Vacationland (2006) directed by Todd Verow

[reviews_and_ramblings]

Director: Todd Verow

Writers: Jim Dwyer (screenplay)
Todd Verow (screenplay)
Todd Verow (story)

Release Date: 15 February 2006 (Berlin International Film Festival)
2 August 2006 (New York City, New York)

Genre: Drama

Plot: Filmmaker Todd Verow revisits his own youth for his latest work. The film’s main character is Joe, who, like the director, grew up in Bangor in Maine. Joe lives with his single mother and older sister Theresa on a notorious council estate called “Capehart Projects”. Molested at the age of ten, Joe nevertheless decides to keep the incident to himself. He befriends an older artist named Victor and moves in with him, hoping to escape Bangor with his help.

Todd Verow: “You grow up fast in the Capehart projects. There was always some new terror happening close by. A woman smothering her baby because she thought it was the Antichrist, maybe she was right – who are we to judge. It wouldn’t surprise me if the Antichrist were born here, or Christ, for that matter. There was the guy who burned down his apartment because his family wouldn’t let him watch his favourite Christmas special – which of course is the only logical thing to do. And then there was the woman who killed her husband and cut him into 15 pieces – ‘just to make sure.’ There was the woman who lived next door who was found sitting in her car naked with her throat slit ear to ear and her hands on the wheel, her eyes wide open. (…) In a strange way it made me feel like anything was possible.”

A superb film about a gay teenager grappling with his sexuality. --San Francisco Bay Times

@IMDb
@Amazon: Vacationland
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Cast (in credits order)
Brad Hallowell ... Joe
Gregory J. Lucas ... Andrew (as Gregory L. Lucas)
Hilary Mann ... Theresa
Michael Dion ... Tim (as Michael John Dion)
Charles Ard ... Victor
Jennifer Stackpole ... Mandy
Mindy Hofman ... Kris
Nathan Johnson ... Mr. LaBlanc
Theodore Bouloukos ... Richard
Gregg Anderson ... Sandi
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Jono Mainelli ... John
Todd Verow ... Man in Bar (uncredited)

 

Comments

[elisa-rolle.livejournal.com]

Vacationland is a movie with many flaws, but they are all expected in a low budget production. The main flaw is also is main attraction for me: the two young boy in the story... They are really too old or their role, they can't possible pass for two teens, but nevertheless, they are really cute. So yes, my mind says that the director has made a big mistake chosing them, but my heart says that it is very happy to have the chance to see them.