In the lead up to the 7th Canadian Film Festival in Australia (August 2012), join us as we countdown the Top 100 Canadian Films of the past 30 years. We'll be posting one film a day leading up to Canada Day on July 1st 2012. Do you agree with our team favourites? Let us know your thoughts!
I saw Small Town Murder Songs at the Toronto International Film Festival in 2010 and I haven’t stopped talking about it since. A film like this comes along so rarely, it was a huge standout for me and left a marked impression.
I’d only ever seen Peter Stormare in small, yet excellent, roles before (Fargo, The Big Lebowski, Dancer in the Dark) but he is just outstanding as the film’s protagonist Walter, a police officer in a small Ontario Mennonite town.
Walter is working hard at trying to uphold the moral righteousness of the town, as well as his own, as he looks for redemption from his violent past. His dedication to his work and commitment to his new partner is shaken when a young woman from ‘out of town’ is found murdered and dumped. As suspicions and tensions in the town start to peak, Walter finds that it’s hard to turn a new page and escape your past; even more so when everyone is all too ready to remind you.
At just 80 minutes long, it packs an impressive punch; it’s a strong, slow, raw and powerful film and so very, very unique. Indie gospel band Bruce Peninsula deliver a haunting, mesmerising choral soundtrack which is almost a character in itself, working perfectly to divide the film into acts, as well as driving each along.
Small Town Murder Songs is a minimalist masterpiece; excellently paced with gorgeous cinematography accompanying the incredible soundtrack, and supported by fantastic performances, not just from Stormare, but also Jill Hennessy and Martha Plimpton. I can’t recommend it enough.
- Karina Libbey
“The unusual relationship of soundtrack to visuals, the depth of its spiritual component and the excellent ensemble of actors are impressive: a filmmaker to watch.”- Screen Daily
To see the other films in the countdown so far, click here.