At TIFF, Bruce McDonald’s Trigger was notable as the first film to screen at the Bell Lightbox. While the film was a less extravagant affair at the Calgary Film Fest (the theatre was only a little over half full), it did not take away the fact that it was a very compelling film.
The film stars Tracey Wright and Molly Parker as two former bandmates of a rock band named Trigger, who reunite a decade after the band’s break-up. The rest of film focuses on the two as they hang out for a night in Toronto, including going for dinner, heading to a nightclub (where they reunite for a song on stage), and finally heading to a benefit at the Etobicoke School of the Arts.
The films has a vibe similar to Richard Linklater’s Before Sunrise and Before Sunset, in how the bulk of the film focuses on conversations between the two characters as they go about their night. Even though the bulk of the screen time is given to these two characters, there are notable cameos by the likes of Don McKellar, Callum Keith Rennie, and Sarah Polley.
The film is also notable for featuring the final performance by Tracey Wright, who died of cancer shortly after completing the film. As such, the film can be seen somewhat as a reflection of her life and career.
Overall, I thought that Trigger was a very intriguing film and it is quite possible one of the best Canadian films of the year.
8/10
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