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The Five Senses (film)

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The Five Senses
Directed byJeremy Podeswa
Written byJeremy Podeswa
Produced byCamelia Frieberg
Jeremy Podeswa
Starring
CinematographyGregory Middleton
Edited byWiebke Von Carolsfeld
Music byAlexina Louie
Alex Pauk
Release date
Running time
106 minutes
CountryCanada
LanguageEnglish/French/Italian

The Five Senses is a 1999 Canadian drama film directed, written and produced by Jeremy Podeswa.[1]

The film premiered in the Directors' Fortnight program at the 1999 Cannes Film Festival,[2] and had its Canadian premiere at the 1999 Toronto International Film Festival.[3]

Plot

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The Five Senses is about interconnected stories linked by a building which examine situations involving the five senses. Touch is represented by Ruth Seraph, a massage therapist who is treating Anna Miller. Ruth's daughter Rachel accidentally loses Anna's pre-school daughter, Amy Lee, in the park, when Rachel is distracted by the sight of a couple making love in the woods. Rachel meets a voyeur named Rupert (vision), and they become friends as fellow outsiders while he teaches her the pleasure of observing others. They eventually go to one of Rachel's hiding places, where she has him dress like a woman.

Meanwhile, Ruth tries to help Anna cope with the disappearance of Amy Lee and stays the night at her home. Robert, a professional housecleaner, has an acute sense of smell, and seeks out the people he used to see to absorb their scents and see if he can smell any feeling for him or why they stopped caring for him. His professional clients include his friends Raymond and Rebecca, who makes perfume. Robert's friend Rona, a cake maker, has lost her sense of taste, and has romantic problems after Roberto, whom she met on a vacation in Italy, arrives. Dr. Richard Jacob, an older optometrist, is losing his hearing and wants to remember all the sounds before he goes deaf. He had separated from his wife Sylvie, but later connects to a woman named Gail (Pascale Bussières) who helps him to cope and feel better about himself. In the end, Amy Lee is found, and Ruth and Rachel are reconciled.

Cast

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Critical response

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For the CanWest News Service, Brendan Kelly wrote that "It sounds pretentious, and sometimes it is. But mostly it isn't, which is the real surprise in this often funny, understated ensemble piece that showcases some of the best acting in a Canadian film in the last year. The talented cast helps take this overly schematic script and make it feel real, with nuanced performances. The film works because you quickly forget about the follow-the-senses design and simply follow the stories of these intriguing characters seeking human companionship."[4]

Katrina Onstad of the National Post wrote that "The Five Senses has the kind of trick conceit that could have been a leaden exercise in showmanship were it not for the meticulous control of director Jeremy Podeswa", and that "a lyrical touch saves The Five Senses from bogging down in its own sadness (lost child equals weepy movie), and there are some much needed, very funny moments, particularly from Parker's neurotic cake baker."[5]

Awards

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Award Date of ceremony Category Recipient(s) Result Ref(s)
Toronto International Film Festival 1999 Best Canadian Film The Five Senses Won [6]
Genie Awards 2000 Best Picture Jeremy Podeswa, Camelia Frieberg Nominated [7]
Best Director Jeremy Podeswa Won [8]
Best Actor Daniel MacIvor Nominated [7]
Best Actress Mary-Louise Parker Nominated
Best Original Screenplay Jeremy Podeswa Nominated
Best Art Direction/Production Design Taavo Soodor, Darryl Dennis Deegan, Erica Milo Nominated
Best Cinematography Gregory Middleton Nominated
Best Overall Sound Philip Norman Stall, Martin Lee, Lou Solakofski Nominated
Best Sound Editing Janice Ierulli, Terry Burke, Ed Douglas, Garrett Kerr, Angie Pajek Nominated

References

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  1. ^ Gerald Pratley, A Century of Canadian Cinema. Lynx Images, 2003. ISBN 1-894073-21-5. p. 78.
  2. ^ David Giammarco, "Sensing Success: Canada at Cannes: Jeremy Podeswa prepares for the festival". National Post, May 15, 1999.
  3. ^ John McKay, "Podeswa film leads Toronto film fest". Brantford Expositor, July 31, 1999.
  4. ^ Brendan Kelly, "Quirky characters intrigue viewers". Calgary Herald, January 28, 2000.
  5. ^ Katrina Onstad, "A feast for the senses". National Post, September 10, 1999.
  6. ^ John McKay, "Five Senses pays off for Podeswa". Niagara Falls Review, September 20, 1999.
  7. ^ a b "Genie Award nominations". Toronto Star, December 8, 1999.
  8. ^ Craig MacInnis, "20th Genies warm up to Sunshine: Canada holds its own against world at cinema showcase". Edmonton Journal, January 31, 2000.
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