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Monkey Beach (film)
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Wikipedia article
'Monkey Beach' is a 2020 Canadian drama film, directed by Loretta Todd.[https://www.tricitynews.com/loretta-sarah-todd-s-monkey-beach-to-open-vancouver-film-festival-1.24197437 "Loretta Sarah Todd's 'Monkey Beach' to open Vancouver film festival"]. 'Tri-City News', September 3, 2020. Her debut narrative feature, the film is an adaptation of Eden Robinson's 2000 novel 'Monkey Beach'.Dana Gee, [https://vancouversun.com/entertainment/festivals/adaptation-of-a-favourite-canadian-novel-lands-opening-spot-at-viff "Adaptation of a favourite Canadian novel lands opening spot at VIFF"]. 'Vancouver Sun', September 3, 2020.
The film stars Grace Dove as Lisamarie, a young Haisla woman in Kitamaat, British Columbia coming to terms with the mysterious disappearance of her brother Jimmy (Joel Oulette). The film's cast also includes Adam Beach, Nathaniel Arcand, Glen Gould, Tina Lameman and Ta'Kaiya Blaney.
The film premiered at the 2020 Vancouver International Film Festival and screened at the Toronto International Film Festival (Industry Selects).
Critical response
For 'The Georgia Straight', Craig Takeuchi wrote that "Although the overall effort may be uneven at times and takes some time to find its way, theres enough to appreciate here to carry things along, including a scene-stealing Adam Beach as the mischievous Uncle Mick, Lisas struggle to reconcile traditional values with the current world, andneedless to saythe evocative setting that pervades the proceedings."Craig Takeuchi, [https://www.straight.com/movies/viff-review-west-coast-based-monkey-beach-brings-eden-robinsons-indigenous-mystery-novel-to "VIFF review: West Coastbased Monkey Beach brings Eden Robinson's Indigenous mystery novel to the screen"]. 'The Georgia Straight', September 17, 2020.
For the Hollywood North Magazine, Shaun Lang wrote, "If my plot summary sounds vague, its merely in the service of not spoiling one of the shiniest jewels in the recent wave of Canadian Indigenous Cinema. If The Grizzlies was the Inuit answer to the sports drama, then Monkey Beach is the Haisla response to the Superhero genre. Thats about the closest I can come to categorizing what is truly a spiritually-healing experience whether youre Haisla or otherwise."
Awards
The film swept the feature film awards at the 2020 American Indian Film Festival, winning for Best Picture, Best Director (Todd), Best Actor (Beach), Best Actress (Dove), Best Supporting Actor (Arcand) and Best Supporting Actress (Lameman).Doug Cuthand, [https://thestarphoenix.com/opinion/columnists/cuthand-award-winning-film-portrays-indigenous-culture-through-indigenous-eyes "Award-winning film portrays Indigenous culture through Indigenous eyes"]. 'Saskatoon Star-Phoenix', January 16, 2021. At the Vancouver Film Critics Circle Awards 2020, Beach was nominated for Best Supporting Actor in a Canadian Film and Lameman was nominated for Best Supporting Actress in a Canadian Film.Jorge Ignacio Castillo, [https://vancouverfilmcritics.com/2021/02/03/possessor-and-chained-dominate-the-vfcc-nominations-for-best-in-canadian-film/ "POSSESSOR AND CHAINED DOMINATE THE VFCC NOMINATIONS FOR BEST IN CANADIAN FILM"]. Vancouver Film Critics Circle, February 3, 2021.
Todd, Johnny Darrell and Andrew Duncan received a Canadian Screen Award nomination for Best Adapted Screenplay at the 9th Canadian Screen Awards in 2021.
References
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