Through Black Spruce (film)

Last updated
Through Black Spruce
Through Black Spruce film poster.png
Theatrical release poster
Directed by Don McKellar
Written byBarbara Samuels
Produced by
Starring
Cinematography Douglas Koch
Edited byLindsay Allikas
Music by Alaska B
Production
company
Serendipity Point Films
Distributed byGravitas Ventures [1]
Release date
  • September 8, 2018 (2018-09-08)(TIFF)
Running time
111 minutes
CountryCanada
LanguagesEnglish, Cree

Through Black Spruce is a 2018 Canadian drama film, directed by Don McKellar. [2] An adaptation of Joseph Boyden's novel Through Black Spruce , the film stars Brandon Oakes, Tantoo Cardinal, Graham Greene, Tanaya Beatty, Parveen Kaur and Roseanne Supernault. [3] The film was shot primarily in Moosonee, Ontario. [4]

Contents

Plot

Annie Bird, a Cree woman from Moosonee, is the identical twin of Suzanne Bird, a model who had last been seen in Toronto before disappearing with her abusive boyfriend Gus. While living with her mother Lizette, Annie is close to her uncle Will, a hunter and former bush pilot. At the invitation of a friend, Annie travels to Toronto for a vacation, but stays behind to look for her sister. When Annie leaves for their vacation, a local Moosonee drug dealer named Marius takes this as an indication that one of her family members anticipates a need to go into hiding. Marius accuses Will of being a snitch and hires associates to have him followed.

In Toronto, Annie contacts Suzanne's modelling agency and collects the last paycheque that she was owed. The agency refers her to Jesse, the last photographer to undertake a project with Suzanne. The two meet while Jesse is debuting the resulting photo series at a local gallery. After describing the depression Suzanne was in, Jesse gives Annie the address where she last stayed. There, Annie meets Geeta, who is the other tenant. Geeta welcomes Annie and describes the shock of receiving the missing person's report for her roommate. Taking her to Suzanne's former room, Geeta encourages Annie to stay there for as long as necessary.

Meanwhile, Marius escalates his threats against Will's family and attempts to firebomb his house at night. The police chief dismisses Will's report due to his alcoholism and inability to provide a license plate number. Taking matters into his own hands, Will later aims a rifle at Marius from afar and fires a bullet into his head. Will escapes by plane to a remote island, and encounters a group of fellow Cree travelers after setting up a campsite. After being convinced that he cannot hide forever, Will returns to Moosonee. His sister Lizette tells him that Marius survived the shot to the head, albeit with brain damage. The police chief comes to speak with Will, and initially announces that the attempted murder is being ruled as a "biker hit". However, before driving off, he tells Will to have better aim next time.

Meanwhile, in Toronto, Annie begins a relationship with Jesse and offers to take Suzanne's place in an upcoming photo shoot. At a club that Suzanne used to frequent, Geeta introduces Annie to an acquaintance named Danny. Jesse warns her that Danny is a drug dealer, but Geeta continues to include him in their circle of friends. Annie looks at some of Suzanne's production stills and sees that signs of drug use have been photoshopped away. She berates Jesse for his dishonesty and prepares to leave Toronto. While she is telling Geeta, Danny corners the two of them and reveals that he has killed Gus in an effort to reclaim stolen drugs. While choking Annie, he accuses her of conspiring with her sister to keep the stash hidden.

Danny then comes to Moosonee in order to continue searching for Suzanne. He throws boiling water at Lizette and beats Will with a golf club. Before he can deliver the killing blow, Annie arrives with Will's rifle. She kills Marius and Danny in time to help carry her uncle to the hospital.

Cast

Release

Through Black Spruce premiered at the 2018 Toronto International Film Festival. [5]

The film received two Canadian Screen Award nominations at the 7th Canadian Screen Awards in 2019, for Best Actor (Oakes) and Best Original Score (Alaska B). [6] Alaska B won the award for Best Original Score. [7] Cinematographer Douglas Koch also received a nomination for the Canadian Society of Cinematographers Award for Theatrical Feature Cinematography. [8]

In the United States, the film was released on DVD [9] and Blu-ray as Black Spruce [1] on December 17, 2019. [10]

Reception

On review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, the film holds a 40% approval rating based on 10 reviews, with an average rating of 4.7/10. [11] Norman Wilner of Now Toronto called the film "bland and uninvolving". [12]

See also

Related Research Articles

<i>The Red Violin</i> 1998 Canadian drama film directed by François Girard

The Red Violin is a 1998 drama film directed by François Girard and starring Samuel L. Jackson, Carlo Cecchi and Sylvia Chang. It spans four centuries and five countries as it tells the story of a mysterious red-coloured violin and its many owners. The instrument, made in Cremona in 1681 with a future forecast by tarot cards, makes its way to Montreal in 1997, where an appraiser identifies it and it goes to auction. The film was an international co-production among companies in Canada, Italy, and the United Kingdom.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bruce McDonald (director)</span> Canadian film director, film producer and film editor

Bruce McDonald is a Canadian film and television director, writer, and producer. Born in Kingston, Ontario, he rose to prominence in the 1980s as part of the loosely-affiliated Toronto New Wave.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Alexisonfire</span> Canadian post-hardcore band

Alexisonfire is a Canadian post-hardcore band formed in St. Catharines, Ontario in 2001. The band's members are George Pettit (vocals), Dallas Green, Wade MacNeil, Chris Steele (bass) and Jordan Hastings. The band has won numerous awards, and in Canada their albums have all been certified either gold or platinum.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tantoo Cardinal</span> Canadian actress

Tantoo Cardinal CM is a Canadian actress of Cree and Métis heritage. In 2009, she was made a member of the Order of Canada "for her contributions to the growth and development of Aboriginal performing arts in Canada, as a screen and stage actress, and as a founding member of the Saskatchewan Native Theatre Company."

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Don McKellar</span> Canadian actor, screenwriter and film director

Don McKellar is a Canadian actor, writer, playwright, and filmmaker. He was part of a loosely-affiliated group of filmmakers to emerge from Toronto known as the Toronto New Wave.

<i>Last Night</i> (1998 film) 1998 Canadian film

Last Night is a 1998 Canadian apocalyptic black comedy-drama film directed by Don McKellar and starring McKellar, Sandra Oh and Callum Keith Rennie. It was produced as part of the French film project 2000, Seen By.... McKellar wrote the screenplay about how ordinary people would react to an unstated imminent global catastrophic event. Set in Toronto, Ontario, the film was made and released when many were concerned about the Year 2000 problem.

<i>Through Black Spruce</i> Book by Joseph Boyden

Through Black Spruce is a novel by Canadian writer Joseph Boyden, published in 2008 by Viking Press. It is Boyden's second novel and third published book.

<i>Edge of Madness</i> 2002 Canadian film

Edge of Madness is a 2002 drama film based on the short story A Wilderness Station, written by Alice Munro.[1] The Canadian film stars Brendan Fehr, Caroline Dhavernas, and Corey Sevier. Written by Charles K. Pitts and Anne Wheeler the film is based on the life of a young women (Annie) who confesses to the murder of her husband. Annie is selected out of an orphanage to be a part of an arranged marriage and to be a house wife at a homestead. After countless rapes and times of abuse, George the brother of Simon, murders Simon. As the story progresses, Annie confesses to this murder and her life and liberty are put into question.

The imagineNATIVE Film + Media Arts Festival is the world's largest Indigenous film and media arts festival, held annually in Toronto in the month of October. The festival focuses on the film, video, radio, and new media work of Indigenous, Aboriginal and First Peoples from around the world. The festival includes screenings, parties, panel discussions, and cultural events.

Tracy Wright was a Canadian actress who was known for her stage and film performances, as well as her presence in Canada's avant-garde for over 20 years.

<i>By Way of the Stars</i> Canadian TV series or program

By Way of the Stars is a Canadian adventure television mini-series co-produced in 1992 by Sullivan Entertainment and German Beta-Taurus Kirch Group, that begins in 19th century Prussia, then travels through post-U.S. Civil War Charleston to the 'Canadas' and the West. It is a young boy's version of "Dances with Wolves". The six-hour mini-series is based on a popular German children's novel called "The Long Journey of Lukas B." The movie was produced in association with ZDF, at the time, Germany's largest Broadcaster, CBC and Disney Channel. This mini-series was filmed entirely in Uxbridge, Ontario. The production was nominated for 2 Gemini awards.

<i>Frances Ha</i> 2012 film by Noah Baumbach

Frances Ha is a 2012 American black-and-white comedy-drama film directed by Noah Baumbach. It is written by Baumbach and Greta Gerwig, who also stars as Frances Halladay, a struggling 27-year-old dancer. The film premiered at the Telluride Film Festival on September 1, 2012, and was given a limited theatrical release in the United States on May 17, 2013, by IFC Films.

Roseanne Supernault is a Canadian film and television actress, best known for her roles as Natalie Stoney in the television series Blackstone and as the title character in the 2013 film Maïna. Originally from East Prairie, Alberta, she is of Métis and Cree descent.

Tanaya Beatty is a Canadian actress. She is known for her role as Rachel Black in the movie adaptation of The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn - Part 1 as well as her starring roles as Jessica Finch in True Justice, Caitlin Javier on the hit Canadian television series Arctic Air, and Sacagawea in the upcoming HBO miniseries Lewis and Clark. In 2016 she was added to the cast of NBC's The Night Shift as Dr. Shannon Rivera. In 2018 she had the lead role as Annie in a film adaptation of Joseph Boyden's novel Through Black Spruce and as Avery in Yellowstone.

Douglas Koch is a Canadian cinematographer who has won honours at the Canadian Screen Awards and Canadian Music Video Awards.

<i>The Grizzlies</i> 2018 Canadian film

The Grizzlies is a 2018 Canadian sports drama film, directed by Miranda de Pencier. Based on a true story, the film depicts a youth lacrosse team that was set up to help combat an onslaught of youth suicide in the community of Kugluktuk, Nunavut.

<i>Falls Around Her</i> 2018 Canadian film

Falls Around Her is a 2018 Canadian drama film, written, produced, and directed by Darlene Naponse. The film stars Tantoo Cardinal as Mary Birchbark, an internationally famous First Nations musician who returns to her home community to recharge and reevaluate her life, only to find that her fame is not so easily left behind.

<i>Crimes of the Future</i> (2022 film) 2022 film by David Cronenberg

Crimes of the Future is a 2022 science fiction body horror drama film written and directed by David Cronenberg. The film stars Viggo Mortensen, Léa Seydoux and Kristen Stewart. It follows a performance artist duo who perform surgery for audiences in a future where human evolution has accelerated for much of the population. Although the film shares its title with Cronenberg's 1970 film of the same name, it is not a remake as the story and concept are unrelated, and there is no connection between the two films whatsoever. The film marked Cronenberg's return to the science fiction and horror genres for the first time since Existenz (1999).

Background

References

  1. 1 2 "Black Spruce (Blu-ray)". Oldies. Retrieved June 29, 2021.
  2. ↑ Hertz, Barry (July 24, 2018). "Boyden adaptation Through Black Spruce selected by TIFF, reigniting debate over authorship". The Globe and Mail . Retrieved June 29, 2021.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 "Through Black Spruce Cast". baiscopelink.com. September 8, 2018. Retrieved June 29, 2021.[ dead link ]
  4. ↑ Jordan Pinto (August 25, 2017). "Production begins on Through Black Spruce". Playback . Retrieved June 29, 2021.
  5. ↑ Hertz, Barry (July 24, 2018). "Lady Gaga, Julia Roberts, and Hugh Jackman lead TIFF's 2018 lineup". The Globe and Mail . Retrieved June 29, 2021.
  6. ↑ "Canadian Screen Awards 2019: English-Canadian films shut out of best picture category". Now . February 7, 2019. Retrieved June 29, 2021.
  7. ↑ "Les Québécois remportent plus de la moitié des trophées à l'avant-gala des prix Écrans canadiens" [Quebeckers bring home over half the trophies at the Canadian Screen Awards pre-gala] (in French). Ici Radio-Canada. March 31, 2019. Retrieved June 29, 2021.
  8. ↑ "The 63rd Annual Csc Award Nominees" (PDF). Canadian Society of Cinematographers . Retrieved June 29, 2021.
  9. ↑ "Black Spruce". Oldies. Retrieved June 29, 2021.
  10. ↑ "Black Spruce". High Def Digest. Retrieved June 29, 2021.
  11. ↑ "Through Black Spruce". Rotten Tomatoes . Fandango . Retrieved October 10, 2021.
  12. ↑ Wilner, Norman (March 26, 2019). "Review: Don McKellars Through Black Spruce is bland and uninvolving". Now. Retrieved June 29, 2021.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.