Cole

(Canada, 2008, 100 mins, 35mm)

EXEC PROD: Irene Nelson (Rampart Films)
PROD: Jason James, Dylan Thomas Collingwood, Kimani Ray Smith
COPROD/CAM: Carl Bessai
SCR: Adam Zang
ED: Mark Shearer
MUS: Clinton Shorter
Cast: Richard de Klerk, Kandyse McClure, Sonja Bennet, Chad Willett

This film is in competition for the Canwest Award for Best Canadian Feature Film

Carl Bessai offers up an emotional and challenging drama with his latest feature, set in Lytton, BC. Protagonist Cole Chambers (Richard de Klerk) is trapped in this small, rural town, pressured to choose between the pursuit of his dreams and the care of his troubled family.

Cole’s sister Maybelline (played by the always stunning Sonja Bennett) struggles to look after the family gas station while raising two young children, and managing a relationship with her abusive boyfriend, Bobby (Chad Willett) whose shoddy plans for their future exceed his abilities and resources. Cole must continuously rescue his nephew Rocket (Jack Forrester) from redneck Bobby’s influence. (A hard-hitting performance from Willett is at times disturbing, and surprisingly affecting.) When he finally decides to escape his undue responsibilities and take a University class in the city (a three-hour drive from Lytton), Cole gets more than he bargained for: falling in love with a beautiful fellow student, Serafina (Kandyse McClure). Failing to impress Serafina’s high-strung family and watching things fall apart at home; Cole decides to return to his duties in Lytton. Serafina doesn’t want to let him go, and visits Lytton, triggering a fateful series of events.

At times the uncompromising, emotional performances make Cole difficult to watch, but Bessai’s sensitive contemplation on the difficult balance between duty and ambition will leave viewers touched.

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