Synopsis
A creative and driven teenager is desperate to escape his hometown and the haunting memories of his turbulent childhood.
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Cast
- Connor JessupOscar Madly (18)
- Aaron AbramsPeter Madly
- Joanne KellyBrin Madly
- Aliocha SchneiderWilder
- Sofia BanzhafGemma
- Jack FultonOscar Madly (9)
- Mary WalshAllison
- Isabella RosselliniBuffy (voice)
- Jinji DawsonAnna
- Meghan CullenKathryn
Recommendations
- 100
Los Angeles Times
Dunn juggles the story’s vital, at times fantastical narrative, eclectic imagery, and wellspring of human fears, flaws and desires with vision and confidence. But Jessup’s powerfully empathetic performance really seals the deal. - 90
Village Voice
[A] superb coming-of-age drama. - 90
The New York Times
Connor Jessup wonderfully inhabits the teenage Oscar, who observes others while trying to find himself. - 88
The Globe and Mail (Toronto)
Dunn’s work is a far more fantastical feat, one that mixes slow-burn drama with a welcome Cronenbergian sensibility. Oh, and Isabella Rossellini plays a talking hamster. Just try to top that. - 80
The Hollywood Reporter
Autobiographical but also singularly imaginative, this formally exuberant bildungsroman plays like a Gregg Araki film with a dash of Cronenbergian psychosomatic body-rebellion thrown in. - 80
Variety
Canadian writer-director Stephen Dunn’s first feature treads no new ground in basic outline. But the risk-taking confidence with which he weaves in sardonic magical-realist elements, not to mention his unpredictable yet assured approaches to style and tone, make this a most auspicious debut. - 75
Hitfix
Dunn demonstrates an impressive ability to bring his unique interpretation of the coming out process to life. - 75
IndieWire
Dunn plays around with perspective and style, but all the flash doesn't obscure the film's emotion and heart, which are deep and true.
