Hero by Nature

I don't normally do movie reviews. People frequently ask me why, and I'm forced to reply that I'm just not the right person for such a gig. Many of my friends would tell you that it's invariably because I find something wrong with every movie I see. As for me, I would simply tell you that it's indubitably because I am demanding. And in all honesty, the truth probably falls somewhere in between.:-)

Short films are generally not my cup of tea. Some are just plain bad. Some are just too odd. You need to have someone explaining every little detail, and then have another person explain the explanation.;-) And a lot of it gets lost in the translation. It's a bit like Modern Art!

By now, most of you are aware that I will shamelessly plug anything that really touched me, or anything that I really liked. Hell, it's my website and I can do what I want!;-) Which explains why I'm doing this movie review. I was invited to the wrap party of the short film Hero by Nature. A good friend of mine, Géraldine Macagno, co-produced it, so I was more than happy to accept the invitation. She had told me a lot concerning the filming and everything which surrounded the production, but very little about the story itself. Hence, I was curious to see the final product.

Hero by Nature was written and produced by Luke Bélanger, and directed by Roger Cantin. Starring in this short film are, among other actors, Frédérick De Grandpré, Laurent-Cristophe De Ruelle and Joe McComber. The soundtrack was composed by Pierre Marchand, whose music truly captures the essence of the story. The music definitely adds layers and textures of emotions, giving another dimension to this short film.

Given what I knew, I was expecting this short film to be of a certain quality. But I never would have thought that it would be this good. Every facet that comprise this movie was well-planned and well-executed. A lot of hard work went into this production; that much is obvious. But I also have a feeling that everyone went the extra mile to give this short film a very special feeling.

Hero by Nature is probably what I would call a social drama. The Oka crisis, which pitted the population of the city of Oka and the surrounding region against the Native Americans, is the backdrop for this story. This is still a very touchy subject in the province of Québec and in the rest of Canada, but the script just brushes over it to set the tone.

The two main themes, at least according to yours truly, appear to be intolerance and hope. It's a short film, which means that it's relatively brief -- about 15 minutes. And the most satisfying aspect of this movie is that it's not a second too long. The timing, the pace, the rhythm deliver the emotions and the message of hope the creators obviously attempt to convey to the public.

I truly enjoyed it. This short film doesn't preach, which was my biggest fear. It's done with a very humane touch, something that really grabs hold of you and makes you wonder. The image quality is excellent, as is the sound. All in all, a very, very nice movie.

I know that Hero by Nature will be competing in different film festivals during the next few months. And since I'm now read by people from over 30 different countries, it's the least I can do to try to spread the word around and to get the ball rolling.:-) You can check Viking Film's website at www.vikingfilm.com/hero/ And if Hero by Nature can be seen during a festival in a town near you, give it a shot. I'm persuaded that you will not be disappointed.

I would like to congratulate everyone who helped bring this short film to the screen for a job more than well-done. And I wish you all continued success. If Hero by Nature is any indication, the potential is definitely there.:-)