FOCUS CANADA

Screening List：

INDIAN HORSE

WE ARE THE OTHERS

BIRTHMARKED

MARY GOES ROUND

BACKGROUND CHECK

MAN PROPOSES, GOD DISPOSES

A TOUCH OF SPRING

INDIAN HORSE

Directed by: Stephen Campanelli

Starring: Sladen Peltier / Forrest Goodluck / Ajuawak Kapashesit / Michiel Huisman / Edna Manitowabi

Plot:

In the late 1950s Ontario, eight-year-old Saul Indian Horse is torn from his Ojibway family andcommitted to one of Canada's notorious Catholic Residential Schools. In this oppressive environment,Saul is denied the freedom to speak his language or embrace his indigenous heritage while hewitnesses horrendous abuse at the hands of the very people entrusted with his care. Despite this, Saul finds salvation in the unlikeliest of places and favorite Canadian pastime - hockey. Fascinated bythe game, he secretly teaches himself to play, developing a unique and rare skill. He seems to see thegame in a way no other player can. His talent leads him away from the misery of the school, eventuallyto the Pros. But the ghosts of Saul’s past are always present, and threaten to rob him of his promisingcareer and future...

WE ARE THE OTHERS

Directed by: Jean-François Asselin

Starring: Émile Proulx-Cloutier / Pascale Bussières / Jean-Michel Anctil

Plot:

Respected architect Alexandre Picard suddenly disappears. His professional and life-partner Myriam is devastated – has Alexandre left her or has an incident occurred, since some of their valuables have also disappeared? And there’s a major architecture competition happening soon, which Alexandre is supposed to attend. Myriam files a report with insurer and adjuster Robert Laplante takes on the investigation, developing serious conflicts of interest. Meanwhile, young architect Frederic Venne, who is recovering from a serious depression, caused by a painful personal bankruptcy, sees a chance to have his talent finally recognized when Myriam offers him the opportunity to replace Alexandre in the competition and perhaps save the firm from the loss of a critical contract. Myriam's preoccupation is to keep up appearances at all costs.

BIRTHMARKED

Directed by: Emanuel Hoss-Desmarais

Starring: Andrea Kenyon / Randi Wells / Margery Simkin / Louise Kiely / Thyrza Ging

Plot:

In 1977, two respected scientists, Ben Morin and his wife Catherine O'Neal, quit their jobs at the university to conduct an experiment they think will revolutionize our understanding of human identity. The project aims to raise three children contrarily to their genetic predispositions to prove the ultimate power of nurture over nature. They want to prove that everyone has the same potential to become anything. Maya, a newborn girl adopted from two feebleminded parents, is raised to be smart, while Maurice, a newborn boy adopted from two anger-prone parents, is raised to be a pacifist. Finally, their own biological son Luke, who comes from a long lineage of scientific brains, is raised to become a revered artist. The experiment will reveal little scientific truth, but rather lead Ben and Catherine to discover the true value of family.

MARY GOES ROUND

Directed by: Molly McGlynn

Starring: Aya Cash / Sara Waisglass / John Ralston

Plot:

Mary is a substance abuse counselor who is slipping further into the depths of alcoholism. Following an arrest for drunk driving, Mary finds herself reluctantly accepting an invitation from her father to move back in with him at his house near Niagra Falls. She slowly realizes that he is keeping major secrets from her, as well as from her younger sister who didn't know Mary had existed. Sharply funny and deeply moving, this is a smart and fresh vision from first time director Molly McGlynn.

BACKGROUND CHECK

Directed by: Marc-André Lavoie

Starring: Emmanuel Bilodeau / David La Haye / Pascale Bussières / Dorothée Berryman

Plot:

Five women drag a nice guy whose name is Francis into a series of incredible adventures in which a 2-million-dollar lottery ticket, hungry tigers and a flask of chloroform do not mix well. Overwhelmed by completely twisted characters: a craze ex-girlfriend, unfaithful twins, a dangerous criminal a whimsical wife, a neighbor who has lost her mind and a crooked brother-in-law, Francis will have to go beyond all appearances in order to get out of trouble and convince a relentless detective that he is really innocent.

MAN PROPOSES, GOD DISPOSES

Directed by: Daniel Leo

Starring: Mateusz Nędza / Bruna Massarelli / Erick Mozer / Martyna Byczkowska

Plot:

Karol’s life in Poland is going nowhere quickly. He spends his nights drinking and partying at clubs, while his days are spent with his equally aimless chums involved in small time organized crime. His apparent lack of ambition has left him living at home with his mother and sister, doing his best to avoid their judgement. A phone call from Brazil turns his world upside down. A one-night stand with a visiting tourist, Bruna, has turned him into a dad-to-be. Having grown up without a father figure, Karol wants to be present for his child. He leaves Poland for São Paulo, where he hopes to make a new start. Bruna, however, isn't necessarily pleased by Karol's sudden appearance. Dealing with an unexpected pregnancy while Brazil is on the edge of political chaos means she has no patience for her new couchsurfer's immaturity. But as Karol and Bruna slowly open up to each other, they realize how much they each need human connection. Neither one of them, however, can be prepared for what fate has in store.

A TOUCH OF SPRING

Directed by: HE Xiaodan

Starring: YAN Wensi

Plot:

LI Fang, a 35-year-old Chinese immigrant, desires to get pregnant but finds her Canadian husband in an affair. After a violent breakup with her husband, LI returns to her hometown in China, where she is inspired by her family's efforts to handle all sorts of difficulties in their life. Her 80-year-old grandfather conceals his terminal illness from the family and faces death calmly while practicing calligraphy. His 70-year-old new wife leads a passionate life to relieve the pains brought by the Cultural Revolution. Her uncle and aunt are heavily burdened with the fact that their 20-year-old daughter gives birth to a baby girl after being raped. LI tries to help her poor aunt and niece in this family scandal. In the end, LI leaves her hometown and decides to go back to Canada and face her broken marriage.