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Guidance (film)
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Wikipedia article
'Guidance' is a Canadian dark comedy film, which premiered at the 2014 Toronto Film Festival on September 5, 2014 as part of the Discovery program.[http://playbackonline.ca/2014/09/08/search-engine-takes-canadian-rights-to-guidance/ "Search Engine takes Canadian rights to Guidance"]. 'Playback', September 8, 2014.
The full-length directorial debut of Pat Mills, the film stars Mills as David Gold, a down on his luck former child star who fabricates his credentials to take a job as a high school guidance counsellor.[https://variety.com/2014/film/reviews/toronto-film-review-guidance-1201291573/ "Toronto Film Review: Guidance"]. 'Variety', September 5, 2014. An unrecovered alcoholic and drug addict troubled by his faded success and in deep denial about both his closeted gay sexuality and his health following a skin cancer diagnosis, he becomes unexpectedly popular with the students after his habit of introducing them to his own deeply unhealthy coping mechanisms actually helps many of them solve their own problems.
The film's cast also includes Kevin Hanchard, Alex Ozerov, Jen Goodhue, Maria Vacratsis, Eleanor Zichy and Allison Hossack.[http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/allison-hossack-zahra-bentham-find-658127 "Allison Hossack, Zahra Bentham Find Indie 'Guidance' (Exclusive)"]. 'The Hollywood Reporter', November 20, 2013. It has been picked up by Strand Releasing for distribution in the United States.[http://blogs.indiewire.com/bent/strand-releasing-picks-up-pat-mills-guidance-20150227 "Strand Releasing Picks Up Pat Mills' 'Guidance'"]. 'Indiewire', February 27, 2015.
Background
Mills, a former child actor who appeared on the television series 'You Can't Do That on Television' in the 1980s,[http://www.bramptonguardian.com/whatson-story/4840586-starring-in-own-film-costly-for-director/ "Starring in own film costly for director"]. 'Brampton Guardian', September 9, 2014 drew inspiration both from the troubled history of many child actors and from a desire to subvert the conventions of the stereotypical coming out narrative.[http://dailyxtra.com/toronto/arts-and-entertainment/film-and-video/high-school-confidential "High school confidential"]. 'Xtra!', September 4, 2014 He describes David Gold as an "alter ego" who faces some of the same insecurities that Mills had dealt with in his own life, but has much more dysfunctional ways of coping with them.
Release
'Guidance' has received positive reviews from critics upon its release. 'IndieWire' called it "a must see and a moving laugh-out-loud romp from start to finish". 'Variety' gave the film a positive review, stating that it was a "delightful debut" and "The modest pic's laughs get bigger as it goes along, and so does its surprising warmth". 'The Los Angeles Times' called it "a creative hat-trick of wildly amusing proportions". Allmovie wrote "the writer-director's premiere effort announces him as a major new onscreen talent and a fresh and welcome comedic voice." It was reviewed as a 'New York Times' Critics' Pick upon its release. Review aggregation website Rotten Tomatoes gives the film a score of 88% based on 16 reviews.
References
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