"Just a normal girl who hates herself." — Tracey Berkowitz, 15
The Tracey Fragments opens with Tracey (Ellen Page), wrapped in a shower curtain, at the back of a Winnipeg city bus. She is searching for her 9-year-old brother Sonny. Sonny should be easy to spot since he barks and acts like a dog.
Her parents (Ari Cohen, Erin McMurtry) talk past her instead of to her. She is known at school as It or the Titless Wonder. Her parents take her to a psychiatrist (Julian Richings). Tracey is in love with Billy Zero (Slim Twig).
The fragments element contains scenes shot from different perspectives of the same scene or an effect of a scene on other characters. The screen is often divided into portions, emphasizing the fragments. The style of the film speaks to Tracey's mindset with a visual element to draw in the viewer.
The film bounces around from times before Sonny goes missing and as she searches for him.
Bruce McDonald directed the film with Maureen Medved adapted screenplay from her own novel of the same name. Broken Social Scene dominates the soundtrack. Music video style isn't exactly what is happening: more like experimental film meets a music video.
The story isn't linear. The pace might be jarring but sink yourself into a different type of film. This is a high-energy story.
Ellen Page is the reason to see this film. We say that a lot about the lead actor in a film. You feel the raw emotions of a teenager in ways few films have ever documented the experience. Page is outstanding in this film.
Maxwell McCabe-Lokos is rather notable as Lance from Toronto.
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Page was in 3 films at the 2007 Toronto International Film Festival: The Tracey Fragments, The Stone Angel, and some film named Juno. A tribute to versatility and talent in the Canadian actor's career.
The film received 6 Genie Award nominations, including Page, McDonald, and Medved, but didn't win any awards. The Tracey Fragments made the TIFF Top Ten Canadian films of 2007.
video credit: YouTube/thetraceyfragments
photo credit: The Tracey Fragments film
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