Saturday, October 05, 2013
Ordinary Magic
This is a small Canadian Movie based on a book by Malcolm Bosse that exists only on VHS. I value my copy and get it out to watch at least once a year. One the pleasures of watching it is to see 15-year-old Ryan Reynolds playing the leading role.
Jeffrey Moore/Ganesh is a Caucasian raised by his father as a Hindu Vegan in India. No mention is made of what befell his mother but as the story begins his father is dying of heart failure. When his father expires Jeffrey digs up the family fortune stored in a tiny vault in the earth under the chicken coop in the back yard. Using an old letter from his father’s sister and the cash Jeffrey sets off by plane dressed in sandals and sarong to meet his Aunt Charlotte at Malton Airport in the middle of an Ontario winter.
If Paris on the Grand in Ontario is unprepared to meet Jeffrey his Aunt who works at a local cafe has no clue about raising a self-reliant teen male. Jeffrey’s teacher at High School represents all that is worst in a bigoted, smart-alec. He’s the kind of teacher we’d like to think no longer exists. In a small town that worships teen sports athletes Jeffrey practices Yoga startling his gym teacher when he sits on the bottom of the swimming pool holding his breath for over 4 minutes.
The movie then is about the manner in which Jeffrey wins the respect of his peers and the town at large shrugging off racist jibes directed at his stilted use of the English Language and his choice in clothing. Both have something to learn from the other as do we. This is a charming bit of movie making.
Jeffrey Moore/Ganesh is a Caucasian raised by his father as a Hindu Vegan in India. No mention is made of what befell his mother but as the story begins his father is dying of heart failure. When his father expires Jeffrey digs up the family fortune stored in a tiny vault in the earth under the chicken coop in the back yard. Using an old letter from his father’s sister and the cash Jeffrey sets off by plane dressed in sandals and sarong to meet his Aunt Charlotte at Malton Airport in the middle of an Ontario winter.
If Paris on the Grand in Ontario is unprepared to meet Jeffrey his Aunt who works at a local cafe has no clue about raising a self-reliant teen male. Jeffrey’s teacher at High School represents all that is worst in a bigoted, smart-alec. He’s the kind of teacher we’d like to think no longer exists. In a small town that worships teen sports athletes Jeffrey practices Yoga startling his gym teacher when he sits on the bottom of the swimming pool holding his breath for over 4 minutes.
The movie then is about the manner in which Jeffrey wins the respect of his peers and the town at large shrugging off racist jibes directed at his stilted use of the English Language and his choice in clothing. Both have something to learn from the other as do we. This is a charming bit of movie making.
# posted by garthmailman@gmail.com @ 6:40 pm 
