At last, a wonderful Canadian film and one that is set in Toronto as Toronto rather than as a stand-in for Pittsburgh or some such! This is a warm, heart tugging, sad, lovable, delicate love story without the Hollywood cliché ending. Ekaterinna Chtchelkanova is so lovable and vulnerable that you just want to grab her and hold her in your arms.Even the inevitable "humping scene" is done with taste and style that captures the passion without offending the eyes. Toronto is shown in winter. If Hollywood had done this, Toronto would be New York and it would be June rather than December. There's a wonderful European art film feel to this movie, at times gritty, at times opulent. But it's also a distinctive Canadian story. The cinematography, done by the director, is brilliant and innovative. There are endless artistic and original shots. But none of them are trite or gimmicky or out of place. They're visual poetry, genius behind the camera as well as in front of it and the icing on an already very tasty cake. It's a keeper!
Review of The End of Silence
