Across the Line (2015 film)
| Across the Line | |
|---|---|
.jpg) Film poster | |
| Directed by | Director X |
| Written by | Floyd Kane |
| Produced by |
|
| Starring |
|
| Cinematography | Sami Inayeh |
| Edited by | Dev Singh |
| Music by | Menalon |
Production companies | |
| Distributed by | A71 Pictures Entertainment One |
Release date |
|
Running time | 97 minutes[1] |
| Country | Canada |
| Language | English |
Across the Line is a 2015 Canadian drama film directed by Director X (in his feature film directorial debut). The film stars Stephan James and Sarah Jeffery. It is set in Nova Scotia, where it was shot.
Background
[edit]The film's storyline was inspired by the 1989 Cole Harbour District High School race riots.[2]
Plot
[edit]The film is set in North Preston, Nova Scotia where Mattie (Stephan James), a black hockey player, is being considered for a professional career. However, his hopes are threatened by growing racial strife at his school while his brother Carter (Shamier Anderson) is involved in criminal activity. Mattie also has a romantic interest in Jayme (Sarah Jeffery), who already has a white boyfriend.
Cast
[edit]- Stephan James as Mattie Slaughter - Hockey prospect
- Sarah Jeffery as Jayme Crawley - John's girlfriend
- Steven Love as John - Jayme's boyfriend
- Lanette Ware as Velma Slaughter - Mother
- Jeremiah Sparks as Ancel Slaughter - Father
- Shamier Anderson as Carter Slaughter - Older brother
- Denis Theriault as Todd
- Simon-Paul Mutuyimana as Dwight
- Jim Codrington as Fraser Crawley - Father policeman
- Jackie Torrens as Shelley Doucette
- Cara Ricketts as Lori Downey
Production
[edit]The film was originally titled Undone.[3] The film was produced by Floyd Kane, Michael Donovan, Mark Gosine and Amos Adetuyi and was written by Kane, a native of East Preston, NS. Kane attended Cole Harbour High School when a race riot erupted at the school in 1989.
Release
[edit]The first screening of Across the Line was September 19, 2015 at the Atlantic Film Festival where it won the award for Best Atlantic Feature.[4][2] The film opened in limited release in British Columbia and Ontario on April 8, 2016, with screenings in various Canadian cities throughout that month.[5]
Reception
[edit]The National Post assessed the film at 2.5/4 stars, noting the story's unwavering focus on racial themes was "to the detriment of the film's depth and realism" but noted that video producer Director X "makes the transition to feature film-making look easy".[1]
In 2017, the film was the subject of an episode of The Filmmakers, the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation's web talk series on Canadian film.[6]
References
[edit]- ^ a b Knight, Chris (8 April 2016). "Across the Line is imperfect, but passionate in its drive to examine racial friction in Nova Scotia". National Post. Retrieved 13 April 2016.
- ^ a b Barnard, Elissa (18 September 2015). "Atlantic filmfest: Undone finds hope amid racial tension". Chronicle Herald. Retrieved 13 April 2016.
- ^ Doucet, Jane (23 November 2015). "Alumni Spotlight - A creative lawyer: Floyd Kane (LLB'96)". Dalhousie University. Retrieved 13 April 2016.
- ^ Nemetz, Andrea (20 September 2015). "Undone wins best Atlantic feature at Atlantic Film Festival Awards". Chronicle Herald. Retrieved 13 April 2016.
- ^ The Canadian Press (6 April 2016). "Director X makes film debut with drama inspired by N.S. racial tensions in 1989". Chronicle Herald. Retrieved 13 April 2016.
- ^ "Racism, sports and the East Coast: Director X's film exposes something 'dangerous and problematic'". CBC Arts, October 2, 2017.
External links
[edit]- 2015 films
- Canadian drama films
- English-language Canadian films
- Films directed by Director X
- Films shot in Halifax, Nova Scotia
- Films set in Nova Scotia
- Films about race and ethnicity
- Black Canadian films
- 2010s hood films
- Canadian ice hockey films
- 2015 directorial debut films
- 2015 drama films
- 2010s English-language films
- 2010s Canadian films
- English-language drama films
- English-language crime films