Hey folks, Harry here with a film that is... just from left field... one of those choices that you choose as a pig in a poke... You just reach into the tree stump and hope not to be stung... and According to Bradley here... he scored mightily here... Apparently, the film in question was quite a treat. Lay into the reading of this one... Sounds good.
Hey Harry. I'm a big fan of your site and since I'm a Torontonian and taking a look at a bunch of small films at this year's festival I decided to throw in my two cents.
Last night I caught a film called "Urbania" by director John Shear. I really didn't know a lot about the film before I walked in. Each year I simply go through the gigantic Festival catalogue and settle on 5 or so small movies that I can fit into my schedule. The director mentioned that there is only one print on this film so I'm guessing not many people have seen it prior to this screening.
Having said that, I love being totally knocked out by a film where I have no expectations. This movie was a treat. It can deliberately confuse you. It can make you howl with laughter. It can make you sit on the edge of your seat. It can make you feel very uncomfortable. And it might just also make you cry.
"Urbania" takes hold of you and tosses you about. You never really feel you know where this movie is going and for that reason you get sucked in so easily.
I really don't want to give much of the plot away since there are a couple of twists and turns that just floor you. Charlie, our protagonist, has recently lost his boyfriend. Most of this movie takes place over the course of a single night where Charlie searches for someone that will fill the hole in his life. Along the way he runs into several characters and situations involving urban legends. Sometimes these urban legends are just the act of a character re-telling the legend and in some cases the actual legend comes to life (look out for the elderly woman and her wet dog). There are also some short flashbacks that help provide the backstory to Charlie, his ex-boyfriend, and the mystery man who Charlie spends the night seeking out.
On top the audience is presented with a compelling story (which is adapted from a play, I think) and underneath there lies a number of themes. "Urbania" made me feel vulnerable about how fate, be it good or bad, lies around every corner and it also made me question the stereotypes of the gay male lifestyle that I have in my own head. The director masterfully uses those stereotypes to help conceal the plot turns. He did a remarkable job.
Thanks Harry. Keep up the good work.
Bradley
