LastingAware The greatest movie ever!

Ameriatch One of the best films i have seen

StyleSk8r At first rather annoying in its heavy emphasis on reenactments, this movie ultimately proves fascinating, simply because the complicated, highly dramatic tale it tells still almost defies belief.

Sarita Rafferty There are moments that feel comical, some horrific, and some downright inspiring but the tonal shifts hardly matter as the end results come to a film that's perfect for this time.

wonderdawg The title character, a retired professor played by Sir Ian McKellen, must come to terms with his past when he returns to Canada for a visit. Emile grew up with two brothers on a farm in Saskatchewan. He left to study in Britain 40 years earlier and never looked back. Until now. Invited to Victoria (British Columbia) to accept an honorary degree from UVic, he stays at the home of his troubled niece, Nadia (Deborah Kara Unger). Recently divorced and living with her rebellious ten year old daughter, Maria (Theo Crane), Nadia still smolders with resentment because Uncle Emile failed to adopt her following the sudden death of her parents. She spent her girlhood in an orphanage and the experience has left a permanent scar on her psyche. "You seem like a pretty nice guy and I'm going to try to like you. But I don't trust people and you did that to me," she tells him quietly. "Now I'm sure you had your reasons but I just want you to know there was a little girl waiting for you a long time ago. And you left her. Waiting."That's a haunting image to deal with but Emile also has to confront his feelings of guilt over deserting his two brothers, now deceased, both of whom we meet in flashback scenes: Freddy (Chris William Smith), fragile, artistic, a bit of a dreamer, slowly withering under cruel, insensitive treatment at the hands of older brother, Carl (Tygh Runyan). Writer/director Carl Bessai (Lola) has McKellen as Emile relive these memories as the old man he is rather than cast an actor to play a younger version of the character in flashback scenes. "I think that's important because the past for him is subjective," Bessai explains on the DVD commentary track. "It is a memory that is infused with who he is right now." Although this may prove confusing for some viewers I thought it was a bold move and well presented visually through artful use of transition shots and doctored cinematography. The film makes effective use of Victoria locations to add atmosphere, mood and emotional context to key scenes: Emile and Maria chatting on a bench in the Inner Harbour with the Empress Hotel in the background; a blustery walk along Dallas Road; Emile receiving his honorary degree at University of Victoria's Convocation Hall (with 200 extras in attendance.) McKellen turns in a masterful performance, Ms. Unger (Crash) is hypnotically watchable as always and the complex emotional dynamic between their two characters is well worked out. Young Miss Crane, in only her second film, displays a wonderfully natural screen presence. Fans of traditional Hollywood dramas should be warned. As Bessai explains on the DVD, this is not a movie about big dramatic moments, "it's the little things that create the tensions between people, that make them recognizably human." Works for me.

martin_beaulne I don't often have the chance to see a good movie like this one. Beautiful image, excellent music, great acting ( from the always talented McKellen and the good Deborah ); but most of all, a great movie with a "Les fraises sauvages" flashback style, which is an excellent way to "renew" this old and easy flashback method. Takes place in beautiful places honored by Carl Bessai's expert lighting and photographic style. The story, also, is very good, a story of regrets about the past that cannot be changed. You have to see this movie if you love great images, great acting talent ( what is this guy doing in x-men anyway ?? --> I understand, lots of money... i'd do the same... ), and good moments.11/10 !

Tom Murray Emile is one of the best Canadian films that I have ever seen. Ian McKellen is superb as Emile, a loner who abandoned his family many years ago and finds himself visiting his few remaining relatives.Emile lived with his two brothers on a Saskatchewan farm. Karl, the eldest, was an insensitive controller. Emile, the educated one, left to be a professor in England, leaving Karl and the youngest, depressed brother on their own, with tragic consequences. Karl married and had a daughter, Nadia (Deborah Kara Unger). When Karl and his wife died in an accident, Emile was sent for to get his niece, Maria (Theo Crane), who was in an orphanage. Emile returned to look into business about the farm but made up an excuse why he could not take the niece back with him. These details from the past all appear in flashbacks, as seen in Emile's own mind. He remembers everyone as he last saw them: his brothers as they were when he left them but himself as he is now. Remembrances of things that he never witnessed are all portrayed as he imagined them or as he would like to imagine them.In the present, his Alma Mater, a university in Victoria B.C. is bestowing an honorary degree upon him. His niece, Nadia, invites him to stay with her and her daughter, Maria. Everything is in turmoil; Nadia has just left her husband and taken Maria with her. They have just moved into a new home and Maria is quite distraught and taciturn; everything in her life has just been changed. Now, a great uncle, whom she has never seen, appears. At first Maria is aloof but soon they become the best of friends and all relationships reconfigure.Deborah Kara Unger and Theo Crane both played their roles convincingly. McKellen's performance could very well be his best ever. His portrayal of a personality in flux is subtle and clear. He must come to terms with the suffering that his decisions have caused others and whether to stay a loner or become involved.

john-wildfong This is definitely a character based movie. As such it's never a total waste to watch Ian McKellan work - playing someone trying to come to terms with the difficulties and poor choices in his past, and Deborah Unger truly nails her character - a woman who is bruised and bitter but determined not to give up on life. It's always a treat to see a movie filmed in Canada that doesn't pretend to be somewhere else. Alas the resolution seemed a little too easy and contrived, and I found the soundtrack monotonous and intrusive.