The Stone Angel

Director:  Kari Skogland

Based on the best selling novel by Margaret Laurence, this beautifully shot drama tells the story of feisty, headstrong, passionate Hagar Shipley.  We first meet Hagar present day near the end of her life played by the incredible, Oscar-winning Ellen Burstyn.  Her family sees her as a burden to be forced off to a retirement home.  But when she looks in the mirror she sees a wild, playful little girl, a brainy young woman, a passionate and rebellious young bride, and a loving if fallible mother.  We follow her as she recollects a life of choices made and consequences lived with young Hagar played deftly by Christine Horne (who looks like a young Ellen Burstyn, something I always give films a point for getting right).

The story structure of reliving the zealous past life of someone nearing the end of their days is not new.  What makes this movie strong is the intensity of the performances (cast includes Dylan Baker, Kevin Zegers, Cole Hauser, and Ellen Page) and the complexity of the characters and their relationships.  No one is perfect. No one always makes the right decisions.  But every choice made comes from the heart and every lesson learned is learned the hard way.  It’s real; it’s admirable; it’s flawed; it’s life. The Stone Angel is worth seeing.  It’s also a nice reminder that every older person was young once, and if you give them a chance they might have an incredible story to tell.

Lucy Cruell