film: Not quite perfect
Amy Judd, The Peak

Usually the phrase "Canadian Independent Film" will raise a collective groan or sigh from those who have to watch it. This is beginning to change. Canadian films are breaking out of their clumsy, uninteresting shell and forming a new identity as attractive and fun stories about real life and real people. Past Perfect, written and directed by Canadian Daniel MacIvor, is a perfect example of the exciting new Canadian feature films.

It has a very small cast of Canadian veterans, including Rebecca Jenkins, Marie Brassard, Kathryn MacLellan, Maury Chaykin, and Daniel MacIvor himself. Past Perfect takes place over two different days, two years apart. Charlotte (Rebecca Jenkins) and Cecil (Daniel MacIvor) meet on an overnight plane from Halifax to Vancouver after both getting out of bad relationships, and over the course of the flight they find themselves falling in love. The second part of the film, interwoven with the first, takes place two years later on a Saturday in Halifax where Charlotte and Cecil now live together. Something very tragic in their relationship has occurred, and they are both trying to decide whether the end of their dream means the end of their relationship, or the beginning of a real life together.

This film cherishes silence. Nothing is said unless it is necessary to be said, and a few moments in the film occur when it is just silence for about 30 seconds. This is a refreshing break from the noisy action films that are beginning to be released in movie theatres already, and it is still only February. Many times throughout the film, music is used as a way of communication between the director and the audience.

Composer Richard Feren has produced a score that is both uplifting and gripping, and says more than a whole monologue could say at many moments throughout the film.

Past Perfect contains none of the cheesy cliches that can sometimes accompany romantic films. It is very real, and very raw, but also very simple. MacIvor worked for several years on the screenplay, and the result is obvious a lot of time was put into it to get it right. Considering that half of the film takes place on a plane with Charlotte and Cecil sitting next to each other, not once does it become tedious or uninteresting. Both Jenkins and MacIvor execute beautifully the simple yet complex action of falling in love with each other, and then they also perform the tragic and desperate times that can accompany a relationship with just as much commitment and reality.

Marie Brassard, who plays Cecil's ex-girlfriend, Kathryn MacLellan, who plays his sister, and Maury Chaykin who plays the radio host on which Charlotte has a gardening show a couple of times a year, round out the story line perfectly with performances that are not over the top, and are just real enough for the audience to feel like they may know someone like that.

Hopefully if other Canadian films continue in the tradition of this one, soon preconceptions about Canadian cinema will begin to change. Look for this film when it is released, you will not be disappointed. It is a wonderful example of how Canadian films are breaking into new territory in a big way.

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