Finns Girl is a well intentioned, if incompetently assembled, lesbian escapist fantasy. Its a film where heterosexual men can think of little else to ask an intelligent, successful, motorcycle riding, profanity spewing lesbian aside from "what do you get into when you muffdive? Its not an entirely inaccurate depiction but represents a great deal of the stereotypes and writing problems, which are demonstrated throughout the film.
Following the death of her lover Nancy (Gail Maurice), Dr. Finn Jeffries (Brooke Johnson) is left to look after her adopted daughter Zelly (Maya Ritter). As Finn tries to balance running an abortion clinic, receiving death threats and a burgeoning relationship with fellow abortion doc Jamie (Nathalie Toriel), Zelly becomes increasingly detached, shoplifting, smoking pot and casually insulting her elders. Meanwhile, Diana (Yanna McIntosh), a tough lesbian police officer, tries her hardest to convince Finn to give up the abortion clinic and stop neglecting Zelly.
A great deal of the footage in Finns Girl serves no purpose to the story or the characters. It lingers on hopelessly stagy sequences and actors who frequently appear uncomfortable and disconnected. This is likely due to some fairly atrocious dialogue that often resorts to profanity to convey a point. No character has an overly elaborate lexicon to choose from outside of the clichés they are forced to remain within.
There are also some issues surrounding the basic plot. It seems somewhat credulity straining to have an abortion doctor in modern Toronto receiving daily death threats and being attacked so frequently. Not to mention the likelihood of a police officer being assigned to protect her day and night, who seems perfectly at ease looking after Finns rambunctious daughter. All of this, in addition to the laugh-out-loud revelation that comes at the end of the film, leaves a sense of confusion and distaste.
On the upside, Yanna McIntosh makes a great tough cop, elevating the material with her presence, and newcomer Maya Ritter shows maturity beyond her years.
(Mongrel Media)Following the death of her lover Nancy (Gail Maurice), Dr. Finn Jeffries (Brooke Johnson) is left to look after her adopted daughter Zelly (Maya Ritter). As Finn tries to balance running an abortion clinic, receiving death threats and a burgeoning relationship with fellow abortion doc Jamie (Nathalie Toriel), Zelly becomes increasingly detached, shoplifting, smoking pot and casually insulting her elders. Meanwhile, Diana (Yanna McIntosh), a tough lesbian police officer, tries her hardest to convince Finn to give up the abortion clinic and stop neglecting Zelly.
A great deal of the footage in Finns Girl serves no purpose to the story or the characters. It lingers on hopelessly stagy sequences and actors who frequently appear uncomfortable and disconnected. This is likely due to some fairly atrocious dialogue that often resorts to profanity to convey a point. No character has an overly elaborate lexicon to choose from outside of the clichés they are forced to remain within.
There are also some issues surrounding the basic plot. It seems somewhat credulity straining to have an abortion doctor in modern Toronto receiving daily death threats and being attacked so frequently. Not to mention the likelihood of a police officer being assigned to protect her day and night, who seems perfectly at ease looking after Finns rambunctious daughter. All of this, in addition to the laugh-out-loud revelation that comes at the end of the film, leaves a sense of confusion and distaste.
On the upside, Yanna McIntosh makes a great tough cop, elevating the material with her presence, and newcomer Maya Ritter shows maturity beyond her years.
