthew Weiss (written by)

Release Date:

20 March 1998 (USA)

Genre:

Drama

Tagline:

Love can't be controlled.

Plot:

An outsider and a young woman plagued by Tourette's syndrome meet and together journey to Canada.

Plot Keywords:

Canada | Pharmacy | Road | Tourette's Syndrome | Police

Awards:

1 win & 3 nominations

Cast

Robin Tunney	...	Marcy
Henry Thomas	...	Seth
Michael Parks	...	Walter
Stephen Lang	...	Claude
John MacKay	...	Seth's Father
Alan Pottinger	...	Sanitation Lot Cop
Sol Frieder	...	Pawnbroker
Candy Clark	...	Sally
Andrew L. Phillips	...	Sally's Policeman
Jeffrey Howard	...	Liquor Store Clerk
Shawn Hatosy	...	Lead High School Punk
Adam Lauricella	...	High School Punk #2 (as Adam T. Lauricella)
Jaime Lynn O'Hara	...	High School Girl
John Ventimiglia	...	Doug
Clea DuVall	...	Convenience Store Clerk

MPAA:

Rated R for violence, sexuality, substance abuse and strong language.

Runtime:

93 min

Country:

USA | Canada

Language:

English

Colour:

Colour (Technicolor)

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

Iceland:16 | USA:R | UK:18 (video rating) (2000)

Filming Locations:

Highland, New York, USA

Company:

Shooting Gallery

Trivia:

Both Kate Winslet and 'Juliette Lewis' turned down the role of Marcy.

Goofs:

Errors in geography: The so-called Toronto Galleria is actually the Poughkeepsie Galleria in New York state's Hudson Valley.

Movie Connections:

References Star Wars (1977)

Soundtrack:

Bring Your Sorrow Over Here

Shockingly Touching

Like many others, I watched this movie on one of the indie movie channels on TV, mainly intrigued by the opening sequence (the shots of the characters shoplifting reminded me of the Breakfast Club for some reason--I think it was the trenchcoat and hi-tops) and unusual description. I didn't go into it with very high expectations, I guess because it was hard for me to get past "The Craft" in my mind. But I was truly shocked, and touched, by this film.

At first, the two characters seemed so strange, it was like they were trying TOO hard to be bizarre. But as the film progressed, their behavior took a backseat to the story that emerged--simply that of a star-crossed love, and the difficulty of being different in a society that has no place for you.

In a story that seems most familiar, the two go from one locale to another, seeking medicine, and comfort, but are turned away. The only friendly face they find is a self-ostracized woodsman, a self-confessed chicken lover. Just see it and you'll understand.

There were a couple of Harold and Maude references, including the final scene over Niagara Falls. It was just so powerful, the tension building to a moment you knew would be devastating...but it's almost impossible to accept how devastating it becomes. Left my crying for a good fifteen minutes. But it wasn't all sad. Marcy's disorder provides intentional comic relief at times, proving that sometimes laughing at the situation you're in is the only way to keep from going mad.

I will rent and watch again.