Maxim Gaudette, who starred in Canada's astounding film of 2010, Incendies, appears this time in the Quebecois drama Our Loved Ones, which was also nominated for Best Motion Picture at the Canadian Screen Awards. Our Loved Ones is a slightly different offering, and will not appeal to every taste. It is very slow moving, which isn't necessarily a bad thing, and is competent in its writing, acting and directing, though not breathtakingly imaginative.
Our Loved Ones is a story of depression in a family, with David and his family coping with the death of a father, which he is told only later was actually a suicide. He inherits his dad's tools and finds an unusual career, making marionettes, which he soon shares with his own family, including daughter Laurence. Depression may run in the family, as David also kills himself. It's a bit perplexing why, as he seems to have made a good life for himself (indeed, there's little conflict in the film for its first 40 minutes). But I think, the lack of explanation was entirely intentional. I don't know how memorable Our Loved Ones will be a few years down the road, but it is worth checking out.
Our Loved Ones is a story of depression in a family, with David and his family coping with the death of a father, which he is told only later was actually a suicide. He inherits his dad's tools and finds an unusual career, making marionettes, which he soon shares with his own family, including daughter Laurence. Depression may run in the family, as David also kills himself. It's a bit perplexing why, as he seems to have made a good life for himself (indeed, there's little conflict in the film for its first 40 minutes). But I think, the lack of explanation was entirely intentional. I don't know how memorable Our Loved Ones will be a few years down the road, but it is worth checking out.