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Learn to Swim
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Wikipedia article
'Learn to Swim' is a Canadian drama film, directed by Thyrone Tommy and released in 2021.Norman Wilner, [https://nowtoronto.com/movies/news-features/tiff-2021-10-canadian-films-were-excited-to-see "10 Canadian films were excited to see at TIFF 2021"]. 'Now', September 3, 2021. Tommy's debut full-length feature, the film centres on a stormy romantic relationship between Dezi (Thomas Antony Olajide) and Selma (Emma Ferreira), two talented but troubled jazz musicians.Victoria Ahearn, [https://www.thestar.com/entertainment/2021/09/06/from-night-raiders-to-scarborough-five-canadian-films-making-waves-at-tiff.html "From Night Raiders to Scarborough: Five Canadian films making waves at TIFF"]. 'Toronto Star', September 6, 2021.
Both Olajide and Ferreira were named among TIFF's annual Rising Stars program for emerging actors.
The film premiered in the Discovery program at the 2021 Toronto International Film Festival.Rebecca Rubin, [https://variety.com/2021/film/news/toronto-film-festival-contemporary-world-cinema-discovery-lineup-1235029304/ "Toronto Film Festival Unveils Contemporary World Cinema and Discovery Lineup"]. 'Variety', July 28, 2021.
Critical response
Norman Wilner of 'Now' rated the film four N's, writing that "from one angle it could be 'A Star Is Born'; from another, maybe it's 'Once'. But music especially jazz is all about taking the standards and reinterpreting them into new forms, giving us something new that we can still recognize in flashes. That's what Tommy and co-writer Marni Van Dyk are doing with 'Learn To Swim', scrambling time and weaving other storylines into Dezi and Selma's collaboration."Norman Wilner, [https://nowtoronto.com/movies/news-features/tiff-2021-day-3-dont-let-learn-to-swim-drowned-out-by-bigger-pictures "TIFF 2021, Day 3: Don't let Learn To Swim be drowned out by bigger pictures"]. 'Now', September 11, 2021.
For the 'National Post', Chris Knight wrote that "In all honestly you could probably sit back, close your eyes and just listen to the music, but then youd be missing out on the beautifully interwoven story of romance. After all, when someone presents you with a lovingly crafted mix tape, you dont just listen to side one."Chris Knight, [https://nationalpost.com/entertainment/movies/film-review-learn-to-swim-is-a-jazz-infused-love-story "Film review: Learn to Swim is a jazz-infused love story"]. 'National Post', March 25, 2022.
Awards
The film was a nominee for the DGC Discovery Award at the 2021 Directors Guild of Canada awards.[https://broadcastdialogue.com/tv-film-news-63/ "TV & Film News DGC reveals Discovery Award long list of emerging directors to watch"]. 'Broadcast Dialogue', September 23, 2021. and was named to TIFF's annual year-end Canada's Top Ten list for 2021.Norman Wilner, [https://nowtoronto.com/movies/news-and-features/tiff-announces-canadas-top-ten-for-2021 "TIFF announces Canadas Top Ten films of 2021"]. 'Now', December 6, 2021.
The film received two Canadian Screen Award nominations at the 10th Canadian Screen Awards in 2022, for Best Actor (Olajide) and Best Original Song ("And Then We Don't" by Tika Simone and Casey Manierka-Quaile).Brent Furdyk, [https://etcanada.com/news/867531/2022-canadian-screen-awards-nominees-announced/ "2022 Canadian Screen Award Nominees Announced, Sort Of & Scarborough Lead The Pack"]. 'ET Canada', February 15, 2022. Simone and Manierka-Quaile won Best Original Song.[https://www.cbc.ca/news/entertainment/night-raiders-scarborough-csa-night-five-1.6414141 "Night Raiders, Scarborough emerge victorious at 5th night of Canadian Screen Awards"]. CBC News, April 8, 2022.
References
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