Everything's Gone Green could be described as a slacker film and a love story. A film about meaning, money, happiness, marijuana, greed, and the co-star, Vancouver.
Ryan (Paulo Costanzo) is our slacker. Loses his job and girlfriend (Katherine Isabelle) on the same day. His parents think they won the lottery but they didn't. Ryan ends up working for the lottery.
They encourage him to take Mandarin classes "the language of the future" (this was 2006).
Ryan meets Ming (Steph Song) on the beach alongside a beached whale. Ming has a douchy boyfriend Bryce (JR Bourne). Ryan is interested in Ming yet goes to work for Bryce.
Imperfect characters willing to admit they are imperfect. The beauty of Everything's Gone Green is its kindness to the characters, showing their good and not-so-good traits.
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Douglas Coupland gives us a lot in the screenplay, a tapestry of themes throughout the story. The Generation X author has a more subdued story than that novel. Director Paul Fox keeps us engaged in the story.
Mandarin might not be too relevant in most of Canada but Vancouver is a grand exception. The transfer of Hong Kong to China in 1997 changed Vancouver considerably.
Ming's character works on movie sets to make Vancouver look like somewhat else. Everything's Gone Green shows the real Vancouver as Vancouver.
The film has moments of satire but the story turns to be more about Ryan, Ming, and Ming's grandmother. A nice film, not too sweet, that likes the people in the film.
A slacker film that gives you a lot to consider is worth the watch. An independent film that will never be mistaken for an American film. Saw this film years ago and made an impression. Did rewatch the film recently and the feeling hasn't changed.
Everything's Gone Green won the award for Best Canadian Feature Film at the 2006 Vancouver International Film Festival.
video credit: YouTube/stateofmind3471
photos credit: Everything's Gone Green film
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