Still Mine
Director: Michael McGowan
Cast: James Cromwell, Genevieve Bujold, Campbell Scott, Julie Stewart, Zachary Bennett, Hawksley Workman, Rick Roberts
Rating: (M)
5 stars (out of 5)
Among the plethora of films designed for ageing cinemagoers, Still Mine is one of the best.
This classy Canadian production is helped by two important factors: it's a particularly well-executed adaptation of a true story and the two leads are phenomenal.
In 2007, 88-year-old Craig Morrison (James Cromwell) decided to construct a modest house on his 800ha New Brunswick property.
Having worked on the land and operated a small lumber yard most of his life, he felt the time was right to downsize his dwelling so that he could take care of his wife, Irene, who has Alzheimer's.
Although trained by his father in carpentry and having built four houses previously, Morrison was ill-equipped to deal with bureaucratic building inspectors.
In what transpires as a classic battle between the rights of the individual and the power entrusted in civil servants, Still Mine is a moving testimony to an age when craftsmanship and bespoke design gave rise to the type of buildings we eulogise today.
Alongside that is a parallel narrative of a loving couple dealing with ageing.
It's fitting that James Cromwell should be cast in the main role. Not only does his no-nonsense demeanour and towering frame befit the role, his ability to channel distrust in bureaucracy through his experience rallying for the rights of animals is salient.
Equally memorable is Genevieve Bujold's performance as Irene. Her gentle grasp of what is happening to her mind is deftly dealt with.
Best thing: James Cromwell's career-defining performance.
Worst thing: The reality that some idiot bureaucrat put an 88-year-old man through this.
See it with: Anyone who has ever run into red tape with local authorities.
