God’s Baboons

Synopsis: Feature film. Alex (Sutton) has been using his growing accomplishments as an actor to hide from his true dream of writing - he wants to work alone, but fears the associated isolation and responsibility. His doubts are amplified by the fact that his late father - from whom Alex inherited both talent and a genetic disposition towards mental instability - ended his literary career by taking his own life. Encouraged by the mentoring of Michael, a subversive priest (Earl Pastko), Alex is determined to confront his fears. He quits the lead role in a career-launching production of Hamlet, cutting off any financial security in order to push himself into his writing. In doing so, he inadvertently exchanges the portrayal of a character’s madness for the reality of his own. Hamlet’s drama proceeds to unfold, complete with murder plots, Oedipal promptings, a father’s ghost, an irresponsible mother (Marie Stillin), an imposing stepfather (Hiro Kanagawa), an alienated girlfriend (Laura Nordin), and an increasingly inescapable descent into delusion and mayhem.
Language: English
Country: Canada
Medium: Film
Technical information: Colour / Sound
Year of release: 2005
Availability: No archive copy or distributor found (5/2008).
Subjects: Drama
Keywords: Shakespeare, William (1564-1616)