Trigger

Trigger

A new movie star has moved into town. It isn’t a person. The Tiff. Bell. Lightbox is such a clever innovation and has been brilliantly executed. The complex is the new home for the Toronto International Film Festival. It only opened on Sept 12 and already is a bustling energetic complex. It promises to be open 365 days of the year. There are 5 beautifully outfitted auditoriums, a gallery, three restaurants, a learning centre and much more. Very friendly guides greet you as you enter the building and make sure you feel welcome and know where to go. Excellent restored films are often shown. The best of new international and Canadian material is on the roster. Music, art and film will surely make this new star shine brightly.

Today I took in the very creative multi-media display in the gallery called Essential Cinema. Large projections are shown on a variety of screens. Costumes, posters and artifacts are displayed from some of the best films ever made.

I want to support good Canadian film. Trigger can be seen on many levels. It is brilliant. I think I went initially to the showing because it was the last film made by Tracy Wright before her death. She was Don Mackellar’s partner. He also is in the film. It is directed by Bruce McDonald and written by Daniel MacIvor. Sarah Polley even has a walk on part.

Molly Parker and Tracy Wright are the true stars of the film and their performances are excellent.

Molly Parker plays the part of Kat. She is currently a TV executive living in Hollywood and very full of herself. She comes back after 10 years to see Vic, her former musical partner, brilliantly played by Tracy Wright. Vic and Kat had been duo performers in a band and are going to do a one night stand together.

Their relationship is the central issue in the film. Vic arrives early at the restaurant where she is to meet Kat. You may recognize Canoe as the restaurant. Vic is furious that she was kept waiting. They hiss and spar with one another and the lines just keep coming. One minute they hug and kiss each other. The next minute they are slinging barbs at one another. I felt as if I was at a ping pong match.

Vic goes off to the washroom for a ‘quick fix.’ Kat comments on the book the Spirituality of Imperfection that Vic was carrying with her.

Apparently MacIvor wrote the script especially for Parker and Wright. They know perfectly how to play one against the other.

At the same time they talk about life and love and it is almost spiritual between the two women. You will certainly recognize many familiar spots in Toronto.

I found it to be very intense at times. The emotions were bubbling over between the two women and it was infectious.