Marion Bridge (2002)

User Rating:

7.1/10   

Director:

Wiebke von Carolsfeld

Writers:

Daniel MacIvor (play)
Daniel MacIvor (writer)

Release Date:

18 April 2003 (Canada)

Genre:

Drama

Plot:

Three estranged sisters reunite to care for their dying mother and old conflicts and secrets return to the surface.

Plot Keywords:

Nova Scotia | Dying Mother | Mother Daughter Relationship | Dying Parent | Sister Sister Relationship

Awards:

6 wins & 8 nominations

Cast

Molly Parker	...	Agnes
Rebecca Jenkins	...	Theresa
Stacey Smith	...	Louise (as Stacy Smith)
Marguerite McNeil	...	Rose
Ellen Page	...	Joanie
Hollis McLaren	...	Chrissy
Emmy Alcorn	...	Dory
Joseph Rutten	...	Ken
Nicola Lipman	...	Valerie
Jackie Torrens	...	Marlene
Kevin Curran	...	Sandy
Ashley MacIsaac	...	Mickey
Heather Rankin	...	Sue
Linda Busby	...	Evie
Stephen Manuel	...	Tavern Bartender

Runtime:

90 min

Country:

Canada

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Certification:

Australia:M | Canada:14A | Netherlands:12 | USA:Unrated

Filming Locations:

Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada

Company:

Idlewild Films

Trivia:

Agnes, Theresa and Louise are watching the movie The Five Senses (1999) on television. The particular scene of the movie shown solely features actor Daniel MacIvor. Daniel MacIvor is the screenwriter for this movie.

Movie Connections:

Featured in Weird Sex and Snowshoes: A Trek Through the Canadian Cinematic Psyche (2004) (TV)

Soundtrack:

Ten Thousand Reasons

Powerful Family Drama

Daniel McIvor (THE FIVE SENSES; BEEFCAKE) has written an extraordinary family drama involving three sisters trying to deal with their dying mother and the shared secrets of their past. Surely a recipe for mawkish, formula family drama, MARION BRIDGE succeeds wonderfully thanks to McIvor's sharp, funny screenplay, strong performances by Parker, Jenkins, Smith and youngster Ellen Page, and an assured directorial hand by first-timer von Carolsfeld. BRIDGE is filled with laugh-out-loud humor and powerful emotion as Parker's middle sister Agnes returns to her rural, Cape Breton hometown after living wild in Toronto. Her two sister Theresa and Louise view her return skeptically, but Agnes insists she's given up the booze and drugs she once played heavily with, and takes charge of their mother's care. Yet as in any family drama, those secrets preferred left undiscussed rear their ugly head. The sweeping Nova Scotia landscape echoes the arc of emotions of this troubled family dredged once more to the surface. A stand out film.