Canada is full of weirdos, says a character identified as Not Andy Warhol in the film Weirdos. Given that only Kit (Dylan Authors) can see this character, we can classify that as one of the weirdo parts of the film.
Bruce McDonald brings us back to a black-and-white vision on July 3-4, 1976 in eastern Nova Scotia. Kit and Alice (Julia Sarah Stone) are going from Antigosh to Sydney. The premise is there is a party in Sydney, but Kit wants to live in Sydney with his eccentric mother (Molly Parker).
McDonald also brings us back to that time with a wonderful Canadian carefree soundtrack that includes Edward Bear, Gordon Lightfoot, and Anne Murray. As we see and hear, McDonald makes the music part of the cast.
Alice keeps wishing for good bye sex or hello sex. Kit is more interested in a boy he meets when they are hitchhiking. The Not Andy Warhol offers advice to Kit, who wants to spend more time with his mother and her amazing stories, such as meeting the real Andy Warhol.
McDonald keeps the mood light even as we find out certain things from characters and why Kit's mother may not be in the best place to raise him. The combination of McDonald as director, Daniel MacIvor as screenwriter, and Molly Parker on screen is a combination we've seen before in a few incarnations so there is a familiarity and chemistry that is smoother than butter.
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The idea of watching the U.S. bicentennial perhaps on a black and white TV is tied into a subplot that goes into how little people know about Khmer Rouge. While this might seem an odd twist in a laid-back kind of story, the two teenage characters learn a lot about themselves and the world in the 2-day adventure.
This is the fourth film I've seen that has featured Julia Sarah Stone. She carries a lot of emotion in her face and is fun to watch on the screen. Her character's awkwardness is less severe than we saw in either The Year Dolly Parton Was My Mom or Wet Bum, but Alice has a lot going on inside. Even the way she smokes cigarettes says a lot.
Allan Hawco does a really nice job in a more humble role as Kit's dad. Cathy Jones of This Hour Has 22 Minutes is really good as Kit's grandmother. The authenticity of actors from that part in Canada does lend more credibility.
Molly Parker is a force in everything she does but especially so in the good hands of McDonald and MacIvor. Trigger is another good collaborative example. You may see this film twice just to grasp the whole of her performance.
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Weirdos reminded me of a few connections to previous efforts. Parker also explored the 1976 theme in a limited run U.S. TV show called Swingtown. Parker was in Marion Bridge set in Nova Scotia also written by MacIvor. McDonald has done his share of road trips, especially Highway 61.
Watching Allan Hawco and Molly Parker together reminded me of this 2015 interview on Q when Hawco filled in as host.
Weirdos received 6 Canadian Screen Award nominations, including Best Motion Picture. The film won Best Supporting Actress for Molly Parker and Best Original Screenplay for Daniel MacIvor.
video credit: TIFF Trailers
photo credit: Weirdos film
map credit: Google
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