Wild Mark!

So, my buddy Mark Krupa, Viking Bjorn, put the hammer to the head of evil. A real hammer of Thor, let me emphasize. A piece of carbonaceous rock, weighing around 10 kilos, no less. Thach! Gloop! Gush!  For me that is the beginning of the film, not the end. The retribution. The triumph and turnaround of confused, distracted, disoriented, play-acting, make-believe idealism, getting its shit together on a cold winter’s, desolate morning somewhere in Quebec over bad-ass, evil-avatar politics, finally. In the AMC show ( I saw the flick twice) the crowd cheered and winced simultaneously, reflecting the release, the relief and the adulation for righteousness arriving finally. No problem there. The Wild Hunt, an adventuresome, wild and totally enjoyable film has now been reviewed by everyone “and their mothers” as Mark would often say, when referring to lines from my various plays (he has been an integral part of Montreal Serai, ever since he was scouted out by my 7 -8 year old kids, some 18 years ago at the NDG Y, making duck sounds). So, this will not be a film review. (All the reviews have been positive, and some stuck up folks have highlighted the fact repeatedly that it was a low-budget film, so the camera work and editing was not that slick—so what? There are folks winning photography awards with pin-hole Diana cameras. For Thor’s sake! ) And this film, with the signature Quebec ice-storm shots on dry branches, the procession of LARPERS coming through the valley with their torches lit, is quite exquisite and what appeals to me most is the frigging toilet door banging away, ominously and matching sound effects at the end with the roll of newspaper hitting Murtagh’s front door repeatedly. (I got news for you baby, I’ve snuck in from the back) and thwack!  I like this film, because it makes me tear into the Murtagh’s of the world. Mysogynist, clannish, racist, fundamentalist, cultist skunks who brood over nothing and use male-force with malevolence.

Wild Hunt must be seen. I have lived through its creation, its ideas, its germination, its floundering at times with budgetary constraints. Alex Franchi, Mark’s Dungeons and Dragons buddy, and director of the film does a suave job,--no nonsense, no excesses and just right. And ALL the actors and actresses, without exception do a remarkably natural acting job, as well. Go see it, if you support independent film by wild people! It’s getting awards and recognitions every week. Here's video peek...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WENre45f13c&feature=player_embedded#