Oliver Sherman

Oliver Sherman

I am so thrilled when I see Canadian films that are well produced and well acted. This is a haunting film.

Oliver Sherman had been left for dead after being shot in the head. We don’t know what war it was. I think that is smart because it makes the story universal. Frank rescued Oliver and saved his life.

Seven years later we meet Oliver Sherman. He gets off a bus at a lonely gas bar and walks a long country road to Frank’s house. He has a large scar down the back of his head. He is only carrying a small knapsack. Frank was the man who rescued Oliver in the war. Oliver has a haunting look in his eye and talks in a stilted uncomfortable way.

Frank has been able to put the war behind him. He is happily married with two children and content with his lot in life. Frank tells Oliver that everything bad takes 7 years and now maybe good things will happen to Oliver.

Oliver ends up staying at Frank’s house well past the time he is welcome. He drinks a great deal. He reads war book at the library. Frank feels sorry for the lost soul but realizes that Oliver is disrupting his family life and his marriage.

Oliver carries an old army knife with him. I kept waiting for something terrible to happen. Every time he went near Frank’s children I was frightened. I was terrified he was going to injure Frank’s wife. I was also disgusted to see him spying on the wife as she breast fed her child.

He was jealous of Frank’s way of life and wanted the same things for himself. It is obvious to the audience that this man is troubled. We feel sorry for him because he was badly injured in the war. At the same time you realize that you wouldn’t want to be living in the same house.

Oliver tells Frank that he (Frank) has his medal from the war. Oliver claims that he also has his metal. It is still in his head from the war.

Things become unbearable and Oliver is told he has to leave. Frank also suffers and questions if he helped or hurt Oliver by saving his life and then allowing him to stay in his home.

The ending is upsetting but you know from the beginning that Oliver isn’t going to have a happy life.

The acting is phenomenal. The story is upsetting and believable. Oliver is a powder keg and you wait for him to explode.