For his French-class assignment, a high school student weaves his family history in a news story involving terrorism, and goes on to invite an Internet audience in on the resulting controversy.
Director:
Writer:
Awards:
- 3 wins & 9 nominations.
- See more »
Photos and Videos
Complete, Cast awaiting verification
| Devon Bostick | ... |
Simon
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| Rachel Blanchard | ... |
Rachel
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Louca Tassone | ... |
Young Simon
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| Kenneth Welsh | ... |
Morris
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Yuval Daniel | ... |
Security Agent
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| Scott Speedman | ... |
Tom
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Jeremy Wright | ... |
Delivery Guy
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| Arsinée Khanjian | ... |
Sabine
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| Noam Jenkins | ... |
Sami
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| Thomas Hauff | ... |
Nick
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| Martin Roach | ... |
Car Owner
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Ieva Lucs | ... |
Berating Woman
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| Katie Boland | ... |
Hannah
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| Hailee Sisera | ... |
Jennifer
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Lia Bellefontaine | ... |
Student On-Line
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Jermaine Crooks | ... |
Student On-Line
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Hannah Fogel | ... |
Student On-Line
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Celeste Howard | ... |
Student On-Line
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Jamie McMillan | ... |
Student On-Line
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Yunus Mohamed | ... |
Student On-Line
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Nariné Martiros-Gharakhanian | ... |
Student On-Line
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Victor Nhan | ... |
Student On-Line
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Tristan Parlette | ... |
Student On-Line
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Lucas Paulino | ... |
Student On-Line
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June Rogers | ... |
Student On-Line
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Kevin Tung | ... |
Student On-Line
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| Jack Blum | ... |
Passenger & Professor On-Line
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| Maury Chaykin | ... |
Passenger & Professor On-Line
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Sharon Corder | ... |
Passenger & Professor On-Line
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Vera Frenkel | ... |
Passenger & Professor On-Libe
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Marc Glassman | ... |
Passenger & Professor On-Line
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| Shel Goldstein | ... |
Passenger & Professor On-Line
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Paul Soles | ... |
Passenger & Professor On-Line
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Janice Stein | ... |
Passenger & Professor On-Line
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| Geraldine O'Rawe | ... |
Carole
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| Duane Murray | ... |
Parking Security
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| Dominic Cuzzocrea | ... |
Taxi Driver
(as Domenic Cuzzocrea)
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| Tony Nardi | ... |
School Principal
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| Aaron Poole | ... |
Daniel
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| Soo Garay | ... |
Granddaughter
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| Bathsheba Garnett | ... |
Holocaust Survivor
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Michael Barry | ... |
Skinhead
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Ron Bell | ... |
Bus Driver
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Directed by
| Atom Egoyan | ||
Written by
| Atom Egoyan | ... | (written by) |
Produced by
| Atom Egoyan | ... | producer |
| Marcy Gerstein | ... | associate producer |
| Robert Lantos | ... | executive producer |
| Laurent Pétin | ... | executive producer |
| Michèle Pétin | ... | executive producer (as Michele Halberstadt) |
| Stephen Traynor | ... | line producer |
| Simone Urdl | ... | producer |
| Jennifer Weiss | ... | producer |
Music by
| Mychael Danna | ||
Cinematography by
| Paul Sarossy | ... | director of photography |
Editing by
| Susan Shipton | ||
| Issac Solemon | ... | (uncredited) |
Editorial Department
| John Bardswich | ... | project manager: Dekuxe |
| Cameron Davis | ... | additional editor |
| Alfredo Frasson | ... | color timer |
| Debbie Holland | ... | colorist: dailies |
| Ahmad Ismail | ... | digital opticals editor |
| Chris MacKenzie | ... | digital opticals editor (as Chris MacKenzie) |
| Dave Muscat | ... | digital opticals editor |
| Mila Patriki | ... | digital mastering colorist |
| Marc Roussel | ... | epk editor / first assistant editor |
| Chris Wallace | ... | opticals digital intermediate colorist |
| Motassem Younes | ... | digital opticals editor |
| Cam McLauchlin | ... | telecine operator (uncredited) |
| James Yazbeck | ... | telecine assistant (uncredited) |
Casting By
| John Buchan | ||
| Jason Knight | ||
Production Design by
| Phillip Barker | ||
Art Direction by
| Barry Isenor | ||
Set Decoration by
| Jim Lambie | ||
Costume Design by
| Debra Hanson | ||
Makeup Department
| Suzanne Benoit | ... | makeup department head |
| Peggy Kyriakidou | ... | assistant hair stylist |
| Ava Stone | ... | makeup artist |
| Zinka Tuminski | ... | hair stylist (as Zinka Shankland) |
Production Management
| Stephen Traynor | ... | production manager |
| Douglas Wilkinson | ... | post-production supervisor |
Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
| Doane Hanus | ... | trainee assistant director |
| Daniel J. Murphy | ... | first assistant director |
| Pierre Ouellet | ... | second assistant director |
| Fatima Palhetas | ... | trainee assistant director |
| John Sauvé | ... | third assistant director |
| Issac Solemon | ... | first assistant director (uncredited) |
Art Department
| Elizabeth Bailey | ... | custom artwork |
| Craig Boland | ... | set dresser |
| Dave Bracken | ... | construction coordinator |
| Adam Brockie | ... | scenic painter |
| David Gonzales | ... | first assistant art director |
| Michael Harvey | ... | on-set carpenter |
| Rob Hepburn | ... | sets buyer |
| Jason Herriott | ... | key scenic |
| Jessie Hutchins | ... | set dresser |
| Jordan Kerner | ... | lead dresser |
| Mauro Lacaprara | ... | assistant property master |
| Sylvia Lange | ... | scenic painter |
| Stephen J. MacDougall | ... | set dresser (as Stephen MacDougall) |
| Kim Maticiw | ... | props buyer |
| Aaron Morrison | ... | graphic design |
| Eric Nufer | ... | assistant head carpenter |
| Alicia Remigio | ... | art department apprentice |
| Kenny Roy | ... | head painter (as Ken Roy) |
| Steve Stack | ... | on-set dresser (as Steven Stack) |
| Craig Tovell | ... | head carpenter |
| Polly-Jean Vernon | ... | property master (as Paul Vernon) |
| Steve Vero | ... | custom artwork |
| Susan Worts | ... | props buyer |
Sound Department
| Jenna Dalla Riva | ... | foley recording assistant |
| Brooke Graeff | ... | foley assistant |
| Goro Koyama | ... | foley artist |
| John Loranger | ... | assistant sound editor |
| Andy Malcolm | ... | foley artist |
| Paul McGlashan | ... | boom operator |
| Steve Munro | ... | sound designer / supervising sound editor |
| Daniel Pellerin | ... | supervising sound re-recording mixer |
| Jan Rudy | ... | re-recording mixer |
| Bissa Scekic | ... | sound mixer |
| Paul Shikata | ... | sound effects editor |
| David Drainie Taylor | ... | dialogue editor |
| Eric Vierhaus | ... | sound consultant: Dolby |
| Don White | ... | foley recording mixer |
Special Effects by
| David Antonacci | ... | second assistant special effects |
| Sean Armstrong | ... | special effects assistant |
| Dylan Hankinson | ... | special effects assistant |
| Brock Jolliffe | ... | special effects coordinator |
| Rudy Rivas | ... | key special effects |
| John Sandever | ... | first assistant special effects |
| Derek Bujalski | ... | special effects technician (uncredited) |
Visual Effects by
| Ian Britton | ... | compositor: Rocket Science VFX |
| Robert Crowther | ... | visual effects supervisor: Rocket Science VFX |
| Hojin Park | ... | compositor: Rocket Science VFX (as Hojin Parks) |
| Tom Turnbull | ... | visual effects producer: Rocket Science VFX |
| Megumi Kanazawa | ... | digital compositor (uncredited) |
Stunts
| Ron Bell | ... | stunt performer |
| James Binkley | ... | stunt coordinator |
| Stewart Easun | ... | stunt performer |
| Edward A. Queffelec | ... | stunt performer (as Ed Queffelec) |
Camera and Electrical Department
| Claude Barnes | ... | camera operator: epk |
| Jonathan Brown | ... | best boy electric |
| Randy Brown | ... | generator operator |
| Yvonne Collins | ... | first assistant camera |
| Bob Davidson | ... | gaffer |
| Harper Forbes | ... | key grip |
| Sophie Giraud | ... | still photographer |
| Shem Gregg | ... | grip |
| Michael John | ... | grip |
| Stephan Maia | ... | camera loader |
| Joe McCormack | ... | dolly grip |
| Paul Miguel Michel | ... | electrician (as Paul 'Miguel' Michel) |
| Todd Moores | ... | grip |
| Beth Nobes | ... | second assistant camera |
| Richard Pengelly | ... | video playback operator |
| Steve Roberts | ... | electrician |
| Darren Boyce | ... | key rigging grip (uncredited) |
| Angela Chao | ... | loader (uncredited) |
| Chris Schillinger | ... | additional grip (uncredited) |
| Nick Torok | ... | loader (uncredited) |
| Ian Watson | ... | still photographer (uncredited) |
Casting Department
| Jane Rogers | ... | background casting |
Costume and Wardrobe Department
| Kelsey Hart | ... | costume truck coordinator |
| April Poppe | ... | costume truck coordinator |
| Crystal Silden | ... | assistant costume designer (as Crystal Olsen Silden) / assistant costume designer |
| Shannon Wilson | ... | set supervisor |
| Wing Lee | ... | wardrobe daily (uncredited) |
Location Management
| Paul Callaghan | ... | location production assistant |
| Catherine Crawford | ... | assistant location manager |
| Kyle O'Connor | ... | assistant location manager |
| Eardley Wilmot | ... | location manager |
| Stephen Khalla | ... | location daily (uncredited) |
Music Department
| Stéphane Allard | ... | orchestra musician |
| Jane Ashworth | ... | assistant music clearances: S.L. Feldman & Associates |
| Mychael Danna | ... | orchestrator |
| Bogdan Djukic | ... | orchestra musician |
| Nicholas Dodd | ... | orchestrator |
| Eve Egoyan | ... | soloist: piano |
| Tom Hazlitt | ... | orchestra musician |
| Yi-Jia Susanne Hou | ... | soloist: violin |
| Chris Jackson | ... | assistant engineer |
| Ron Mah | ... | orchestra musician |
| Alan Molitz | ... | orchestra musician |
| Nick Papadakis | ... | orchestra musician |
| Dan Parr | ... | music copyist |
| Annalee Patipatanakoon | ... | musician: orchestra (as Analee Patipatanakoon) |
| Dennis Patterson | ... | assistant engineer |
| Adele Pierre | ... | orchestra musician |
| Teresa Rudolph | ... | orchestra musician |
| Ron Searles | ... | music mixer / music recordist |
| Lenny Solomon | ... | orchestra contractor / orchestra musician |
| Wendy Solomon | ... | orchestra musician |
| Amritha Vaz | ... | assistant to composer (as Amritha Fernandes Bakshi) |
| Sarah Webster | ... | music clearances (as Sarah Wester) |
| Winona Zelenka | ... | soloist: cello |
Script and Continuity Department
| Lisa Burling | ... | script supervisor |
| Daniel Sarkissian | ... | script analysis |
| Ramona Diaconescu | ... | daily script supervisor (uncredited) |
Transportation Department
| Stephen Carr | ... | transportation captain (as Stephen 'Sparky' Carr) |
| Mike Curran | ... | transportation coordinator |
| Michael Drysdale | ... | driver (as Mike Drysdale) |
| Larry Greer | ... | driver |
| Brian Jennison | ... | driver: honeywagon |
| Steve Lambert | ... | head driver |
| Steve May | ... | driver |
| Greg Wall | ... | driver |
| Steve Warren | ... | driver |
Additional Crew
| Susan Bassett | ... | first assistant accountant |
| Brenda Blake | ... | production lawyer |
| Cassie Bouchard | ... | set server |
| Joanne Brahos | ... | stand-in |
| Laurel Bresnahan | ... | education liaison |
| Cameron Davis | ... | technical advisor |
| Greg Denny | ... | production associate |
| Jonny Edmonds | ... | production assistant |
| Claude Forest | ... | insurance broker |
| Alice Wickwire Foster | ... | production coordinator |
| Lisa Ghione | ... | unit publicist |
| Doug Gillespie | ... | production accountant |
| Judy Gliserman | ... | set tutor |
| Indira Guha | ... | legal and business affairs: Telefilm Canada |
| Sonia Hosko | ... | assistant to producers |
| Duncan Kennedy | ... | consultant: New Media |
| Martyn Krys | ... | production lawyer |
| David Mackey | ... | set server |
| Sam Malkin | ... | coordinator: loop group |
| Chris Mills | ... | stand-in |
| Karen S. Neasi | ... | product placement (as Karen Neasi) |
| Yaz Rabadi | ... | director observer |
| Graham Rogers | ... | production assistant |
| Johanna Weinstein | ... | head title designer |
Thanks
| Michelle Beaudette | ... | thanks |
| Erica Benson | ... | thanks |
| Helen Brown | ... | thanks |
| Grace Cianciotta | ... | thanks |
| Wayne Clarkson | ... | thanks |
| Clare Cowling | ... | thanks |
| Andrew Cullen | ... | thanks |
| Sandra Cunningham | ... | thanks |
| Marina di Pancrazio | ... | thanks |
| Timothy Dingwall | ... | thanks |
| Michael Dorfman | ... | thanks |
| Jonathan Dyck | ... | thanks |
| Andrew Eddy | ... | thanks |
| John Galway | ... | thanks |
| Bryan Gliserman | ... | thanks |
| Martin Harbury | ... | thanks |
| David Hardy | ... | thanks |
| Moira Holmes | ... | thanks |
| Scott Johnstone | ... | thanks |
| Dan Lyon | ... | thanks |
| Anne MacKenzie | ... | thanks |
| Michelle Marion | ... | thanks |
| Charlotte Mickie | ... | thanks |
| Debra Muchnik | ... | thanks |
| Mark Musselman | ... | thanks |
| Dan Peel | ... | thanks |
| Carrie Paupst Shaughnessy | ... | thanks |
| Jim Sternberg | ... | thanks |
| Catherine Stuart | ... | thanks |
| James Weyman | ... | thanks |
Production Companies
- Serendipity Point Films (presents)
- ARP Sélection (presents)
- Ego Film Arts (co-production)
- The Film Farm (in association with)
- Téléfilm Canada (produced with the participation of)
- The Movie Network (TMN) (produced with the participation of)
- Super Ecran (produced with the participation of)
- Astral Media (produced with the participation of)
- Movie Central (produced with the participation of)
- Corus Entertainment (produced with the participation of)
- Ontario Media Development Corporation (OMDC) (produced with the participation of)
- Canadian Film or Video Production Tax Credit (CPTC) (produced with the participation of)
- Adoration Productions
Distributors
- ARP Sélection (2009) (France) (theatrical)
- Entertainment One (2008) (Canada) (theatrical)
- Lev Films (2008) (Israel) (theatrical)
- Maximum Film Distribution (2008) (Canada) (theatrical)
- New Wave Pictures (2008) (United Kingdom) (theatrical)
- Palador Pictures (2008) (India) (theatrical)
- Paradiso Entertainment (2009) (Netherlands) (theatrical)
- Sony Pictures Classics (2008) (Australia) (theatrical)
- Sony Pictures Classics (2008) (United States) (theatrical)
- Sony Pictures Releasing (2009) (Brazil) (theatrical)
- X Verleih AG (2008) (Germany) (theatrical)
- Entertainment One (2009) (Canada) (DVD)
- Front Row Filmed Entertainment (2009) (United Arab Emirates) (Middle East)
- New Wave Films (2010) (United Kingdom)
- Sony Pictures Home Entertainment (2009) (Argentina) (DVD)
- Sony Pictures Home Entertainment (2009) (United States) (DVD)
- Sony Pictures Home Entertainment (2009) (United States) (Blu-ray) (DVD)
- Sony Pictures Releasing (2009) (Argentina)
- The Criterion Channel (2020) (United States) (tv)
- Warner Home Video (2009) (Germany) (DVD)
Special Effects
- Rocket Science VFX (visual effects)
Other Companies
- Agency 71 (poster design)
- Aver Media (interim financing)
- Color By Deluxe (acknowledgement)
- Deluxe Toronto (video post-production)
- Dolby Digital (in selected theatres)
- En Route Catering (catering)
- Entertainment Partners Canada (payroll services)
- Film Finances Canada (completion bond)
- Footsteps Post-Production Sound (foley recording facility)
- Francont Film (negative cutting)
- I.A.T.S.E. Local 411 (acknowledgement)
- I.A.T.S.E. Local 667 (acknowledgement)
- Jane Rogers Casting (background casting)
- Kodak Canada (film stock)
- Kudlow & McCann (production auditor)
- MTI Film (restoration services)
- Multimedia Risk Consultants and Insurance Brokers (production insurance)
- Panavision (camera equipment)
- S.L. Feldman & Associates (music clearances)
- Stargrazing (craft service)
- The Rights Company (script and title research services)
- Theatre D Digital (editing and sound mixing facility)
- Trackworks Inc. (sound editing services)
- William F. White International (production equipment)
Storyline
| Plot Summary |
Simon, a Toronto high school student, has been raised by his maternal Uncle Tom since Simon's parents, Rachel and Sami, died in a car accident eight years ago. Tom, a tow truck driver, decided to move to the city into Rachel's house and assume the mortgage, something he could ill afford, largely not to disrupt Simon's life, but equally to get away from his and Rachel's father, Morris, an openly bigoted man. That upbringing has made Tom a sullen and angry man. Morris only recently passed away. Rachel and Sami met when she, a violinist, brought her instrument in to be serviced, Sami the repairman. Simon now owns his mother's expensive violin, which Tom would like to sell to help pay the mortgage and Simon's imminent university tuition. One day at school, Simon's French teacher Sabine reads a French newspaper story from several years ago as a translation exercise for the class, the story about a pregnant woman traveling to Israel, her then boyfriend who, unknown to her, planted a bomb in her luggage intended to blow up while the airplane was in flight, meaning that if it was not caught before departure, which it was, it would have killed her and their unborn child. Because Simon interestingly translates the story from the perspective of him being that unborn child now a teenager, Sabine, who is also the school's drama teacher, asks Simon to flesh out the story as a play, either in French or English. Simon begins to pedal the story widely as his reality, in other words that the woman in question truly was his mother Rachel and the bomber truly was who ended up being his Palestinian father, Sami, which may or may not in fact be true. Simon, Sabine and Tom all have to make decisions surrounding this issue, which they do to help their individual self deal with his or her own reality of the situation. Written by Huggo |
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| Parents Guide | View content advisory » |
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Additional Details
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Box Office
| Budget | $4,700,000 (estimated) |
Did You Know?
| Trivia | Atom Egoyan embarked on a series of workshops and interviews with university students to better understand their attitudes towards communicating with each other via the internet and texting. See more » |
| Goofs | In the scene at the end of the film at his grandfather's empty lake house, Simon first unloaded the wooden Christmas figures from his duffel bag onto a pile of firewood on the end of the dock. He then went into his grandfather's workshop and sawed the scroll off of his mother's violin. With his phone, he took a picture of the severed scroll in his hand with the dock in the background, but the wooden Christmas figures now appear in the middle of the dock. See more » |
| Movie Connections | Featured in Wolverine/Ghosts of Girlfriends Past/Battle for Terra (2009). See more » |
| Quotes |
Morris:
[first lines - into video camera]
I remember looking out at the two of you. Her playing on the dock, you watching. I was thinking how lucky you were to have a mom like her, and how lucky she was to have a boy like you. That's what he stole from you, Simon. That's what I can never forgive. See more » |